Quotes on prayer:
“The single most important piece of advice about prayer is one word: Begin!” ― Peter Kreeft, Prayer for Beginners
“It is true, as John Bunyan said, that God infinitely prefers a heart without words to words without a heart when we pray.” ― Peter Kreeft, Prayer for Beginners
“Our conversation with God should be utterly free and familiar, because God is the only person who will never, ever misunderstand us and never, ever reject us (hate us, ignore us, or be indifferent to us). These are the two reasons we hid from other people, even our friends, even our parents, and the two reasons we should never hide from God.” ― Peter Kreeft, Prayer for Beginners
Use the outline Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication (ACTS), as well as the Scriptures provided as guides, to guide you and those with you in a time of prayer with our heavenly Father.
Adoration: Praise Sovereign God for His attributes, for who He is and what He is like in this passage:
Psalm 145: 8 The Lord is merciful and compassionate,
slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
9 The Lord is good to everyone.
He showers compassion on all his creation…
13 For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.
You rule throughout all generations.
The Lord always keeps his promises;
he is gracious in all he does.
14 The Lord helps the fallen
and lifts those bent beneath their loads…
17 The Lord is righteous in everything he does;
he is filled with kindness.
18 The Lord is close to all who call on him,
yes, to all who call on him in truth.
19 He grants the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cries for help and rescues them.
20 The Lord protects all those who love him,
but he destroys the wicked.
21 I will praise the Lord,
and may everyone on earth bless his holy name
forever and ever. (NLT)
For ________________, Mighty God. We give you praise!
Confession: Psalm 32:5: I made my sins known to you, and I did not cover up my guilt. I decided to confess them to you, O Lord. Then you forgave all my sins. (GW)
• Ask the Holy Spirit to show you anything in your life that is displeasing to Him and confess it to Him.
Thanksgiving: Let us thank God for what He has done & does.
Luke 10:20: Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (ESV)
Philipplians 3:20: But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. (NLT)
1 John 3:1: Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. (GW)
• Considering the three preceding verses and other things, for what are you thankful to God today?
For _______________, loving God. We give you thanks.
Supplication (Humble Petitions) & Intercession:
1 Timothy 2:1: I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. (GW)
Prayer Requests: In addition to the following requests, pray to our merciful God about anything/anyone the Spirit puts on your heart to pray:
• 3/28/20 Tornado victims in SW Indiana and Tri-State area.
• Health Professionals, National/State/County/Local Government Agencies: Wisdom, good counsel, resources, protection, integrity.
• Those suffering from Caronavirus as well as those caring for them.
• Business owners, employers, employees affected negatively by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Teachers, students, administrators, and their families as they adjust to school buildings being closed.
• Elderly who are alone during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• I will take the opportunity to share God’s story and our story with others.
• Pray that this will be a time that many hearts turn to Jesus, receive Him as Savior and walk in humble obedience to Him.
For _____________, Merciful God. Hear our prayer.
• Meditate on this passage.
Philippians 2:5-11: 5 Have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.
6 Although he was in the form of God and equal with God,
he did not take advantage of this equality.
7 Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant,
by becoming like other humans,
by having a human appearance.
8 He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
death on a cross. (NLT)
• How might you pray for application of it to you and our church family?
For _____________, Merciful God. Hear our prayer.
• Based on what God has done for us in Christ through the Spirit (vv. 4-7), how are we to respond (v. 8)?
Titus 3:4-8: 4 But—
When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.
8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone. (NLT)
• So, for what might you pray in light of this passage?
Benediction: The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, KJV)