A.C.T.S. Prayer

OVERVIEW

The ACTS Prayer is a simple tool to learn to pray. If you are having a difficult time knowing how to pray, where to begin, or what to cover, this can be helpful to keep you focused and centered on the heart of prayer. This is a great way to pray alone or in a group setting.

Jesus’ disciples approached him and requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11.1b). John probably taught his disciples differently and used a different approach, but Jesus taught what has come to be called The Lord’s Prayer. The ACTS Prayer is only one tool to learn to pray.

ACTS is a simple acronym to remember the four steps in this prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

ADORATION

Begin by adoring God. Take a few minutes to simply praise God for who He is. It is not that God has forgotten who He is and needs reminding, it reminds us of who God says He is and of His faithfulness. Praise Him for…

1. His Person (i.e. as Father, King, Provider)
2. His Character (i.e. holy, powerful, all-knowing)
3. His Mighty Works (i.e. in the story of Israel, through the work of Jesus, in our own lives)

Oftentimes, we want to praise God in relation to the pains or blessings that we are experiencing at the moment. If we are struggling with needing guidance about a difficult decision, we can adore God for His infinite wisdom. If we receive a promotion, we can adore Him for His provision.

(Read through the Names of God)

CONFESSION

Next, move into a time of confession. Confession simply means ‘to agree’. It is when we come before God and acknowledge our sin, agreeing with Him that sin is not the way He has made us to live.

Spend a moment thinking about your previous day, let the Spirit reveal anything that needs to be brought to light,  and confess to Him those things.

This is not a time to beat yourself up, nor is it a rote agreement. The hope is for confession to lead to repentance—the turning away from sin and to the truth of God.

(Read the Confession of Sin below)

THANKSGIVING

After acknowledging sin, move into a time of thankfulness. Gratitude is the heart of faith in God because thankfulness moves us beyond ourselves to another—in this case God. Thank God for things like blessings and trials (Jam. 1.2-4, Rom. 5.3-5); gifts and losses; kindness and persecution (Acts 5.40-41; 2 Tim. 3.12); Jesus and the Spirit. We have so much to be thankful for!

(Read a Thanksgiving Psalm—i.e. 34, 95, 100, 136)

SUPPLICATION

Finally, enter a time of praying for your needs and those around you. Supplication means to humbly come before God and make requests. Spend time thinking through your relationships where you church, live, work, and recreate—who do you know in those spaces that have needs?

It can be good to take time to write down prayer requests—both yours and others. As you, or your group, pray, cross the ones off that are answered!