Letters to a New Believer: Getting Started in Prayer

Good morning,

Today we jump into the nitty-gritty of prayer.

I want to teach you a four-part approach to prayer that I have used for decades. It’s not original to me. In fact, I have no idea who developed it.

It follows the acrostic ACTS, which stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.

Today, we’ll talk about the first part of prayer — Adoration.

Other words for adoration are praise and worship. Adoration is exactly what you think it is — it’s adoring God.

Adoration is talking to God about God. It’s bragging on God to God. It talks directly to him. Instead of saying, “God is holy,” adoration says, “God, you are holy!”

If you study the prayers in Scripture, almost every one of them begins with adoration. Even prayers for deliverance begin with declarations about the greatness and glory of God.

Worshipping God at the beginning of your prayers sets the tone for the rest of your time with him. It acknowledges that you are approaching a sovereign — someone infinitely greater than you. That appropriate posture of humility before God grants us access to him and attracts his holy presence.

God opposes the proud but he is drawn to the humble, and the language of humility is worship.

This is great discipline in prayer to learn now. Train yourself to begin your prayers with the worship of God. You’ll notice the difference when you do.

So here’s your assignment: Write down twenty things about God that are true and praise worthy. Write them directly to him. I’ll get you started with your first five, and I’ll see you tomorrow.

God, you are holy
God, you are lovely
God, you are mighty
God, you are infinite
God, you are gracious