by James Richardson

Created on: March 06, 2010   Last Updated: March 12, 2010

The prayer-filled life is essential for the Christian believer.  Not only is it a command, but it is a command with promise.  Second Chronicles 7:14 says, “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 

Dialogue with God is rich with promises of fulfilling His purposes in our lives and on earth.  It is neither complicated nor deeply theological.  In fact, the prayer-filled Christian walk is quite easy to attain. 

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Prayer is a type of dialogue; it is a two-way communication vehicle between God and man.  In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus gave His followers a model for prayer in what is often quoted as “The Lord’s Prayer.”

While there are all types of prayers and outlines of prayers, a successful structure that partners with the Lord’s Prayer may be found in the ACTS model:

Adoration – Adoration is the act of simply expressing gratitude to God for who He is.  It is the “…hallowed be your name…” (Matt. 6:9) clause of the Lord’s Prayer. 

Confession – Confession is the request for God to “…forgive us our debts [sins] as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12).  It is essential to prayer because forgiveness is a two-way street.  In order to receive God’s forgiveness, we must demonstrate His likeness in our daily lives, including reconciliation with those who have wronged us.  Just as we need to be in good standing with others for effective interpersonal communication, the same is true for prayer. And as the apostle John assures us in I John 1:9, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Thanksgiving – Thanksgiving is simply saying, “God thank you for…”  It can be thankfulness for material blessings, physical blessings, and certainly for God’s free gift of salvation.

Supplication – Supplication is the “top-of-the-mind” definition of prayer, that is, it’s all about presenting our requests and needs to God.  It is our petition to the Divine for His intervention on behalf of our circumstances. 

MISCONCEPTION OF PRAYER

In “Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Bible Philosophy,”

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