You know that prayer is a vital part of growing your relationship with God, but is there a “right” way or a wrong way to pray? If you struggle with praying consistently or feel like you don’t know how to pray, the ACTS prayer model is a great tool to help you.

woman looking up to the sky with her hands folded over her chest

This method of prayer focuses on four key elements: adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Each of these steps plays an important role in helping us to form deeper connections with God. Using the ACTS prayer method can create meaningful conversations by focusing our thoughts and words during prayer time.

By breaking down our prayers into these focused areas, we can ensure that our conversations with God are meaningful and powerful. Read on to learn more about the ACTS prayer model and how it can help you in your prayer life!

In This Post

What is the ACTS Model of Prayer?

The ACTS model is an acronym that stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. This prayer method helps us to focus our conversations with God by breaking down each part of our prayers into these four key areas.

Adoration: When we begin a prayer with adoration, we acknowledge who God is and what He has done in our lives. It’s important to use the time of adoration to express our love and gratitude for God, His works, and His attributes.

Confession: In this step, we confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. During our confession time, we remember that God is a loving Father who forgives us when we repent.

Thanksgiving: During this step, we express our thankfulness for the blessings God has provided in our lives. We can be thankful for both physical and spiritual gifts, as well as for answered prayers.

Supplication: During this step, we make requests of God for ourselves and others. As we ask God to meet our needs or answer our prayers, it’s important to remember that His will is ultimately the best for us.

Is the ACTS Prayer Model Biblical?

When we use the ACTS acronym for something as serious as prayer, it might feel like it’s just a trend. But the ACTS prayer model is based on Scripture and can be found throughout the Bible. Adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication are all part of our relationship with God, as expressed in His Word.

Incorporating these elements of prayer is a great way to stay focused during our daily time of prayer. The specific order of our prayer doesn’t influence if God hears or answers. The most important thing is that we seek God’s presence every day, and take time to pray. Using the ACTS method of prayer helps us stay focused as we pray.

Praying the ACTS Prayer Model

As you pray using the simple acronym ACTS, it’s important to remember that God is with us and will hear our prayers. Take time to slow down and really think about each part of your prayer as you go through the steps of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. Allow yourself to be honest with God as you talk to Him in each of these areas and trust that He will answer your prayers in His perfect timing.

woman pointing her finger at words as she reads her Bible

A-Adoration

The adoration part of the ACTS prayer method is different from Thanksgiving. During this part of your prayer time, focus on Who God is instead of what He has done. Remember, He is Almighty and worthy of our worship.

Prayers of adoration may look like this: O, Lord, I praise Your name today because You are holy. You are worthy of all praise and honor. Thank you for being a good Father Who loves me even when I don’t deserve it.

7 Bible Verses About Adoration

If you’re not sure where to start with your prayer of adoration, you can use these verses to guide your adoration for the attributes of God.

Isaiah 6:3–And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
Psalm 31:23–O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.
Deuteronomy 6:5–And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
Psalm 26:8–Lord, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
Psalm 5:7–But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Psalm 95:6–O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our maker.
Habakkuk 2:20–But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.

Who is God?

God is our Creator (Genesis 1:1)
God is all-powerful and sovereign (Psalm 139:7-10)
God is loving, merciful, and just (Psalm 103:8; Romans 3:26)
God is holy and perfect in every way (Matthew 5:48; Hebrews 6:18; Luke 18:19)
God is our Father
God is Almighty

C-Confession

The prayer of confession might be the hardest one to pray. Why? it’s hard to admit that we sin. But it’s also important to realize that we do sin, and our sin separates us from God. When we confess to God we acknowledge our sins and ask for forgiveness.

This part of the ACTS prayer model might sound like this; Heavenly Father, I know that I have sinned against You. I have been angry and lost my temper instead of asking You for patience. I gossiped about a friend when I should’ve kept my mouth shut. I have held bitterness and jealousy in my heart. Please forgive me for sinning against You, and help me to do better in the future.

5 Bible Verses About Confessing Sins

James 5:16–Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 John 1:9–If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Proverbs 28:13–If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Psalm 32:5–I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.

Leviticus 5:5–And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:

What Does It Mean to Confess Your Sins?

Confessing your sins is so much more than just saying “I’m sorry.” Confession involves taking stock of what you’ve done wrong. “Confess” means “admit or state that one has committed a crime or is at fault in some way.” When we confess our sins, it’s important to name what they are.

It’s similar to a situation where one of your children hits another one. (Surely it’s not only my kids?) When you tell him he needs to apologize, do you let him get away with mumbling, “I’m sorry,” while he stares at the ground?

Probably not.

Our prayers of confession should include naming and repenting of our sins. Sometimes we forget just how much God hates sin. God paid for our sins with His son Jesus’ life on the cross. Even if a sin seems small to us, it’s not to Him.

T-Thanksgiving

You know that wonderful feeling you get in your heart when someone says a heartfelt “Thank you?” It means so much when a person takes the time to notice something done for them, and then show their gratitude.

While God is not a human with emotion like ours, He loves to hear His children give thanks for His blessings.

Prayers of thanksgiving look different for each of us. God’s love for each of us is so unique, we all have different things to be thankful for. Here are a few good things we can all be thankful for:

The Holy Spirit in our lives.
The steadfast love of God.
Eternal life in Heaven with God.
All the good gifts God gives us daily.
God’s forgiveness for our sins.
Families who love us.

7 Bible Verses About Giving Thanks

We can know that the praise of God is an important part of our daily prayer lives because the Bible is full of verses about Thanksgiving. Here are just a few powerful verses we can use when giving thanks to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:18–In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

1 Chronicles 16:34–O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 30:4–Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 35:18–I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

Psalm 92:1–It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High:

Psalm 97:12–Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 118:1–O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.

woman with hands clasped in prayer over her Bible on a table with a plant and coffee

S-Supplication

When we think of praying, prayers of supplication are often what come to mind. This is when we bring our specific requests to God. It’s a time we make requests for ourselves and others.

While it’s the final part of the ACTS prayer model, this is one of the most important aspects of prayer. We pray to grow closer to God, but we also know that prayer changes things. Sometimes our prayers change the situation we’re in, but more often, God will change our attitude or give us the grace to face our problems.

A prayer of supplication includes a prayer for our personal needs as well as the needs of others. These are sometimes also referred to as intercessory prayers when we are praying on behalf of others.

7 Bible Verses About Supplication

God wants to hear you pray to Him in your time of need. Take a look at the Bible verses about prayers of supplication.

Philippians 4:6–Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1 Timothy 2:1–I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Ephesians 6:18–Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Psalm 86:6–Give ear, O Lord, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications.

Psalm 28:2–Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.

1 Thessalonians 5:17–Pray without ceasing.

1 Peter 3:12–For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

How to Pray the Lord’s Prayer

In Luke 11, the disciples came to Jesus, and said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” Here was Jesus’ response:

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.

Can you see the different parts of the ACTS prayer model featured in Jesus’ sample prayer?

A-Adoration–Hallowed (greatly revered and honored) by thy name.

C-Confession–Forgive us our sins.

T-Thanksgiving–Thy will be done.

S-Supplication–Give us day by day our daily bread; lead us not into temptation; deliver us from evil;

If you aren’t sure where to start when you pray, the verses of the Lord’s prayer are simple and easy to memorize. Praying Scripture is always a powerful way to pray.

How to Use the ACTS Prayer Model

Using the ACTS prayer model can help you to pray powerful and meaningful prayers. By focusing on adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication during your time of prayer, you can create deeper conversations with God that are filled with purpose and love.

To get started, download the free printable ACTS prayer model worksheet to help you reflect on each of these areas as you offer your prayers up to God. Trust that He will hear your words and answer your requests in His perfect timing!

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How to Use the Simple ACTS Prayer Model for Powerful Prayers