The best way to get to know someone is to talk with that person often. God longs for you to know Him. The Bible is full of invitations to enter into a deep, personal relationship with God the Father. “If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)
In Jeremiah 24:7, speaking of those who would become followers of Jesus Christ, God says, “Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the LORD.” Conversing with God is called prayer. Prayer is a conversation, not a monologue. It includes speaking to God and hearing from God.
Jesus Set the Example for Us (read Mark 1:35)
What does this passage say about Jesus’ prayer life?
Jesus Taught the Necessity of Prayer (read Luke 18:1)
What did the disciples ask Jesus to teach them (read Luke 11:1)?
Why should we pray continually (read 1 Thessalonians 5:17)?
The acrostic ACTS will help you begin developing your prayer life.
- Adoration
- Confession
- Thanksgiving
- Supplication
1. Adoration is praise focusing upon who God is. Look up the following Scriptures. Write in the blanks what the verses say about God. (Psalm 145:3; 147:1, 5)
Spend time now in praise. Read Psalm 100 or 150 and use it as a prayer back to God.
2. Confession is acknowledging your sins before God in order to receive forgiveness. When you received eternal life, a relationship with God was established, which will never be broken, but our daily fellowship with God can be hindered by unconfessed sin. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.”
Therefore, when you sin:
- Confess the sin when you realize you’ve committed it (read John 1:9a).
- Receive His promise of cleansing (read 1 John 1:9:b).
- Claim victory over temptation (read 1 Corinthians 10:13).
Take time now to ask God to reveal any unconfessed sins. Write them down. Confess them one by one. Claim His promise of forgiveness.
3. Thanksgiving is expressing gratitude to God for specific acts. When does God say we should give thanks (read 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
List things in the following areas that you can give thanks for; then spend time thanking Him.
- Spiritual Blessings
- People
- Physical Blessings
- Material Blessings
4. Supplication is making requests and expressing desires to God. They may take the form of personal petitions or intercession.
- Petition is asking God for your needs (read John 15:7 and Philippians 4:6-7). List three personal requests, and present them to God in prayer.
- Intercession is praying for the needs of others (read Exodus 32:30-34 and Romans 10:1). Notice the requests that are found in these verses. Also, list people you know with specific needs in their lives; pray for them.
REVIEW
- Prayer is communication with God. It has to be learned, and it must be practiced.
- Using A-C-T-S, what are the elements of prayer?
- It is important for you to spend time each day in prayer. When would be the best time for you to pray?
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