Many new Christians (and even some who have been a Christian for years) say that they do not know how to pray; they run out of words. That is likely because they are just repeating words that they may have heard. There is no structure to their prayer.

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” Luke 11:1 (NIV). Jesus is not impressed with a multitude of meaningless words. He says, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking” (Matthew 6:7 KJV). Every person whom we admire as a “prayer warrior” learned how to pray and the mastery came with time and practice.

The ACTS method provides a guideline that helps you stay on track. ACTS is an acronym for the words, adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. I have personally found this to be a very useful guide in my prayer life. If you can keep in mind where you are in your prayer, before long, you will be learning how to pray with confidence whether in your prayer closet or in public.

Adoration

Acknowledge the finished work of Jesus and offer Him your adoration. Think of David when you approach God with adoration. Think of how he exults and describes his God: How excellent is your name in all the earth. – Psalm 8 (NKJV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. – Psalm 90:2 (KJV)

For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all Gods. – Psalm 97:9

Go to Isaiah 40:22–27 and you will find words that you can just recite back to God. Change the “He” to “You.” “You sit enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. You stretch out the heavens like a canopy and spread them out like a tent to live in . . .” You understand the picture.

You can also use the words of songs in your adoration. For example: How Great Thou Art – Carl Gustav Boberg, Sweden (1885) O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder / Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made / I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder / Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Or the song, Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Thomas Chisholm, Kansas, USA (1923) Great is Thy faithfulness O God my Father / There is no shadow of turning with Thee / Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not / As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

He is the same God, and He delights in your adoration.

Confession

Confession should be easy. Confess your faults and failures and even your weakness in how knowing how to pray. Feel free to tell God everything. After all, He already knows everything about you. Nothing is hidden from Him. Again, David, the man after God’s own heart, asks, “Where can I flee from your presence?” He further acknowledges, “Before a word is on my tongue, thou knowest it altogether” (Psalm 139:4).

You can lay yourself bare before God knowing that nothing about you is a surprise to Him and He fully accepts you “as is.” Nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:31–39).

Furthermore, if the enemy tries to bring up past failures, things you have already brought to God and have been forgiven of (take Him at His word), then your reminder to Satan is simply, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” (Romans 8:1–2 KJV).

Say it out loud and add, “I have been made the righteousness of God” (Corinthians 5:21). This means that when God looks at you, He no longer sees your sin because the redemptive blood of Jesus Christ covers it. This is a powerful weapon that silences the enemy.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is the third portion of the prayer guideline. Thank Him for his bountiful blessings. We have so much to give God thanks for. One songwriter penned, Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God has done! Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. You cannot run out of words when you start being thankful.

There are many things that we often take for granted including having a roof over our heads and being able to lay down at night in a safe place. We have clean water readily available. There is access to warm water if we need it. At the flick of a switch we have electricity. We enjoy many rights and freedoms. We can speak freely. Our lives could be so different if we lived in other parts of the world.

Supplication

 Supplication and intercession the final portion of the prayer, is about bringing your needs and the needs of others to your heavenly father. This is much more than a casual request. It is an earnest, heartfelt, fervent, entreaty to God. Intercession is the act of praying for others. You can pray for friends, family members, the church scattered all over the world, and especially, those who live in peril from governments and other institutions. We can easily get caught up in our own needs. However, there is so much more to pray about. The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy to make intercessory prayers for all people.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.  1 Timothy 2:1-2 (NIV).

If you can remember the ACTS acronym, your prayers will improve dramatically. Instead of rambling or going around in circles, you’ll have a strategy that keeps you on track.

Cultivate a Relationship with God

Outside of your structured time of prayer, practice talking to the Lord throughout your day. Just as you would commune with a friend, talk to God; that’s the way to keep a prayerful heart. Invite Him into everything, however mundane. “Father, what do I wear today?” “Lord, what do I do in this situation?” “Father, I’m feeling anxious. Let your peace wash over me.” The more that you speak with Him, the closer He will seem, and your structured prayer time will be easier.

When Esther approached the Persian king Ahasuerus (Xerxes I), he asked, “what is your petition? “What is your request?” This is your opportunity to ask. It is important to remember that you are not just speaking into the air. As you are learning how to pray, you will come to realize that you are speaking to a person. Focus on making that interaction as personal as possible. You are talking to your father and a king. You must make the connection in your spirit. Even before you begin praying, focus and make the connection. This will become easier as you grow.

As a new Christian your prayer in public will be reflective of the time that you spend with God in private. If there is no private intimacy there will be no evidence of relationship in public and your prayer will be lifeless. As you learn how to pray in secret you will be more confident should you be asked to pray in public places. Follow the template in your mind as you learn how to pray in secret and you will be bold and fearless.