The A.C.T.S. Model of Prayer in Two Verses

The A.C.T.S. model of prayer is just one method people use for prayer.  It includes:

·      Adoration

·      Confession

·      Thanksgiving

·      Supplication

I like the order of the individual prayer focus areas and that we can use it for many passages in the Bible.  One such passage is Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance (or patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

·      Adoration:  God is literally each one of these Fruit of the Spirit.  God is love.  God is joy.  He is peace and patience.  He is kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  As we pray, we can pray about each one of these aspects of who God is.  Is there a particular Fruit of the Spirit God is that is especially meaningful to you to adore God for?

·      Confession:  We can use the Fruit of the Spirit list as a way to examine where we might have fallen short and therefore need to confess.  Work your way through the list in a spirit of self-awareness and confession.  We can ask God to remind us ways we have fallen short in how we have loved Him and how we have loved others.  We can confess letting our joy be taken away by the worries of the world.  We can confess not being patient or kind or gentle.  Is there a particular Fruit of the Spirit that you have not displayed that you need to confess?

·      Thanksgiving:  The Fruit of the Spirit give us a great list to generate thankfulness.  We can thank God in general ways for His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  We can thank God for how others in our lives have shown us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  We can also use the list to thank God for specific times He helped us have self- control in situations where it would have been easy to get angry or for peace that passes understanding or goodness that we can’t explain on our own.  Is there a particular Fruit of the Spirit you are thankful for that God showed you in your life or that He helped you live out this week or that someone modeled in how they interacted with you?

·      Supplication:  The Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 is a great list of things to ask God for in our own lives and in the lives of our loved ones.  Pray through each of the fruit listed confidently knowing that God can and will work in your life and the lives of those you are praying for.  Is there a particular Fruit of the Spirit you are asking God to strengthen in your life?

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.”  Oswald Chambers