devoted to prayer “devote yourselves to prayer” imperative / command devotion is a response....

Devoted to PrayerDevoted to Prayer

““Devote yourselves to prayer”Devote yourselves to prayer”Imperative / CommandImperative / Command

Devotion is a response.Devotion is a response.Something always precedes devotion.Something always precedes devotion.

Devoted to PrayerDevoted to Prayer

The call to be devoted to prayer is a The call to be devoted to prayer is a response to the love God has for us.response to the love God has for us.

Prayer is about Prayer is about

a relationship with God.a relationship with God.

Out of God’s Glorious RichesOut of God’s Glorious Riches

I pray that I pray that out of hisout of his glorious richesglorious riches

he may strengthen you with power he may strengthen you with power

through his Spirit in your inner being,through his Spirit in your inner being,Ephesians 3:16Ephesians 3:16

Out of God’s Glorious RichesOut of God’s Glorious Riches

And I pray that you, And I pray that you,

being rooted and established in love, being rooted and established in love,

may have powermay have power, together with all the , together with all the saints, saints, to grasp how wide and long and to grasp how wide and long and

high and deep is the love of Christhigh and deep is the love of Christ, and to , and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—know this love that surpasses knowledge—

that you may be filled to the measure that you may be filled to the measure

of all the fullness of God. of all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:17-19Ephesians 3:17-19

Prayer & Relationship - ACTSSPrayer & Relationship - ACTSS

If our level of communication with If our level of communication with God is so low, should we be God is so low, should we be

surprised that our relationship to surprised that our relationship to him does not seem to be growing him does not seem to be growing

and has gone stale?and has gone stale?


Most of us would like a stronger Most of us would like a stronger relationship with God.relationship with God.

Many of us have met people who Many of us have met people who are on fire for God and have a are on fire for God and have a prayer life that is well beyond prayer life that is well beyond

where we are today.where we are today.


I suspect the disciples of Jesus I suspect the disciples of Jesus were experiencing the same thing:were experiencing the same thing:

They saw Jesus spending hours in They saw Jesus spending hours in prayer.prayer.

They noticed that he had an incredibly They noticed that he had an incredibly close relationship to God close relationship to God

that they did not seem to have.that they did not seem to have.


The ACTSS modelThe ACTSS model

A - AdorationA - Adoration

C - ConfessionC - Confession

T - ThanksgivingT - Thanksgiving

S - SupplicationS - Supplication

S - SurrenderS - Surrender


Communication helps our Communication helps our relationships to thrive & grow.relationships to thrive & grow.

Prayer, in response to God’s love, Prayer, in response to God’s love, helps our relationship to Him helps our relationship to Him

thrive and grow.thrive and grow.

ACTSS - AdorationACTSS - Adoration

Scripture ReadingScripture Reading

Psalm 100Psalm 100


Of the 5 types of prayerOf the 5 types of prayerAdorationAdoration

ConfessionConfessionThanksgivingThanksgivingSupplication Supplication

SurrenderSurrender

which is the hardest for you?which is the hardest for you?


The hardest for me was Adoration The hardest for me was Adoration

Get down to businessGet down to business

Thank GodThank God

Put in my requestsPut in my requests

““No Frills Prayer”No Frills Prayer”


Adoration sets the stage for the Adoration sets the stage for the rest of the prayer.rest of the prayer.

Why pray to God?Why pray to God?

Who are you talking to?Who are you talking to?


Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer Jesus in the Lord’s Prayer began: began:

““Our Father, in heaven, Our Father, in heaven, Hallowed be your name.”Hallowed be your name.”


By beginning with AdorationBy beginning with Adoration

You focus on GodYou focus on God

You focus on your relationship You focus on your relationship with Him.with Him.


Adoration is different from Adoration is different from Thanksgiving.Thanksgiving.

[although the 2 are never divorced.][although the 2 are never divorced.]

Adoration focuses on Adoration focuses on

““Who God is” Who God is”

not not

““What God gives.”What God gives.”


We all like to be told that we are We all like to be told that we are loved. loved.

Loved for who we are Loved for who we are not just for what we donot just for what we do..

God loves it when his children God loves it when his children come to him and say, come to him and say,

““Dad, You’re the best dad in the Dad, You’re the best dad in the whole world and I love you.”whole world and I love you.”


Prayers of Adoration Prayers of Adoration are like times of worship are like times of worship

which help get the focus off which help get the focus off of us and onto God.of us and onto God.

By focusing our attention on By focusing our attention on God and his characteristics we God and his characteristics we put our lives into perspective.put our lives into perspective.


We pray with adoration because: We pray with adoration because:

1.1. God loves to hear from his God loves to hear from his beloved children.beloved children.

2.2. It helps put our lives with its It helps put our lives with its concerns into perspective.concerns into perspective.

3.3. God deserves our praise.God deserves our praise.


How do we grow in this area of prayer?How do we grow in this area of prayer?

1.1. Become conscious of the person Become conscious of the person to whom you are talking.to whom you are talking.

Your Father who loves.Your Father who loves.

Your Father who has all authority Your Father who has all authority and power.and power.



2.2. Begin by praying other people’s Begin by praying other people’s words.words.- Rediscover the Psalms.- Rediscover the Psalms. Ps. 8, 23, 46, 95, 100, 148 & othersPs. 8, 23, 46, 95, 100, 148 & others

- Take a hymn or song of praise - Take a hymn or song of praise pray it. [spoken or sung]pray it. [spoken or sung]



3. Praise God for his Characteristics/3. Praise God for his Characteristics/ attributes:attributes:

- all powerful- all powerful - all knowing- all knowing - all present - all present - all loving- all loving

- merciful- merciful - faithful- faithful- attentive- attentive - providing- providing



4. Try praying the Names of God.4. Try praying the Names of God.

- Jahweh – Covenant Keeping God- Jahweh – Covenant Keeping God

- Elohim – Creator of all- Elohim – Creator of all

- Jehovah Jireh – Provider- Jehovah Jireh – Provider

-- - Healer- Healer

--Ann Spangler, Ann Spangler, Praying the Names of GodPraying the Names of God


Grow in adoration in prayer,Grow in adoration in prayer,

and you will surely grow and you will surely grow

in your appreciation of prayer in your appreciation of prayer and growand grow

in your relationship with God.in your relationship with God.

devoted to prayer “devote yourselves to prayer” imperative / command devotion is a response....

Documents

actss adoration adoration

actss adoration jesus

frills prayer slide

love god

lords prayer

prayer life

actss model

fullness of god