How do you feel about prayer? Does it feel natural or is it difficult to get into?
I remember in a Bible study, one of the prompted questions was whether we view God as transcendent or relational. I remember checking off relational, seeing the question as an either/or. But after thinking about it, I realized it was a good balance of both.
When God is relational, it is often when I am taking a walk or a drive. I feel close to him. I feel like I can tell him anything and everything – all my sorrows and joys and supplications. God becomes a Father and my best friend. I am not ashamed to be myself.
When God is transcendent, it is often when I am out in nature. I look around and see everything he has created. It is also when I am reading the Word, and I see how he has so masterfully crafted everything. It leads me to being awe-struck. I feel like a small part in this world, but a small part that is seen as significant. It is so easy to praise God for being truly, every true sense of the word, awesome – one that is inspiring great admiration, apprehension, or even fear. Synonyms of awesome can include, but are not limited to, breathtaking and astonishing. Doesn’t that sound like God? God is truly awesome.
Prayer is conversational. It does not have to be scary.
However, it can still be hard some days. Some conversations are hard, whether it is to have or to begin. For example, I find popcorn prayer difficult. One person prays, then another, and then another. I am trying to remember, “Okay so this person prayed for Prayer Request A and that person prayed for Prayer Request B. Oh wait, a third person prayed for Prayer Request F! Now, E and H have been prayed for.” Which prayer has not been spoken for? Do I want to risk praying for something that has been prayed for?
That’s one example of when prayer is scary to me. But when I am praying alone to God, there have been times when my prayer begins with, “I don’t know how to pray for this.”
There have been several books and sermons about prayer. As well as acronyms to help one pray. One popular acronym that I learned in college was the ACTS Method. ACTS is an easy acronym to give an outline to pray. ACTS stand for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
Adoration – Acknowledge God’s character and attributes. Praise and worship him. This could be reading a psalm, singing a worship song, or listening to a song. If you can think of another example, please share it with us. My church often begins the Sunday service with praying over a Bible passage, thanking and recognizing what God has done. It is a time to connect with God and see his transcendence. It is a time to connect with God and relate to him.
Confession – Confess and tell God your sins and shortcomings. It is a time to kneel, whether physically or metaphorically, to God and seek his grace and mercy. God is transcendent. He sees all, but he is relational. He sent his only Son to this earth to die on the cross and to be resurrected three days later, so that we may have eternal life.
Thanksgiving – Express and tell God your gratitude and thankfulness to him. He has given you blessings and provisions. Some of which were given to you before you even knew you needed them, and others were given after you requested.
Supplication – The ending is where we lay our requests and petitions down to God. I like that it is at the end, because it is important to come to God with humility and trust during supplication. Acknowledging God’s character, confessing our sins, and expressing our gratitude to God are ways to practice humility. I remember as a kid, I once had a teacher tell me that when you are in supplication, you should begin with interceding for others. I like that. Think of others, then yourself. That’s a good practice to get into.
May your prayer life this week bring you closer to God. May your prayer life help you see God as both transcendent and relational.
Elizabeth