How Do You Pray?
By Liz Shrieve
(3rd in a series on prayer)
“ … if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
Here’s the thing: God can do it without us, but He does not want to! He chose us to be an important part of HIS story! It is not that God can't work without our prayers, but that He has established prayer as part of His plan for accomplishing His will in this world.
Prayer is a personal time for you (and those who you may pray with), and prayer will look different for each of us. You may pray on your hands and knees before God, pray by journaling or writing, pray out loud during a workout, or pray through singing. Making a plan for your prayer time can help you stay on track and defer distractions. If you need a good starting point for your prayer time, follow the ACTS guideline: adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication.
Adoration
Be in adoration of who God is. Adoration is telling God that you realize His glory and majesty and you praise Him for that.
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” – Revelation 4:11
Confession
Come to the Lord in genuine repentance and confess areas of your life where you have messed up and allowed sin and the enemy to come above the Lord. After you confess your sins to God, accept His forgiveness and act on it!
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” – 1 John 1:9
Thanksgiving
Praise the Lord for what He has done in your life and for what He will do!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6
Supplication
Supplication is the action of asking for something. During this time, bring your needs to God, ask God for guidance and wisdom, and then act obediently. The Lord will speak to you. The question is, will you be obedient to what he calls you to do?
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people ... ” – Ephesians 6:18
Liz Shrieve is a full-time student at Moody Bible Institute and part-time LCC staff member. In her free time, you will often catch her at a coffee shop, soaking up sunshine rays on the river, traveling, or finding something to laugh about.