“This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’” Matthew 6:9-13
Prayer is our means of direct communication with God. We should not try to impress Him with our repetitive and memorized prayers. Instead, we must pray from the heart. Prayer is not supposed to be a duty or when we feel like it. We must pray like how Jesus modeled it. This guide may sound familiar to you, or you have already read it somewhere. It goes with the acronyms A.C.T.S.
A – ADORATION.
Start by praising God with His character and His wondrous works. Often, we forget Who it is we are praying to. We treat prayer as a shopping list and not a love letter to God. Be reminded that worshipping Him through prayer is the sole reason we do this because this shows our proper response to Him. Adoration is also intended to let God know that you are looking forward to His kingdom coming over all the earth.
C – CONFESSION
When you pray, admit that you are a sinner who needs His grace. Confess every sin you have committed. Ask forgiveness for every hurtful word that came from your mouth, every wrong behavior you did, every intentional and unintentional sin you may have committed. It is also important to ask forgiveness for your shortcomings in serving God. Another way to confess is to acknowledge your inability to forgive others quickly. Yes, it’s hard to forgive others, but it will be more challenging if you do not ask God for His help regarding this area of your life.
T – THANKSGIVING
You have a million things to thank God for. If it means enumerating them whenever you pray, do it. He deserves all the praise. Thank Him for your family, career, and friends. Thank Him for your church— your spiritual family. You should thank not only your answered prayers or your blessings, but all the more, thank Him for every unanswered prayer because He has prepared something better for you. Thank Him for every trial, problem, brokenness, disappointment, emptiness, betrayal, pain, or sickness that God has allowed in your life. Be grateful because these tribulations will mold you and prepare you for your greatest breakthrough.
S – SUPPLICATION
Ask God for wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discernment so you may live a Godly life. Ask for your daily needs like provisions, protection, guidance, and strength. Also, one of the most important things to ask God for is to deliver you from temptations. The enemy’s traps are inevitable because he wants to see your downfall. But thank God because He will protect you from it. Remember that God knows what you need, even before you ask Him. He knows what’s in your heart, your desires, and your dreams. But He wants to hear you ask for it.
Prayer is a vital part of our lifestyle. We should make it a habit. As God’s children, we have the privilege of talking to Him 24/7. Please don’t take it for granted.