Supplication (ACTS)
Supplication:
There are many ways to pray, and over the last few weeks I have reminded us of an old acronym that has been a great tool for me and many over the years. ACTS: A=Adoration, C=Confession, T=Thanksgiving, S=Supplication. These 4 words help remind us of all God desires of us in prayer. Adoration keeps our eyes looking up at our perfect God and His beautiful character reorienting our minds to praise, taking our minds off ourselves. Confession is our opportunity to shed our sin, restore our fellowship with God, and remind us of our continual need for Jesus. Thanksgiving is about giving credit where it is due - God is the giver of every perfect gift. Thanksgiving also give us a unique opportunity to be grateful for how the hard things in life are shaping us into the image of Christ. Now finally, supplication is where we get to ask God for all that we need. And it is OK to admit we need God, because we really do! We are small, finite creatures just trying to figure out life as best we can. And He is the infinite Creator God who has ALL of the answers. He loves it when we come and ask Him for the things we need. In fact, He tells us that sometimes we don’t have what we need, because we never even asked Him! He even encourages us to ask with persistence! Asking comes last in the list because hopefully our adoration, confession, and thanksgiving has helped align our hearts, minds, and bodies up with who God is and what He desires. The verse that says we do not have because we haven’t asked, also says we can ask with wrong motives. These wrong motives usually have us asking for things we think are best that are not what is best for a situation. Regardless though, we can always ask, we just need to accept that sometimes the answer is in fact ‘no.’ And we need to humbly accept that answer alongside the rejoicing that comes when we get a ‘yes.’ One thing we know we will always get in all situations is wisdom! James 1 says that God gives it willingly and lavishly to all who ask. God loves providing for His children! So let’s start asking for everything, laying it at His feet waiting expectantly for Him to answer!
________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Practice:
Read Philippians 4: 4-7
Ask God to lavish you with His wisdom, and to help align your thoughts with His.
Ask God to help you know Him and His Word better.
Ask God for the salvation of family, loved ones, and for the lost of the world.
Ask God to help you love your family and friends with His love.
Ask God for healing for all of your physical issues, and internal wounds and trauma.
Ask God to help with a problem you need to solve, whether it’s simple or complex.
Ask God to help you in all of daily duties, whether that means going to a job everyday or staying at home doing household chores and taking care of kids and life.
Ask God to help you in your ministry to others, giving you boldness, gentleness, direction and guidance.
Ask God to help you be more aware of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and ask Him for the many spiritual gifts He provides.
Ask God to help you in any broken relationship.
Ask God for financial needs.
Ask God to help and bless your pastors, elders, staff and volunteers at your local church.
Pray for missionaries you know or have heard about at through your local church.
Pray for your hometown, the wider area you live in, and your state, the United States and the world, and all of our government officials to follow God’s wisdom instead of their own.