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bits from bob....

Five Prayer Models: ACTS, PARTS, Five-Finger, TRIP, Divine Reading

by Bob Young
[permission is given to reprint with credit noted]

ACTS

  • A - Adoration: praising God for who He is
  • C - Confession: owning our sins
  • T - Thanksgiving: thanking God for all he has done
  • S - Supplication: prayers of request for ourselves and others

    PARTS OF PRAYER

  • P - Praise
  • A - Ask
  • R - Repent
  • T - Thank
  • S - Share

    FIVE-FINGER PRAYER

  • Thumb: pray for those closest to you
  • Pointing finger: pray for those who guide us: teachers, doctors, counselors, mentors
  • Middle finger (tallest one): pray for those who lead us: government, civic, and business leaders, police and firefighters
  • Ring finger (weakest one): pray for those who are weak: the poor, sick, disabled, infants, homeless, the powerless, the persecuted
  • Pinkie (the smallest, the least): Pray for myself

    TAKE A TRIP WITH GOD

  • T - For what am I Thankful?
  • R - What do I Regret?
  • I - Intercession-for whom do I need to pray?
  • P - What is my Purpose or Plan?

    DIVINE READING
    One method of building an effective prayer life includes Bible reading and prayer as complementary parts of one's devotional life. Sometimes referred to as "divine reading", it may be compared to feasting on the word of God. The four steps are reading the Bible (taking a bite), meditating on it (chewing), praying (savoring the word), and contemplating its applications so it becomes a part of one's life (digesting).

  • Reading. Read the passage slowly. Pay attention to the text. Read it several times. Underline sections that catch your attention.
  • Meditating. Try to grasp the meaning of the passage, be aware of God's presence in your life.
  • Praying. Respond to God, converse with him about the passage and his will. Open your heart to God. Share your heart, not a laundry list of needs or things you think you ought to pray about.
  • Contemplating. Focus on God, rest in his presence, and commit yourself to living out his will, especially as reflected in the reading.
    This method allows the Christian to interact with God and with the Word of God, to know the Bible, self, others, and God through the eyes of a developing faith.

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    Last updated August 17, 2011