Within Christian circles, the phrase “prayer life” is often used to describe the condition of our meeting times with God.
Whenever the term is used, it is often referring to questions such as: “How many times do you pray a day?” or “Are your prayers fulfilling?”
Although, in some cases such questions have an applicable position in our life, many times they are trivial in comparison to the question: “What is the content of our prayer?”
I am not writing this to be the questioner; however, I do want to share my experience of a moment when my “prayer life” (For lack of a better word) was shifted.
It shifted in a time of what I would deem, “satisfying prayer.”
Concepts such as prayer without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17) and this heavy charge’s possibility through constant fellowship with the Spirit (2 Corinthians 13:14) remained continually in mind.
Nonetheless, there was a problem.
My prayer was full of pleading for God to do things; however, this centered my prayer in a talk at God instead of a talk with God.
These prayers strayed from a Biblical formula prevalent throughout the entirety of the Bible.
Supplication with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving with adoration.
For the Apostle Paul urges,
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).
In the same light, the Psalmist notes that thanksgiving is complete when coupled with adoration and praise for the Supplier who is worthy of thanksgiving. God.
Psalm 100:4 states,
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.”
These are not the only examples of reminders to do such.
It is in the many Scriptural reminders that thanksgiving and adoration were placed on my Spiritual radar.
These reminders are the basis for the man-made acronym A.C.T.S.
During a church service, I had heard of this powerful acronym.
Before sharing, I want to note that I do not hold rigidity in this acronym; however, it did serve as a powerful reminder of the comprehensive nature of a simple conversation with God in the Spirit.
A.C.T.S. stands for:
Adoration.
Confession.
Thanksgiving.
Supplication.
It’s creator ordered it with the intention of importance, first to last.
Although, I simply want it to be a reminder to position the God of Glory first within our prayers as we cast our burdens upon Him (Psalm 55:22). He cares for each one.
God bless!