Ways to engage in biblical prayer

Jim Farrer Oct. 18, 2018

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Most of us desire to know the how-to-do-it aspect of prayer. However, Dietrich Bonhoeffer alerts us in his book Christology that the “Who” is more important than the “how.”

Atheists believe that there is no one to whom they can pray. Radio astronomers send signals into space hoping that there will be a response. In a time of crisis, secularists may shake their fists at the sky.

Witches and New Age pagans may seek to discover a precise spell in hopes of calling down a certain spirit which will assist in that situation.

Instead of weaker powers and rebel principalities, the Bible points us to the Most High God, maker of heaven and earth (Genesis 14:18). Christians pray to the Father, through the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Christian prayer is always offered to the glory of the Father.

Jesus prays

We Christians may also overlook that we are not the only ones who are praying. God the Son is praying for His flock as the new and true High Priest (Hebrew 8:1). He ever lives to make intercession (7:25). In fact, Jesus makes our prayers His own.

The Holy Spirit prays

As Romans 8:26 declares: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness…with sighs too deep for words.”

Does the Father pray?

The Heavenly Father may not precisely pray for us, but certainly, God blesses us. Blessing means primarily the active sending of the divine good will or grace. This transfer of empowerment upholds thekosmos that God loves (John 3:16) and undergirds the world’s people as a whole with His presence. God’s favor and promise especially embraces the Covenant community.

A-C-T-S or C-A-T-S

Many Christian leaders point to the acrostic ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) as a helpful guide in praying. Indeed many worship services are built upon this flow of prayer.

In contrast, leaders in other church traditions believe that it is important to change the order of this acrostic and begin with confession. For example, at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, those who are truly dedicated attend a 45-minute confessional service prior to the main worship. Lutheran services have traditionally begun with a corporate prayer of confession.

Many persons and religions believe that they must earn their way to salvation. As the Bible explains, prior to our confessing and doing good works God has already done something unconditionally for us. Salvation has been accomplished on the cross of Jesus the Messiah and offered to us as a gift. Our response is to receive this gift and say, “Thank You.” Thus the Gospel is expressed more clearly by beginning prayers and worship with adoration.

Sin is dangerous

Sin can be understood as simply missing the target, but the Bible has more than 30 words describing various aspects of sin. In Jeremiah 17:9, sin is a sickness unto death: “The heart is crooked above all and it is sick.” The Hebrew word here is anash meaning incurable, malignant. Sin is also going to the enemy’s side.

Prayers for and proclamation of forgiveness

Thus confession is important. It “cleans” us up. Charismatic colleagues say that the confession of our sin gives the demonic world fewer areas of our lives upon which to cling. Eduard Thurneysen in A Theology of Pastoral Care calls God’s forgiveness a change of regime: “Assurance of pardon is ultimately to be understood as exorcism” (p.316).

G-L-A-D   P-A-C-T-S

In my experience with both youth and adults, I have expanded the acrostic into “Glad Pacts” of Prayer. 

Pre: Stands for prevenience. Prior to our praying, the Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8:26-27). “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Adore: Wow!

Confess: Sorry/Getting cleansed (Psalm 51)

Thanks: Thank You, God!

Supply: Please...fulfill these requests.

Give Instead of ruminating about our burdens through the night we should give them over to God who is up all night (Psalm 121:4).

Lament “How long, O Lord,” will you let bad things happen? (Psalms 13, 44, 55) These Psalms of lament were used personally and corporately to release things “stuck in the craw.” These words may be expressed with great vigor.

Authoritative prayer in Jesus’ name, reputation and authority. This is a wrestling versus evil and wickedness (Luke 14:12, Ephesians 6). Professor J.G.S.S. Thomson in his book The Praying Christ alerts us that in Numbers 8:24 the word tsabha is often translated as “wait upon” or “do their duty” or “serve.” However, it may be literally translated “war the warfare of the tent of meeting.” The root of this Hebrew word is a form of tsebhaoth as in LORD of Hosts...heavenly armies. Something powerful happens in worship and prayer.

Discerning, waiting and watching (Psalm 130:5-6, Mark 14:38)

This acrostic certainly does not exhaust all of the types of prayers; there is more to be explored. Henri Nouwen calls prayer “the most radical and revolutionary act...by which we can enter into a world which is not of this world.”

Photo source: istock

my saved content

VIEW AS
A PDF

Jim Farrer is the founder of Vital Signs Church Consulting and a member of the Society for Church Consulting. A broadly-trained church consultant, Jim is also a veteran of ministry positions in Canada and the U.S., he has trained leaders from 18 denominations and led seminars and coaching sessions nationwide. His articles have been published in the Journal of Evangelism and Missions and the Great Commission Research Journal. You can reach him by e-mailing revup1@yahoo.com or calling 814 629-5211. Learn More »

• What can Christian leaders learn from a 20-something YouTuber? Quite a lot… (by Zac McGowen)
• Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry (by )
• Perpetual disappointment (by Richard Blackaby)
• Working vs. waiting: living in the tension that transforms leadership (by Tim Tucker)

Free eBook

Steps to Launching Your Personal Workplace Ministry

Have you ever felt the pull to full-time ministry work as a missionary or pastor? If not, you can still make a Kingdom impact without quitting your current job. In this eBook, you will learn the four essentials that can change your perspective of work, your workplace, and most importantly, your heart.

Download Now