Many years ago I was taught a method in which to pray, that many of you may already be aware of called ACTS.
ACTS is an acronym for:
Adoration,
Confession,
Thanksgiving, and
Supplication.
This method of praying helps me to cover all of my basis when writing my prayers.
Below I have listed the 13 Steps to a Powerful Quiet Time.
1. Adoration starts by praising our Great and Mighty God who loves praise. When we praise God we are acknowledging His place of authority in our lives.
2. Next, we need to Confess our sins to get back in right standing with God. Don’t just confess, commit to repent of those sins. Repenting is to turn away so that you do not make this offense against God and others again. And yes I write the confessions of my sins down as well.
Be totally honest, after all, God already knows the truth. Confession of my sins has also been a great aid in helping me to learn to forgive myself as well. This is because writing helps me to release my inner feelings
3. Express Thanksgiving; when I write the things that I am thankful for, I am pleasing God because I am expressing my gratitude for the many blessings that he has bestowed upon me.
4. Supplication is simply making our request to God for the things that we are in need of. Although God already knows our needs, He finds delight in us asking Him. Because when we ask, we are admitting that He is our only source for all that we need.
5. If you are a person that gets distracted easily during your quiet time, write down all of the things that you need to do for the day, the night before. I suggest that you come to your quiet place with two spiral notebooks. As thoughts pop into your head jot them down and immediately go back to your journaling. One book is to journal in and the other is to write your reminders or to-do list on. This has been a huge help for me. It will help you to get settled into your writing quicker. You will be able to get distractive thoughts out of you and on paper and then you can fully concentrate on your writing.
6. I suggest that you journal early in the morning while the house is quiet and there are no phones ringing or TV’s on, and no one coming in and out to distract you. Some of you may prefer to do this after you have put your children to bed. I personally prefer the morning because I am rested and I am fully present with my thoughts and not fighting fatigue.
Psalm 5:3 – Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.
7. Be sure to have your Bible to read scriptures before and after you write.
8. Make an appointment with God. Try to write at the same time each day and in the same location. It feels more purposeful and structured this way, making it a commitment.
9. Be still several minutes before your writing starts. I usually sing some praise songs to God before I start. Invite Him to be a part of your day. Seek His guidance and instructions for your day.
10. Have your morning beverage of choice whether coffee juice etc. at your place of writing.
11. Have an extra pen handy in case yours stops writing. You don’t want your flow of writing to be distracted by having to get up and search for a pen.
12. Keep an emergency notebook in your car for a time when you are out and about and you just need to vent or release unexpectedly or you may even want to write down praise for something that you don’t want to forget to give gratitude for.
13. If the fear of someone finding your written thoughts concerns you, shred them when you are done.
Adoration:
Psalm 63:1-4 O God, you are my God;
I earnestly search for you.
My soul thirsts for you;
my whole body longs for you
in this parched and weary land
where there is no water. I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory.
Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I praise you!
I will praise you as long as I live,
lifting up my hands to you in prayer.
Deuteronomy 10:21 He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.
Revelations 19:5-6 And from the throne came a voice that said, “Praise our God,
all his servants,
all who fear him, from the least to the greatest. ”Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a vast crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: “Praise the Lord!
For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.
Confession:
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
Proverbs 28:13 People who conceal their sins will not prosper, but if they confess and turn from them, they will receive mercy.
1st John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Psalm 51:3 For I recognize my rebellion; it haunts me day and night.
Thanksgiving:
1st Thessalonians 5:18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 5:20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 95:1-3 Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.
Supplication:
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Psalm 55:17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice.
1st Peter 4:7 The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.
