This post is part of the
Spiritual Toolbox series.
Regardless of where you are in your faith journey, prayer is vital. Conversations with God can be a tremendous source of peace and joy.
If you don’t pray as often as you’d like because you “don’t know what to say,” consider this approach.
I don’t know where it first originated, but the A.C.T.S. Prayer is a simple 4-part outline that helps us prioritize our side of the conversation with God.
Adoration
Offer a prayer of worship, demonstrating deep love and respect for God. Meditate on God’s majesty and praise God’s goodness.
Jesus began His famous prayer, “Our Father in heaven, holy be your name.”
This is what it means to make something holy—literally, “set it apart.” Put God in His own category—creator and ruler of the universe.
Confession
Admit your shortcomings, apologizing for the times you’ve gone astray. Meditate on the power of God’s mercy and forgiveness in your life.
The word sin means “to miss the mark.” We can miss the mark in two ways:
- Sins of Commission (doing bad things)
- Sins of Omission (not doing good things)
Be as specific as possible. This isn’t meant to induce guilt or shame—just the opposite. Attempting to understand our own sinfulness helps us appreciate the depth of God’s love in forgiving us.
Thanksgiving
Give thanks for the good things God has done in your life. Meditate with gratitude as you remember prayers already answered.
Celebrate the good that’s happened so far:
- What season of life did you survive that you thought you wouldn’t?
- Did something end up being better than you feared?
- Do you have one or two good people in your life?
- How often have you had to go bed wet, cold, or hungry?
Supplication
Bring requests for yourself and for others, asking God to meet those needs. Meditate on your reliance for God’s wisdom and provision.
Ask God to help you overcome obstacles, succeed with a project, or remain faithful through difficulty. Pray prayers that are both big and small. God cares about all of it.
When we do this, we’re not giving God new information so much as we’re reminding ourselves where our daily bread comes from.
Conclusion
Often, our prayers follow a different outline: S.C.a.T.
“God, please help me with this and that. I know I’ve messed up lately, but I want to do better for you in the future. Thank you. Amen.”
Consider that prayer from God’s perspective. Because He desires a relationship with us, which version do you think brings Him most joy?
If this outline works for you, click here to download a printable bookmark with a summary. Put it in your Bible or on your nightstand.
Or, find a different approach altogether.
When it comes to prayer, what matters most is honesty and sincerity. God is big enough to handle your fears, doubts, and concerns.
From the Fray,
-bill