The A.C.T.S method is a method I used almost all the time when I go before God, and I find it to be very effective. It allows me to cover all areas in my prayer that I would forget otherwise. In Matthew chapter 6, Jesus outlined this same method of prayer during His teachings on the Mount. This method can be used to help get someone started who felt stuck otherwise; as well as those who want to try doing things another way. It doesn’t matter where you are in your prayer life, the A.C.T.S method is a definite guarantee.
There are many benefits of using the ACTS method of prayer, but I will just list a few here:
- It act as a guide to a more in dept prayer time
- It gives a step-by-step approach to opening the lines of communication between you and God
- The focus becomes more about God, His character, and others
- Build a closer relationship with God
Before we dive into what each of these letters means, I want to iterate that this is just an outline to help you in your prayer time and is not meant to limit how you pray to God. Prayer is meant to be a sincere, heartfelt open communication between you and God.
How to use the A.C.T.S Method of Prayer
A: Adoration — Take this as a time to focus on the character of God. God’s character is reflected in His word through and through, but worshiping and adoring Him through songs and praises proves that He is everything to us. This is a time to fix our eyes on the one who created us and to tell Him how much we love and appreciate Him. Yours, Lord, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Lord: you are exalted as head above all. (1 Chronicles 29:11)
C: Confession — Confess our sins before God, even though He knows all that we have done. What this says about us is that we are sorry and in need of His forgiveness. Confession and repentance are key to getting our prayers answered. There has to be no blockage in communication between us and God, and that’s why confession is so important. Don’t come before God with a prideful heart, but rather with a humble and repentant heart, recognizing that we are sinners and in need of His mercy. Telling Him how sorry we are for the things we did that were not pleasing to Him. If we confess our sins. He is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
T: Thanksgiving — Give God thanks for all He has done. Being grateful tells God that we appreciate Him and His blessings in our lives. Show gratitude toward Him for sending His son to die for us. Thank Him for how far He has brought us, and for showing up in our lives daily. Show gratitude to Him for meeting our daily needs, for health, peace, strength, family, life, love, etc. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good, His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures for all generations. (Psalms 100:4)
S: Supplication — Prayer is not selfish. Prayer is not only asking for ourselves but also for others. Prayer is asking God to meet the needs of others; to show up in the lives of the lost and the broken, the weak and the lonely, the depressed and the oppressed. When we pray God will bring other need to our mind that does not pertain to us, but to someone else that we haven’t even crossed paths with; as well as those whom we know. Praying with supplication is to bring a specific request before God, something that has been burning in our hearts, something that we need God’s help and guidance for because only He alone can take care of it. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God. (Philippians 4:6)
As we seek God in prayer, we have to always have an open heart to hear from Him. He will always give us an answer about the things we prayed for. Remember to never limit God’s ability to show up with an answer in whatever means that is in His will.
I hope that this method will be useful for you too. Hopefully, it can help to reflect more on the areas that weren’t highlighted much before, and that moving forward it will become an everyday aspect of your life. Don’t think that this method is to limit you in any way; it is just a stepping stone in getting started or to help bring prayer and worship with God into a new dimension.
Let’s pray…
Father God in heaven. I adore you. I praise and magnify your Holy name. You are the all-Knowing God and there is none like you. I boldly confess my sins and faults before you, asking for your forgiveness for every foolish thing I have done. I thank you for sending your son to die so I could be washed clean and made whole in your blood. I give you thanks for supplying my every need and for all your provision. I pray for my family and loved ones. I pray for the needs of others who need your grace and forgiveness. I pray for the rejected, the lost, and the hurt. I thank you that you’re not a partial God, but a loving God. So thank you for your love and protection. In Jesus’ name.
Amen!
