Prayer Reset
Part II

4)    Plan

I learned this acronym a long time ago. It brings needed structure to my prayer time. I can get lost when praying, just letting my thoughts wander. (For that same reason I like to pray out loud.) I have found this acronym, ACTS, to be helpful both when I am alone and with a group.  ACTS stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication.

Adoration: Enter His courts with praise. Psalm 100:4. Spending a few moments at the outset of prayer in praise to God for who He is shifts our eyes off our circumstances and onto our almighty all-sufficient God. This is a time to remember God’s character and attributes such as His mercy, His power and might, His love. It is also the time to focus upon aspects of who He is. For instance, I might say, “You are the Good Shepherd, the Alpha the Omega, the One who is and was and will be. You are my Rock, my stronghold and defender.” Begin with praise.

Confession: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9.

Before we go further in prayer, we take a moment to reflect on our lives, asking the Holy Spirit to convict us of any sin we have not dealt with before the Lord.  We need His cleansing and forgiveness. Ask Him to search out your heart. Wait on Him. If He brings anything to mind be sure to deal with it by turning away from the attitude or behavior. Confess your sin to the Lord. (Confess means to say the same thing as; you confess your sin when you call it sin and do not excuse or minimize it. Sin is when we go our way and not God’s way.) Receive His forgiveness with thanksgiving.

We do this daily so we stay confessed up!  Keep short accounts with God. He is looking for followers who are blameless not sinless.

Thanksgiving:  Enter His gates with thanksgiving. Psalm 100:4. Take a moment to thank the Lord for what He has done.

Have a grateful heart, remember and be thankful. You cannot be arrogant and grateful to the Lord at the same time. We acknowledge that the Lord is the giver of every good thing. We are not self-sufficient. Thankfulness puts us in the right position to receive His blessings. We recognize His goodness and our neediness.

Supplication:  Trust in Him at all times, O people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.  Psalm 62:7. Level with the Lord. Be honest about what is going on in your heart. (The Lord knows anyway.) I like to imagine my prayer requests and the burdens of my heart are gathered into a backpack. When I come before the Throne of Grace I release all the contents of the backpack and leave them at the feet of the Lord, trusting Him with all of them. Pour out and release are the words that aptly describe supplication.

5)    Pen and Paper

Finally write down what you are praying about and when you get an answer, record it too.  You may not believe this but as time goes by you will not remember everything you have prayed for.  When you later read your prayers and answers you will be amazed. Recording your requests will be an incredible faith builder.  I have composition books where I journaled my prayers from years past and it blows me away to see how the Lord has answered my simple requests.  He is full of mercy and faithful. He wants us to put Him on display.

Are you ready for a prayer reset? You are welcomed into the very command center of the universe. The doors have been opened and you are invited to approach the throne of grace and make your requests, leaving your burdens at the Lord’s feet.  You can change the future. Avail yourself of this awesome privilege. Ready, set, go!

Additional resources can be found here: https://subspla.sh/ftrcsyk