Key Verses: “This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” – Matthew 6:9-13 (NASB2020 Version)

The idea of prayer is one that is familiar to some, but is also very new to many others. Most people have heard of it or have seen it in movies and tv shows. Some people have been praying their whole lives, others have just began, and others have no clue what I am even talking about (and that’s okay too).

Whatever your experience with prayer is, I’m here to tell you that there is SO much power in prayer. When you close your eyes, fold your hands, and utter the words that are on your heart, you are speaking directly to your creator. Prayer is the direct communication between you and God, and He is always waiting for you to come Him with prayers.

Now, there are some of you out there that might be thinking for themselves “well that sounds great Joshua, but I have no idea where to start”. If you are in that boat where you don’t know where to start or feel lost in your prayer, you’ve come to the right place.

I’m going to start off with some good news: it’s so much easier than you might think. The simplest place to start is by telling God every single thing that is on your mind and heart. He already knows your thoughts, and not only does this let you communicate with Him, but you also practice humility in giving the things on your mind to the Lord.

The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He actively wants you to come to Him. In the Book of Matthew, in Chapter 11 verses 28-29, He says “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Did you hear that? Jesus will give you rest for your weary and burdened souls, He even promises rest for your souls.

If you eventually get to a point where you feel like you are starting to run out of things to say in your daily prayers, I am going to introduce you to a method that is great to follow (and is backed by the Bible). I, as well as many who are followers of Christ, use this prayer strategy as a way to open our hearts up.

The ACTS Method of Prayer

I want to walk you through a method of prayer known as the ACTS method, which stands for: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

In Chapter 6 of the Book of Matthew, Jesus is delivering his infamous ‘Sermon on the Mount’: a collection of teachings and sayings by Jesus, focusing on moral and spiritual guidance for his followers. Within this sermon, Jesus walks us through exactly how we should pray, which can be found in the Key Verse section at the top of this page. If you have ever heard of the ‘Our Father’ or the ‘Lord’s Prayer’, it comes directly from this section.

This instruction is a framework for how we should be praying to God. Let me break down each letter in the acronym, where it is find in this passage, and give an example of how you can use it:

A-Adoration: Worship characterized by love and reverence for God, acknowledging His supreme authority, holiness, and majesty. (Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name). When you start your prayer, acknowledge God’s goodness and dominion over our lives. This sets up your prayer with humility and opens your heart for His goodness.

C-Confession: A heartfelt acknowledgment of one’s sins to God, seeking forgiveness and repentance. (And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors). We all are sinners, and if we confess to God and open ourselves up to when we did something wrong, He will forgive us. This isn’t a message of condoning sin, but if you are honest with the Lord when you fall short, He will give you the grace and mercy each and every day.

T-Thanksgiving: Expresses gratitude for blessings received, acknowledging the source of these gifts, and reflecting on the joy and peace they bring. (Give us today our daily bread). Take the time to thank God for everything in your life, big and small. From the job you may have to the bed you slept on to even just waking up in the morning. Thank Him for how GREAT He is.

S-Supplication: A type of prayer that involves a humble and earnest request or plea to God, often for help, guidance, or mercy. (And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one). If you are in need or a request or know someone who is in need of some prayers, ask God for it. This is the time to truly search your heart and say what has been keeping you up at night. This also could be something positive too, even as simple as “God, I pray for a blessed day at work”.

When you finish your prayer, you should always end by praying in the name of Jesus, and this can be done by simply saying “In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.” The reason for this is because in John chapter 14:13-14, Jesus says “Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” Now, this doesn’t mean go around and pray to God asking for $1,000,000 and if you say it in Jesus’ name, you will automatically get it. However, if you truly believe that Jesus can deliver you from your pain and make a way for you when things feel lost, then Jesus will.

This prayer structure is a great way to speak to God and let Him truly into your hearts. If you ever feel like stuck and don’t know what to say, go back to this framework and let the Holy Spirit guide you.

I challenge you today: commit to a daily prayer. It doesn’t have to be extravagant, as long as it is honest. Comment and let me know the prayer routine that you have committed to doing!

Have a great day, I love you all, but Jesus loves you more.