Matthew 6:9-13 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (KJV)

Psalms 18:2 The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. (KJV)

How do you pray?

The Lord’s prayer (Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:1-4) is the model Jesus gave for prayer. A.C.T.S. is an easy way to remember the key elements of prayer. It’s simply prayer in four parts:

A-Adoration

Tell God how much you appreciate Him. Express your love for Him. Praise His power and majesty.

• 1 Chronicles 29:11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and the earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and Yours it is to be exalted as Head over all. (AMPC)
• Jude 25 To the one only God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory (splendor), majesty, might and dominion, and power and authority, before all time and now and forever (unto all the ages of eternity). Amen (so be it). (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

C-Confession

Tell Him where you have fallen short. Be specific. Thank Him for the forgiveness you have in Christ, and ask for help and strength to turn away from future temptations.

• Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But whoever confesses and turns away from his sins will find compassion and mercy. (Amplified Bible AMP)
• 1 John 1:9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

T-Thanksgiving

You have plenty of reasons to be thankful. Thank God for His love, His faithfulness, His patience. Take the time to think about what God has done and then take the time to thank Him.

• Psalm 107:1 O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (KJV)
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition AMPC)

S-Supplication

Tell God what you want, no matter how small it seems to you.

• Psalm 116:1-2 I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. (KJV)
• Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ. (The Passion Translation TPT)

There is no one greater to talk about your life with. In prayer you will find a confidant, a teacher, refuge, strength, a burden bearer and much more. He is Elohim Bashamayim [el- ō-hēm bash-a-may-him] (God in Heaven). You can run to Your Father, Who is in heaven above, and be safe.

Please agree with me as I pray. Then ask the Lord what your prayer should be and wait for His response:

Father, for a long time, I didn’t think that it should excite me to talk to You. I knew I should talk to You. You also taught me I should want to talk to You. You never stop teaching me and now I am excited to talk to You. When I have good news, I can’t wait to tell my friends and loved ones. It never occurred to me to come to You with the same enthusiasm. I repent for taking You for granted. I repent for not running to You with the good news like I do when the news is bad. I would not have any news at all if it were not for You. Now I come to thank You because I recognize whatever happened would never have happened without You. I also come because I am excited to hear what You have to say. I am motivated in the time I spend with You. I can remember, years ago, I wrote my prayers, and I used the A.C.T.S. model to talk to You. It was important for me to follow the model, step by step. I wanted to make sure I approached You the right way, and I said the right things to You. It was the answer Jesus gave the disciples when they asked Him to teach them to pray; so, it was the one for me. Though I still use this model, in some form, I have come to know prayer does not have to be regimented. Prayer is having a conversation with You. I understand we’re not peers and I’m glad about it. I come to You, honoring You for Your Majesty, confessing all the things I’ve done, asking for forgiveness when needed, thanking You for Your blessings, and sharing my life. The most important thing I do is listen to You for guidance. When I both listen and obey, I can continue to honor You. I thank You for Your grace and Your mercy. Please continue to draw me closer to You, my Father Who art in Heaven…

Ask the lord what he wants to say to you about today’s devotional and journal it here: