Christians: what is your "prayer life" like?

Question

Many Christians pray according to the "ACTS" method:

A - Adoration of God
C - Confession of sins to God
T - Thanksgiving to God
S - Supplication (or petitioning God for our needs and for the needs of others.)

How do you pray?

Answer 1

Depends on my emotions that day.
I don't follow the ACTS formula, but that acronym is a good reminder that we need to do more in our conversation with God than whine unappreciatively about all the things we want Him to do for us that He hasn't yet.

Sometimes I think I must sound to God like another bratty kid in the grocery store throwing a fit over wanting a treat. I suspect my prayers are generally heaviest on the petition part.

I sing throughout the day, so I do worship Him in song. And a few shocks to my system--seeing someone who has things much worse than me and yet has a much better attitude--reminds me to be more thankful for all the many wonderful blessings God gives me. For example, when I read the Voice of the Martyrs newsletter, I realize, "Yeah, what do I ever have to complain about? I'm totally spoiled!"

I could stand to grow in the area of expressing thanksgiving, since I tend to be impatient and just want results yesterday, and so often focus on what I see that's wrong instead of all that is right. Besides which, God works everything for the ultimate good of those who believe: another thing I should remember to focus on!

When I feel strong in faith, my prayers are confident and positive. When I am weak, when I have had a setback or disappointment and just don't know what to make of it, my prayers reflect my emotions. I tell God how angry I am at Him, or I cry and take all my pain to Him.

Sometimes I feel like I have no words for what I'm feeling, so I sit before Him in sullen silence or deep depression. Sometimes I have said, "I have nothing to say to You. I'm empty inside. I don't understand what's going on in my life right now. I can't rise above. I'll never be any better without You."

I don't think prayers need to be in a formal order, but it is true that we "enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise." (Psalm 100:4). Worship is the spiritual place where we receive the most healing; but I usually need to take my bad attitude or whatever I'm dealing with to Him first, before I can get past my self-absorption to focus on Him.

Prayer is such a personal thing, because every person is different, and so everyone's relationship with God is going to be a little different.

I think prayer should be bringing all of yourself to God, however it fits, as much as you can, as often as you can, no matter the mess. The more we do that, the more we will grow, and grow closer to Him.

Answer 2

I like what I heard Kenneth Copeland said one time.
"I never pray more than 20 minutes at a time. And I rarely go 20 minutes without praying".
I think we ought to take time to worship at least once a day.
And I think we ought to pray or talk to the Lord at least as often as seems reasonable.
Praise is also good, since it seems that it is the language of Heaven.
Most importantly for me is to pray the Word. There are many prayers throughout the Bible that we may use as examples.
One of the most important for me is Psalm 122:6.
Whenever I have a discussion about the Bible with someone who may not be Born Again, I always like to ask them if they believe the Bible is True and if they say yes I ask them specifically about Romans 10:9.
If they do not believe the Bible is true but they seem intelligent I would point them to the 16th Chapter of John.
If they are not inclined to read the Bible then I simply trust the Holy Spirit as to how I might share the simple love of God without provoking hostility.
I Cr 13;8a

Answer 3

I thank God each morning for the new day and the blessings that it will bring. I pray intermittently through the day as I become aware of situations, prayer requests are made, or to thank God for a particular blessing in my life or that of a friend that I am made aware of. At the end of the day I thank God for the day and His many blessings. I don't have a list of requests for God to fill each day-He knows my needs more than I do and provides all I need and more.

Answer 4

I never heard of ACTS - but after reading it in your question it's what I do most every day.
Getting on and off the freeway I pray thanks. And if I see ambulance or accident or hear bad news story I pray for people involved. I confess once a month, if I remember, (I'm supposed to go more.)
So I doing better than I thought, according to ACTS - but I should pray more.

Answer 5

I think my prayer life could be alot better than It Is. We should pray without ceasing. We should take TIME everyday and devote It just to Him. Listening,Adoring & Loving Him.
Seek ye the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you. Enjoy just being In His presence.
This should be first.

Answer 6

At the beginning of the day I just listen and then its prayer throughout the day with my lectures, in Chapel etc. If I leave it till bedtime I find I cant remeber what happened duriing the day that I needed to pray about!

Answer 7

I don't pray long enough! But I do give thanks first--- I must! For the Lord deserves praise! I lift up my kids in prayer and family...husband etc....then finances and such....I also confess sin in my life- or ask for the Lord to reveal unconfessed sin in my life...But I just pray- I just say what is on my heart and what comes to mind. But yes I give Him thanks first....however we can talk to God anytime, anyday! This is what is so wonderful about having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ! He hears our prayers always! As Lamentations 3:25 says "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who SEEKS HIM" : )

Answer 8

I usually pray every morning and every night but i also believe and practice the saying ASAP - Always Say A Prayer

Answer 9

I pray alone and trust Lord to hear my prayer. I persistently pray like a journey with God as my Savior. I know and trust my prayers that God in his myst erious way will hear my prayers.

Answer 10

At all times