How to Follow the Best Prayer Model

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You may know the A.C.T.S. prayer model.

A. = Adoration 
C. = Confession
T. = Thanksgiving
S. = Supplication

I like this model, but I like the one I learned as a child better.

We don’t use the word supplication very often, and I’m not sure many people know what it means. Supplication is defined as:  a “humble prayer or petition.”

And admit it, we’re often in a hurry to get to the asking part of our prayers; so, it’s easy to rush through the A. C. and T. part of our prayers. Especially the confession part.

When I was a young girl our pastor taught us the P.R.A.Y. model for prayer.

Praise. Repent. Ask. and Yield.

Thes words were easier for us, as children, to remember.

Here are the specifics about why I prefer the P. R. A. Y. model.

P. = Praise – Pray through Psalms, sing, dance . . . just begin by finding joy in the Lord – not for what He does, but for who He is.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth!
Worship the Lord with gladness.
    Come before him, singing with joy.

For the Lord is good.
    His unfailing love continues forever,
    and his faithfulness continues to each generation.
Psalm 100:1–2,5

R. = Repent – Repentance is not the same as confession. Confession admits guilt, but repentance asks for forgiveness and wants to change.

The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
    You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Psalm 51:17

A. = Ask – Humbly ask God to meet your needs and the needs of others, pray about your concerns and worries, and…

O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive,
    so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord;
    hear my urgent cry.
Psalm 86:5–6

T. = Thank – This is great advice from Gail @ 1-Minute Bible Love Notes:

Last month I began a discipline that has been helpful to that end: Whenever I write down a prayer request, I first write a praise or thanksgiving.

For example when I ask for healing, I first thank God for some aspect of my health I take for granted. If I pray about a problem relationship, I praise God for the way He designed us for relationships with Him and others. 

I thank you for answering my prayer
    and giving me victory!
Psalm 118:21

Y. = Yield – Give everything to God. Trust His love and wisdom. Believe He is at work in every circumstance for your good and for His glory.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you. Show me where
to walk, for I give myself to you.
Psalm 143:8

An important part of yielding is sitting quietly and listening for the Holy Spirit to speak to my heart. It quiets me with a time where the Lord reminds me that He is greater than anything that is going on in my life. In His presence it is always “well with my soul.”

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live. 1 Timothy 2:1-3 (MSG)

Whether you use the A.C.T.S. model or the P.R.A.Y. model, whether you keep a prayer journal, stand, sit, or lie down, whether you bow you head or fold your hands . . . whatever you do – PRAY.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippian 4:6–7

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