- To begin: grasp afresh, deep down, the reality that it makes a big difference that we pray – James 4:2, Exodus 17:8-13…. Pause to get a sense of expectancy as to what your prayer now will achieve; thank God for this incredible channel he has put in our hands!
- Prepare to pray… slow down…(Find out what helps you come into the colossal honour of reverent stillness in God’s presence…)
Breathe out the frustrations of the day? Breathe in His love?
Open your hands downwards to release the day’s cares…. Open them upwards to receive His care…
Kneel? Sing?
- Ask the Holy Spirit of prayer to protect and direct your prayers, and give you a faith-full sense of expecting results.
Confess any sins that might hinder His presence… repent…
Receive His forgiveness, claim afresh His filling…
- Are there pictures in the Bible that refresh you, that direct your thoughts to God?
- The Shepherd, and you the lost sheep (Luke 15)?; or
- You the lost (`prodigal’) child, and the welcoming Father (`Abba’/`Daddy’) (Luke 15)?; or
- The Good Samaritan who finds and rescues you, the beaten-up traveller?; or
- `The King of Kings who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light'(1 Tim 6:16)
- The Servant-King, coming in wondrous humility to wash your feet (John 13; Eph 5:26-27); or
- The Spirit the river of life, flowing out and transforming all that is dead (Ezk 47)?
Or what else have you read……..? or yourself, maybe, as a tree – roots sinking down into God’s Word’s refreshment (Psalm 1), branches reaching upwards to receive His love –
or a rock by the seashore, battered by the waves yet drenched by God’s sunshine (Malachi 4:2)…
- Then, what shall I pray? Lots of people have found the A.C.T.S summary helpful:
Adoration: worship the Lord!- especially for what you’ve seen in today’s Bible reading. (Worship comes first – look at the order of priorities when Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew 6:9-13!) `Boast in Jesus!’ (Phil 3:3); worship Him for what was in your Bible reading today; speak thanks for what He has given you in your life these last few days (Matt 6:11; etc etc)! And if it’s the kind of thing you find helpful, develop a plan to extend your range of worship – for example…
Sunday: Worship God in His absolute, eternal, glorious Majesty!
Monday: Worship God as your unendingly loving Father
Tuesday: Worship Jesus as the one who truly knew how to live
Wednesday: Worship Jesus for His loving death to take away your sin
Thursday: Worship Jesus – He really rose again, and gives us new life!
Friday: Worship Jesus – He’s coming back, and heaven’s going to be wonderful!
Saturday: Worship Jesus for His loving plans, His wisdom, and His power, working graciously now for you…
Confession: Pause to think, and confess any sins that might hinder His presence now… Repent of them… Receive His forgiveness, claim afresh His filling…
Thanksgiving: Pause to reflect, and speak thanks for the things He’s given you these last few days (your daily bread [Matt 6:11]; protection in all sorts of ways; etc etc – make a list of His blessings!)…
Lastly, asking for Stuff: rejoice that God has given you prayer like a pipeline from heaven, a way to channel blessing into… your workplace; your relationships; your family; your friends;, your street… the lives of the people you were with yesterday; the lives of those you will meet today…
And keep a record of the ways God answers your prayers – it will encourage you! Go on extending the influence of your prayers, your partnership with God:
- Pray for the not-yet-Christians you know. (Without this, nothing will happen in evangelism: read 2 Cor 4:4!) Pray for them by name, for specific, imaginable steps closer to God….
- Pray for your church: for our evangelism, our worship, our relationships, our teaching, our prayer, our homegroups, leadership, caring…. Children’s work, youth work…. etc etc etc…
- Pray for some missionaries you know (read Rom 15:30, Col 2:1)… for your homegroup’s missionary… for their health, their spiritual lives, their friendships, their evangelism, their church, their local colleagues, their marriage, their children…. etc etc etc…
- Pray (rather than complaining!) for your country’s leaders (Paul calls this a priority, 1 Tim 2:1-2)…..
Be the person who encourages an activity you’re part of to keep making prayer central!
Prioritize your own time with God (be it short or long)(cf Mk 3:14). Pick when it will be this coming day, then Protect it. Hunger to grow in it (Matt 5:6). And God will use you through it more than you can imagine (John 15:7, Mark 11:24)!
(This post was originally written as a church handout.)
