Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life, and the ACTS prayer model is a great way to guide you when approaching the Lord with your petitions and requests.
What is the ACTS prayer model?
The ACTS prayer model consists of an acronym that creates an easy to follow method on how to pray: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
Why should I use the ACTS prayer model?
Whether you’re just starting out on your walk with Jesus or have been a faithful disciple for years, the ACTS prayer model can bring structure or a fresh perspective to your time with God after years of faithful devotion.
Is the ACTS prayer model biblical?
While the ACTS acronym isn’t something that is referenced directly from the Bible, the ACTS prayer model is loosely based on “The Lord’s Prayer” in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, in which Jesus gave his disciples a great outline:
Adoration: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Confession: “And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.”
Thanksgiving was added for the letter T, as prayer is to be a daily part of a Christ-follower’s life, and “in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,” we are to present our requests to God. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).
Supplication: “Give us today our daily bread.”
The ACTS prayer model is not a rule, but a tool you can incorporate into your prayer life and walk with Jesus. There are no specific words or phrases that are required to be used as it’s more of a guideline or outline for your daily quiet time.
How do you use the ACTS prayer model?:
A – Adoration:
The A in the ACTS model allows us to focus on praising the Lord, adoring Him for who He is and what He is like.
God Himself is worthy of our praise, and making Him the first focus of our time in prayer is giving Him the glory He deserves. Adoration leads you to begin your time in prayer with a heart of worship, deep love, and reverence for the Lord.
If you’ve never done this before, it may feel awkward at first or you may not know what to say. There are plenty of passages in the Bible that can help you begin to learn how to give words to your adoration of God, and Psalm 95:1-6 is a great place to start!
C – Confession:
The C in the ACTS model is for confession of any sins that you have not already confessed to Him.
1 John 1:9 declares, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (NIV)”
Because of the blood that Jesus shed for us on the cross, by faith in Him we receive the gift of salvation, including the cleansing and purification of all our sins for all time. This is what the gospel, “the good news,” is all about!
There’s no need to re-confess sins from last week or last year, but confessing our sins to God allows us to breathe a sigh of relief as we receive His forgiveness and move on.
T – Thanksgiving:
The T in the ACTS model is for thanksgiving, as God has called us to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
Giving thanks to the Lord is important regardless of what season of life we’re in or what storms of life we’re experiencing, as it allows our heart to soften and to trust Him in everything. While adoration focuses on who God is, thanksgiving is all about what God has done, is doing, and will do for us.
Thanking the Lord for all the blessings He provides in our lives doesn’t just mean physical or worldly things, but can also include salvation, protection, provision, eternal love and blessings, and so much more.
S – Supplication:
The S in the ACTS model is to “supplicate,” which means to ask earnestly or humbly for your needs and requests on behalf of yourself or others.
One of God’s promises is that He answers our cries for help (Isaiah 30:19), and the beautiful thing about having a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is that we are His children and can ask Him for anything we need.
You might ask God for His help with your latest project, for patience with your coworker, or for eyes to see your day the way the Lord sees it. Trust God’s sovereignty, including His timing and will for your life.
Your Next Steps
The ACTS prayer model has guided the prayer life of thousands of Christians over the years, and if you’re looking for additional structure for your daily quiet time, visit our How to Have a Daily Quiet Time resource to learn more.
Remember, God doesn’t want fancy words or long-winded prayers. He desires us to be open and honest with Him, experiencing His love and presence through daily quiet time, intimacy with Jesus in prayer, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Share this Navigators Discipleship Tool
Download a print friendly PDF of the ACTS Prayer Model resource to pass along. Navigators Discipleship Tools are designed for sharing with your Bible study, church groups, and those you are discipling.
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