What Are Your Prayer Stats?
"Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus." - 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
How should we pray? God tells us that prayer should be a balance of a four-fold focus. These areas are praise; confession thanksgiving; and then supplication, which is another word for our personal requests. Now wouldn't it be fascinating if God gave us the statistics showing how much prayer time we spend on requests versus how much time is spent thanking God, praising God, or confessing our sins? Now that would be an interesting stat! I know that if He did it for my own prayer life I would see those supplications way up there on that list!
God's Word tells us that when we pray, we are to have an attitude of thanksgiving. We want to be thankful to the Lord for the many blessings in our life, for the greatest blessing of all - which is the salvation we have in Jesus Christ and the eternal abundant life that He gives us. We ought to have an attitude of thanksgiving. Because, you see, with an attitude of thanksgiving, you will be more joyful and more content with life. Praise your Lord for these many blessings and discuss your sins with the One who offers forgiveness.
Strive for this four-fold balance in your prayer life and see how it draws you closer to the Creator of the Universe.
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4 Comments
Amen to this! - dan lampinen
Our Lord is all wise and that is why He modeled praise first because when we consider the greatness of God first it puts the supplication in proper perspective. God is always greater than the problem. He is to be praised up front because He came before the problem and He will be there during the problem and He will be there after the problem. Hallowed be His name. - Janice
I remember this by the acronym ACTSS:
adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, silence (to enjoy being with Him)
It helps me keep my prayers focused and on the right priorities - Elizabeth
One of the wonderful things about being reborn and turning your life over to Jesus is that I now find that he is always with me. I find myself in "conversation" with him all through the day. Like most, I do have a time each day when I close myself off to be alone with Him in prayer and this covers the complete range from joy and praise to sharing my troubles, anxieties and shortcomings. The more time I spend with Him in prayer and in reading his word, the closer He feels to me. Frankly, the peace and assurance that comes from this is what makes me so grateful that my heart was turned to Him, and why I want to share Him with everyone I meet. - Grant