Ways to Pray
There are a variety of ways to pray, and this list is certainly not all of them. Choosing a prayer method or strategy is super valuable, as it helps you approach prayer with purpose and intentionality. Here are some possible methods to try in your next quiet time.
ACTS/PRAY
ACTS is an acronym to help guide you through your prayer time while still giving you a lot of space to pray as you feel led.
The ACTS Acronym looks like this:
Adoration – Praising God for who He is
Confession – Humbly acknowledging your sin before God
Thanksgiving – Praising God for what he has done and expressing gratitude for it
Supplication – Asking God to provide for your needs or the needs of others.
An important thing to note in this method is the order of areas you pray for. Prayer always begins with praise to God and humility for our sins. Too often, we jump into prayer with a to-do list of things we want from God and don’t take the time to praise, confess, or thank him at all, or only as an afterthought.
Prayer Journaling/Prompts
To use this method, simply find yourself a journal or loose piece of paper and write down what you are praying about. To be able to see what you’ve been praying for over a length of time is a whole different experience. It helps us develop thoughts better and even to understand how we are doing so we can pray into it better.
Prayer Through Song And Worship
Prayer through song and worship takes two forms; praying the lyrics of a song or praying while you worship to that song. Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to say, or the lyrics hit you in a new way. In these situations, sometimes it is good to take the time to stop and pray those words.
Prayer Walks
This prayer method is nice when you are praying over a specific location. You can walk through the location and pray over the people that will be or have been in this area. Another way to use this type of prayer is to slow down, take a walk through nature, and intentionally notice the creation of God and recognize him in it. Thank him for it and talk to him about it.
Praying the Psalms
In this method, select a psalm and use it to communicate your thoughts. The Psalms are relatable in the lives of many people. The psalmist expresses his joy in the Lord and the sorrows of his troubles. When you are having trouble articulating what you feel, sometimes it is easier to reflect on someone else’s words and personalize them to your circumstances.
The Lord’s Prayer
There seem to be two extremes to using the Lord’s Prayer. On the one hand, people use it as the only way to pray. On the other hand, they find it “old", or irrelevant, or think they have learned all they could from it. However, the reality lies somewhere in the middle. There are various ways to pray that is not limited to the Lord’s prayer. However, that does not mean we should discount it altogether. The Lord’s Prayer was intended to be a model or example of how we should pray, and you may want to use that layout with your own words. Either way, turn to Matthew 6 and give it a try. You may be surprised.
Silent Prayer
This form of prayer is not often talked about but it is super important. Prayer is a conversation with God, and conversations go both ways. Silent prayer is an opportunity to simply be quiet and listen for the voice of God. It is very easy to jump into prayer, rattle off a few things, and walk away without giving God the chance to speak to you. Silent prayer is an opportunity to focus specifically on that, listening. It is not an easy task when your mind is going one hundred miles per hour. You may need to experiment with what time of day it is easiest to get quiet, and from there it just takes practice. Take some time, quiet your spirit, and wait for the Lord to speak to you.
Centering Prayer
Find a quiet space where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Sit in a way that allows you to be relaxed in your body and alert in your mind. Use a chair, meditation cushion, or prayer rug, according to your own physical needs and preferences. Gently close your eyes. Whenever you become aware of a thought, no matter what its nature, let it go. Repeat a sacred word in your head to help with this. This is a word or short phrase that helps you let go of your thoughts. It is a reminder of your intention to remain open to silence. Generally, sacred words fall into one of 2 categories: “God” words/phrases such as “Abba”, “Jesu”, “Reality”, “Come Lord” or “state” words/phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “be still”. It is common to have thoughts of various kinds during this type of prayer. They might involve your plans for the day, or give you some psychological insight into your behavior. You may find yourself with pleasant thoughts, or angry feelings, or notice yourself trying to create a particular mood in your practice. You may even be aware of being ‘blissed out’. No matter the type or nature of thoughts and feelings the response is the same: gently return to saying your sacred word in your head, which is the symbol of your intention to consent to the presence and action of God within, and then let go. Do not analyze, label, or judge your thoughts and feelings. Simply, gently, let them go. Over and over and over and…….Continue this practice for 5,10 or even 20 minutes. At the end of the time get up and go about your business, leaving the practice behind, in the same way, you let go of your thoughts.
ACTS/PRAY
ACTS is an acronym to help guide you through your prayer time while still giving you a lot of space to pray as you feel led.
The ACTS Acronym looks like this:
Adoration – Praising God for who He is
Confession – Humbly acknowledging your sin before God
Thanksgiving – Praising God for what he has done and expressing gratitude for it
Supplication – Asking God to provide for your needs or the needs of others.
An important thing to note in this method is the order of areas you pray for. Prayer always begins with praise to God and humility for our sins. Too often, we jump into prayer with a to-do list of things we want from God and don’t take the time to praise, confess, or thank him at all, or only as an afterthought.
Prayer Journaling/Prompts
To use this method, simply find yourself a journal or loose piece of paper and write down what you are praying about. To be able to see what you’ve been praying for over a length of time is a whole different experience. It helps us develop thoughts better and even to understand how we are doing so we can pray into it better.
Prayer Through Song And Worship
Prayer through song and worship takes two forms; praying the lyrics of a song or praying while you worship to that song. Sometimes it’s hard to find the words to say, or the lyrics hit you in a new way. In these situations, sometimes it is good to take the time to stop and pray those words.
Prayer Walks
This prayer method is nice when you are praying over a specific location. You can walk through the location and pray over the people that will be or have been in this area. Another way to use this type of prayer is to slow down, take a walk through nature, and intentionally notice the creation of God and recognize him in it. Thank him for it and talk to him about it.
Praying the Psalms
In this method, select a psalm and use it to communicate your thoughts. The Psalms are relatable in the lives of many people. The psalmist expresses his joy in the Lord and the sorrows of his troubles. When you are having trouble articulating what you feel, sometimes it is easier to reflect on someone else’s words and personalize them to your circumstances.
The Lord’s Prayer
There seem to be two extremes to using the Lord’s Prayer. On the one hand, people use it as the only way to pray. On the other hand, they find it “old", or irrelevant, or think they have learned all they could from it. However, the reality lies somewhere in the middle. There are various ways to pray that is not limited to the Lord’s prayer. However, that does not mean we should discount it altogether. The Lord’s Prayer was intended to be a model or example of how we should pray, and you may want to use that layout with your own words. Either way, turn to Matthew 6 and give it a try. You may be surprised.
Silent Prayer
This form of prayer is not often talked about but it is super important. Prayer is a conversation with God, and conversations go both ways. Silent prayer is an opportunity to simply be quiet and listen for the voice of God. It is very easy to jump into prayer, rattle off a few things, and walk away without giving God the chance to speak to you. Silent prayer is an opportunity to focus specifically on that, listening. It is not an easy task when your mind is going one hundred miles per hour. You may need to experiment with what time of day it is easiest to get quiet, and from there it just takes practice. Take some time, quiet your spirit, and wait for the Lord to speak to you.
Centering Prayer
Find a quiet space where you are unlikely to be disturbed. Sit in a way that allows you to be relaxed in your body and alert in your mind. Use a chair, meditation cushion, or prayer rug, according to your own physical needs and preferences. Gently close your eyes. Whenever you become aware of a thought, no matter what its nature, let it go. Repeat a sacred word in your head to help with this. This is a word or short phrase that helps you let go of your thoughts. It is a reminder of your intention to remain open to silence. Generally, sacred words fall into one of 2 categories: “God” words/phrases such as “Abba”, “Jesu”, “Reality”, “Come Lord” or “state” words/phrases such as “love”, “peace”, “be still”. It is common to have thoughts of various kinds during this type of prayer. They might involve your plans for the day, or give you some psychological insight into your behavior. You may find yourself with pleasant thoughts, or angry feelings, or notice yourself trying to create a particular mood in your practice. You may even be aware of being ‘blissed out’. No matter the type or nature of thoughts and feelings the response is the same: gently return to saying your sacred word in your head, which is the symbol of your intention to consent to the presence and action of God within, and then let go. Do not analyze, label, or judge your thoughts and feelings. Simply, gently, let them go. Over and over and over and…….Continue this practice for 5,10 or even 20 minutes. At the end of the time get up and go about your business, leaving the practice behind, in the same way, you let go of your thoughts.