Competitors of all ages from around the world enjoy soccer, or football as it’s known to most of the world. It is the largest sport in the world with over 3.5 billion fans and a global presence. Those who love and play soccer know that there are basic aspects to the game. It's important to understand these to play correctly and advance as a player.
Here are a few of the basic rules: the no hands rule, throw-ins, offsides, match length, and yellow and red cards. A player must know these rules to play. As a player there are at least four necessary skills to play soccer: passing, dribbling, shooting and trapping. When a player builds these basic skills, they get better as a player. It’s about practicing these core skills over and over.
When it comes to prayer, there are also basic aspects and skills. The writer of Hebrews encourages us to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need” (Hebrews 4:16). Tied with this is the simple reminder to come to God. Come close for He is gracious to everyone. Come with confidence and receive mercy and grace for help in what you need. It can be the same for praying for others in their time of need, too. This kind of praying increases your prayer skills.
Using a prayer model can help you grow as a person of prayer. This method can serve as an outline or guide for praying. You can organize your thoughts and requests following these four aspects. The model is called the ACTS model. This is what it looks like:
Adoration: Adoration means expressing our love, appreciation, awe and praise to God simply for who He is. We acknowledge God’s greatness, and we exalt His holy name. We worship Him because He is perfect, He is worthy and all praise and glory go to Him alone. See Psalm 103:1.
Confession: Confession is acknowledging and confessing our sins and failures to God. He is holy and He is also merciful and kind. We must repent, and He forgives us of our sins. See 1 John 1:9.
Thanksgiving: Thanksgiving is giving thanks and gratitude to God for His blessings. It is saying thank you for guidance, wisdom, and answer to prayer. It is saying thank you for all God has done for you. See Psalm 100:4; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
Supply: Supply is making requests for what is needed (Not necessarily what is wanted). Things that are spiritual, relational, physical, emotional and situations where you need help. This is the time for requests for others and their needs too. Bring your requests to the Lord. See Philippians 4:19; Matthew 7:7-8.
As competitors know, we get better with practice. So, get better and be more consistent in praying. The ACTS model will prove to be beneficial and helpful as you build that part of your relationship with God.
Study Questions:
In practices and games, how important is it to follow the rules and regulations of the game?
How important is prayer to you? Which of the ACTS guidelines is easiest to pray and which one is hardest to pray?
Stop right now and pray using the ACTS model.