How to Pray: Psalm 146

How to Pray: Psalm 146
Date posted: 01.26.24

Prayer is all about creating and deepening a personal relationship with God. Its inviting God into your every day, every thought, and every decision. Even though prayer is about relationship, sometimes it’s hard to know where to start or what to say. This week, we’re practicing the ACTS prayer—focusing on Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication (Stuff). Each day, we’ll practice ACTS by using a chapter from Psalm. You’ll use ACTS to shape your personal prayer time based on the passage.

Adoration

Praise God for who He is! Use the passage, what it says about God, and praise Him for it.

 

Confession

Prayer is the moment you can be completely open and vulnerable with God. Take a moment to confess any sin, mindsets, behavior, habits, or addictions. Use the Scripture to guide your confession if needed.

 

Thanksgiving

Thank God for who He is and what He’s done. You’ve taken a moment to praise Him, now thank Him. Take the characteristics mentioned in Scripture and thank Him for exactly how He’s shown that to you.

 

Supplication (Stuff)

Now’s the time to speak your prayer requests to God. They can be requests for you or someone else. A personal relationship with God means you can bring everything to Him. He listens to your requests, desires, and hopes.

1 Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord, my soul.
2 I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
3 Do not put your trust in princes,
in human beings, who cannot save.
4 When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;
on that very day their plans come to nothing.
5 Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.
7 He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 146 (God of Compassion)

 

Adoration

God, I owe You my life! You provide joy and hope; You provide food for the hungry; You provide freedom and give wisdom; You provide strength to the weak. You are the God of compassion. You see me and care for me. You are worthy of all praise! What else do you adore about God?

 

Confession

I confess that I don’t always give You the praise You deserve. I can take credit for Your good works. I can praise myself instead of You. I can rely on others and idols, even though they cannot compare to You. Open up to God more through confession. Remember, He loves you unconditionally.

 

Thanksgiving

Thank you for all the ways You love and protect. You care for those who are often overlooked. You send out Your people, people like me, to serve those in need. Your compassion for all of us is immeasurable. There’s not one type of person You seek to save, but all peoples. Thank you, God, for your unconditional love. Tell God more of the ways you’re thankful for Him.

 

Supplication (Stuff)

Help me pursue You the way You’ve pursued me. I pray that I never lose the desire or zeal for chasing You. Open my eyes to new wonders that praise You and past promises fulfilled. I also pray that you would… [ask God for what you need]. Continue asking God for what you need. He cares for you and listens to your requests. Amen.

How to Pray

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