Prayer Power

A C T S S of Prayer
By Petey Prater

In her eulogy, Susan Standley was described as “she who prayed.” Praying was a continual act for her. She exerted faith power until results were produced. Lots of my needs were met when Susan prayed. What a blessing, a praying friend!

Another prayer warrior uses the word ACTSS as a prayer acrostic. This little acrostic makes a wonderful pattern for our prayers. A stands for adoration, C for confession, T for thanksgiving, and the S’s are for supplication and silence. Let’s look a little closer at these words and see what they might say to us about praying to our Heavenly Father.

Adoration. Remember your first crush? How you adored that one? Thoughts of your true love filled every waking moment. You prized every second of time spent together.

To adore God is to treasure him so much that we prize time spent in his presence. The more I meditate on the Lord, the more deeply I cherish those moments with him. “May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord….” Psalms 104:34 King David’s Psalms are filled with his adoration of the Lord. David’s words are a pattern for our own love and praise. Read through the Psalms, they’ll intensify your love language with the Father.

“Lord, you’re so faithful, so worthy.”

Confession, the second letter in the prayer acrostic, is admitting one’s faults or sins, telling the truth, pleading guilty. Sin blocks my way to God. Psalms 66:18 states, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” But “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 The promise of forgiveness and restored friendship makes me run to my God crying,

“Clean me up, Father.”

Thanksgiving. Cleansed from sin, gratitude and appreciation flows from my lips. I give thanks for all God has done and will do for me. I praise him for his character and his promises. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 Wow! That promise alone keeps me praising.

“I’m so grateful, Lord.”

Supplication is next. Webster’s dictionary defines supplication “to implore; beseech; entreat.” What privilege to pray for other’s needs along with my own, knowing God will help. “The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.” Psalms 145: 9 “When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.” Psalms 138:3

“Help us, Lord, we need you.”

Silence in prayer is active listening. Faith’s ear, turned to God, waits for a word, a strong impression, a sign from him, and then obeys. The Lord has promised “my sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27 Don’t be afraid you’ll miss his voice. If you’re his child you’ll recognize your Father when he speaks.

I love prayer. What do you love? We spend time and money on things we love. Pray-paring is never wasted; it leads to intimacy with God, Creator of all. Do you know anything else that gives greater reward than ACTSS of prayer? I don’t.

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Petey Prater is a Beaverton, OR writer and speaker who can be reached at peteyprater@yahoo.com. She writes devotions, articles, and poetry and has contributed to two books:

Prayers for Troubled Times compiled by Jeannie St John Taylor, AMG Publishers and
101 Stories of Answered Prayer by Jeannie St John Taylor and Petey Prater, AMG Publishers