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How does one pray?
I know how to pray in church and at dinner-time, but I've never been
taught how to say a personal prayer or really talk to God.
There is
no formula to prayer -- it is simply conversing with God. But before
we talk about how to pray, consider what prayer is and does. Warren
and Ruth Myers state in their book "31 Days of Prayer": "Prayer
keeps us aware of Him as our Source and opens our lives to receive
His greater bounty. Prayer also links our lives with God's exciting
purposes and power. More importantly, it brings us into a love
relationship with God, rooted in realizing how much we need Him and
our choosing to depend on Him. The more we pray, the more we're able
to let God meet our emotional and spiritual needs and love others
through us. Prayer ushers us into an experience with God, with a
growing sense of wonder, delight, and gratefulness." -Warren and
Ruth Myers, "31 Days of Prayer"
In regard
to how to pray, remember that prayer is essentially talking with God
as you would talk with an earthly parent who loves you and wants the
best for you. God is your heavenly Father who loves you perfectly.
The ACTS model will probably be helpful to you as you learn how to
pray. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and
Supplication.
Adoration
means worship. We encourage you to begin your time of prayer by
adoring and praising God. Praise Him for who He is and for all that
He has done for you. God delights in your praises!
Confession, the next component, means agreeing with God about the
things that you have done wrong. It's a time to express sorrow about
what you have said, thought, or done that is not pleasing to Him.
Ask God to forgive you for these things, and then believe that He
does so freely. When you confess your sins, you receive God's
cleansing and this helps to remove any barrier in your communication
with Him (read 1 John 1:9).
Thanksgiving basically means being thankful to God. Thank Him for
His love, protection, and provision -- to name a few things.
Supplication is the final component, and this means praying for your
needs and for the needs of others, such as friends, family, your
pastor, missionaries, government leaders, and persecuted Christians
around the world. You may want to pray for such things as God's
guidance, wisdom, and opportunities to serve.
Keep in
mind that the ACTS model serves as a guide to help you, not a rigid
formula to follow. There is no "canned" approach that you need to
take; just talk from your heart. There are additional steps that
will help. Carve out a specific time to pray each day. Pick a quiet
place where you can be alone with God. You will also find a special
blessing if you begin your time by reading the Bible. Select a
passage to read (download a Bible reading plan) and spend some time
thinking about it deeply. Reflect on what God is "speaking" to you
through the passage. Ask God to help you apply what you are
learning. God wants you to share your heart with Him, and He wants
to share His heart with you -- this can take place anytime, day or
night! |
