A.C.T.S.

Matthew 6:9 -- "Pray, then, in this way: 'Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name'..."

It was so quiet I could hear the clock on the kitchen wall and the swoosh of Bo's tail sweeping across the floor.  I had been sitting on the couch, jotting in my prayer journal and listening for the collective deep sleep breathing of all of my guys. My oldest had been in bed for hours so it surprised me that his sleep-over friend joined me in the quiet. He asked me what I was doing.

I explained that more often than not, I do my praying in a journal. Doing it this way allows me to look back  from time to time and be thankful for all the answered prayers - a reminder of the Amazing God we serve. 

L became quiet for a moment and then said: "I never know what to pray."

Putting my journal down on the couch I looked at him and shared with him a "secret." Jesus gave us a model prayer in Matthew. When I open my heart before our Lord during my official quiet time with him, I use A.C.T.S.

L was curious. I explained that using the anagram keeps me focused. So often in my eagerness to talk with my Savior, I can get carried away and chase a few rabbits, making the prayer all about me. Having structure reminds me to be respectful, thankful, and humble. I wrote it down for him on a piece of paper:

A - adoration. Often I use the book of Psalm for this. It's so full of praise. I then embellish those words and make them personal. 

C- confession. I don't like for things to come between my Lord and I. I am a sinner and am saved by grace and only grace. God gave us a way to Him, Jesus spilled his own blood for me. It's' important that I remember that.

T - thanks. So many times in life we petition God. So many times in life we forget to tell Him how grateful we are that He is a God who always answers. There are so many reasons to thank God. I want to be sure I am mindful of them.

S - supplication. I lay my burdens at the feet of my Lord. I pray on behalf of others and ask the Lord to guide me and grow me. 

Jesus began his model prayer with adoration. With praise. There is a reason for that. 

When I begin my quiet time reflecting on the Awesome God we serve I put the focus of our time together on Him. It removes the focus from myself. God IS Holy. He IS Almighty, Amazing,Wonderful! 

I think Point Of Grace said it best in their song: God Forbid: "God forbid that I should find You so familiar that I think of You as Less than Who You are."


Now I should point out that not every single prayer uttered to my Savior has a format. I use this when I enjoy my personal quiet time with God. There are moments - LOTS of them - when a fervent prayer is uttered at the drop of a hat, in utter joy and excitement, or in sheer desperation, or in pain. Sometimes there aren't any words at all. Prayer is personal.

It's just nice and important that I communicate WITH God and not AT Him. Using this little anagram reminds me to make it less about me and more about Who God is and to seek HIS will - not my own.

To hear the song by Point Of Grace, click the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kd2OGZmu1-U