A new structure for prayer

We are all familiar with the acronym ACTS as an aid to prayer but I recently came across a new one whilst listening to a random podcast.



PRAY



P - Praising God

The first part of the prayer time focuses our minds on who we are praying to. I find this really helpful as it starts my prayers focusing on God rather than on me. A good place to start could be Psalm 100

Psalm 100:1-5 (NIV)
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. [2] Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. [3] Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. [4] Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. [5] For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Out of this time of praise comes our second step.

R - repentance

Matthew 4:17 (NIV)
From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

This is a time for honesty, for openness and truth. God already knows what you have done but come before him and repent. Repentance requires turning away from the sin so pray for strength in overcoming it and being strong,

Acts 3:19 (NIV)
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord,

Out of the time of repentance can flow a time of ...

A - asking

Matthew 6:11 (NIV)
Give us today our daily bread.

John 14:14 (NIV)
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Bring your petitions and requests to God. Pray for yourself, your family, your workplace, your country, your world.

Y- yield

In this last section we focus on doing God's will in our lived.

Matthew 7:21,24-27 (NIV)
"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [24] "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. [26] But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. [27] The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

Yield to God, God's will should be first in our thinking and doing.

Above all remember to PRAY