Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 2-180 (Practical Christian Living)

A-C-T-S

Isn’t it interesting that the acronym of a guide to prayer is spelt ACTS?

A – adoration, to me, is a time where one reflects, recognises and responds to God’s unique qualities as the Holy Father, Son and Spirit, as the Almighty, the Sovereign, King of Kings and Lord of Lords who abounds in love and is slow to anger, full of righteousness, justice and mercy. To adore God is know God as who He truly is to be known as revealed in His Holy word – the Bible.

C – confession is a time where I come clean of all the wrong things I have done, said and thought towards others and towards God. It is a time I realise what a great sinner I am and what a Great Saviour I have. It is a time where tears flow for the pain I’ve caused my Saviour, after realising the griefs and sorrows He has borne and carried on my behalf, acknowledging the fact that He was pierced through for my transgressions and scourged so that I may be healed. It may even be a time to ask God to forgive my unbelief and my heart of stone. A time to ask God to restore my faith in Him and Him alone, to ask God to create in me a clean heart, a heart of flesh that is tender and responsive towards Him and others.

T – thanksgiving is a time where I rejoice in all that God has done, is doing and will yet do in my life and all that surrounds me. It is not an ego-feeding trip but a time to realign my prespective with God’s. Though things happen that I do not understand and there may be times and times again where all seems murky from my point of view, God is still in control. He knows all things and He is more than able to accomplish all and even beyond all that I can ever think or imagine according to His love and purpose. To give thanks in all circumstances is to realise that all things work out for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to his purpose and who have been chosen by Him even before the foundations of this earth was lain.

S – supplication is last because before I ask for anything in Jesus’ name, I have to know God, the kind of Person that He truly is; I have to be right before God and not let sin come in between; I have to have faith in Him believing He is in control of everything. Only when my heart is truly right with God, then will my prayers be effective and prevail, working much good and glorifying Him.

When we pray, God ACTS.

- Forwarded by Wong Ee Yuing

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