How to Pray ACTS Prayers (printable guide)
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How do you pray the acts prayer?
One thing we complicate in our relationship with God is prayer. I think most of us have good intentions; we want to make sure we get it right. So we create mental checklists of all the things we need to do or say to pray the right way. I fall into that sometimes too. What many of us are really aching for when it comes to prayer is guidance. That’s exactly what the ACTS prayer method provides for you.
How do you use the acts prayer model?
What are the four great ACTS of prayer?
Where can I find an acts prayer printable?
By the end of this article, you’ll have learned how to pray acts prayers for yourself step-by-step. You’ll also get a free acts prayer handout later on in the post so keep reading (or scroll down) for that.
What is the ACTS prayer method?
ACTS prayers are simple prayers said in a way that outlines four key things:
- Our love for God
- Our need for Him as a Savior
- The gratitude we have for God and the good that He gives
- Our desire for His help and provision in our lives.
If you’re someone who is easily distracted in prayer or someone who struggles with what to say during prayer; the ACTS way of praying can help you stay focused and guide you through simple steps of talking to God.
Though it’s a helpful prayer format, I want to be clear, it is not the only way to pray. If we look to the Bible for examples of prayer and even examples of acts prayers (you’ll find those as you continue to scroll and read) we can tell pretty quickly that there is a lot of freedom in how prayer is done. You don’t have to stick to a specific prayer outline. Chances are as you become more confident in your relationship with God you’ll find your prayers become less and less structured anyways. They’ll become more intimate and feel like an ongoing conversation.
But when that off-day comes and you’re struggling to hear God’s voice or find the words to speak, that’s when prayer formats like the acts pray model comes in handy.
How do you use the acts prayer model?
Prayer is designed to be a special time with God. Most of us know that. Something we have to be careful of when using prayer outlines like the acts method is our tendency to turn prayer into a box on our to-do list instead of an intimate moment. To avoid this, on the days I pray using prayer outlines I prepare by taking two cautionary steps.
Preparing to Pray Acts Prayers
Step one is reflection. I pull out my Bible and read through verses that remind me of who God is and what His love accomplished for me Some of my favorite Bible passages for reflection include: John chapter 1, Revelation chapter 19, Psalm 8, and Ephesians chapters 1&2.
The act of reflecting leads me perfectly into the first step of acts prayers (we’ll walk through each step in the next section).
The last step is simply listening. I set down my Bible, quiet my voice, take out my prayer journal and just listen. Why? Because prayer isn’t only about what I have to say to God. The most important part of prayer is what God has to say to me. Most prayer formats put the emphasis on talking to God, they want to teach you what to say. When prayer becomes more about my words than it does God’s words, It’s very rare that prayer accomplishes its purpose. God wants us to talk to Him, but He is also adamant that we listen to Him.
Start with biblical reflection.
Close with listening.
The steps in between are described as the four great acts of pray.
What are the four great ACTS of prayer?
A → Adoration. In my opinion, this is the best way to start a prayer. It combines our love for God with our reverence for Him and teaches us to declare His goodness even in rough circumstances. The book Transforming Prayer goes in-depth on this topic and is 100% worth the read if you’re serious about cultivating a powerful prayer life.
C → Confession. Part of walking with Jesus is allowing Him to lead us out of our sin and brokenness. This process is called sanctification and it starts with confession.
T → Thanksgiving. This is where we take the time to express our gratitude for all God has done, is doing, and all that we are thankful for in our lives.
S → Supplication. Supplication is the act of humbly and earnestly asking for something. This is the part of the prayer where people bring their needs and requests to God.
How to Pray A.C.T.S. – Sample Prayers of Adoration, Confession Thanksgiving, and Supplication
Now that we’ve summarized the basics, let’s piece all of this together.
The remainder of this article will give you examples of how to pray acts and Bible verses that support the fours steps of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.
Save these examples in our printable ACTS prayer sample.
Adoration Prayer Examples
ACTS prayer starts with a short adoration prayer. Adoration is an expression of love, affection, or honor (pr worship).
There’s an abundance of examples of adoration prayers in the Bible. The book of Psalms is known for them. What is an example of adoration?
“My soul longs for you.”
“I love you, Lord.”
The most important part of adoration prayers isn’t necessarily the words, but the posture of your heart. Don’t fake it until you make it. Speak what is true even if you’re struggling to see it at that moment. That is what genuine love does after all, right? It shows up even when it’s hard. And so we do too through prayers of adoration.
“God, you’re so good. I may not feel it right now, but I regardless of what I feel, this is what I know. You are good. You’re faithful.”
“God, today I’m struggling, but I’m here because I love you.”
I love these examples of adoration prayers in the Bible:
Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O Lord, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.
1 Chronicles 29:11 (NKJV)
Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities,Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction,Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Psalm 103:1-5 (NKJV)
Confession Prayers
What kinds of things are we confessing?
One, our necessity for Jesus.
Two, the faults we need forgiveness from.
Confession is a good thing. We usually shy away from it because it can mean confronting mistakes, poor choices, and sometimes even our own weakness – but the honest truth is – we need the truth and grace of God to overcome all of those things.
If we confess our sins He is faithful just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
John 1:9
The acts way of praying teaches us to respond to our weakness or sin in our lives by running to God instead of running away from Him. God asks for and honors that humility from us. It’s in that humility and by His grace, that forgiveness and spiritual healing come. Our confession is an invitation for Him to make us new and separate us from past wrong choices.
So what’s an example of acts prayer featuring confession.
“God, I need you.”
“God, I need your wisdom.”
“I know this choice didn’t rightly reflect my love for you. God, help me make it right.”
“Lord, give me strength to do the right thing. I can’t do it on my own I need you.”
Thanksgiving: Example of Acts Prayer
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5.
This is the space where you take every testimony you’ve ever had and you praise God for it. This is where you thank Him for every hard lesson, every ounce of provision, every measure of strength, salvation. There are no limitations for what you can be thankful for. If you can’t think of something, turn your attention away from the condition of your life and focus for a few minutes on the character of God. Here are a few to get you started.
Faithful.
Sovereign.
Forgiving
Patient
Our hope and assurance.
Our redemption and salvation.
Sometimes these prayers mesh with prayers of adoration. That’s ok. God isn’t concerned with the format of our prayers.
This prayer of adoration and thanksgiving from Psalm 107. The testimony in it (how the Lord freed the Hebrews from Egyptian captivity) blows my mind, every time.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy, and gathered out of the lands from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. They wandered in the wilderness in a desolate way; they found no city to dwell in. Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them. Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them out of their distresses. And He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city for a dwelling place. Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness.
Psalm 107:1-9
Acts Prayer Examples of Supplication
Do you have needs? Do the people around you have needs? Your family, church, community, neighbors, governments? When we bring those needs to God, that is what we call supplication.
In his letter to the Christians in Philippi Paul wrote,
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
God wants us to bring our needs to Him. In fact, He asks us to, because He wants to provide all that we need. He wants us to know we trust Him and depend on Him.
Do you need healing? God says we can ask for that! (see James 5:14-16).
Forgiveness? It’s ready for you. (see 1 John 1:9).
Wisdom? God will give it to you. (see James 1:5-6)
Are you looking for ways to bless others? He’ll help you be a blessing. (see Luke 6:38 and Genesis 12:1-3)
What dreams has God placed in your heart that haven’t come to fruition yet? Ask Him. He wants to give you the desires of your heart. (see Psalm 37:4)
I hope these examples of praying using acts have answered the question, “How do you pray using the ACTS acronym?” Still have questions? Drop them in the comments!
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