by Rev. Kyle Burrows / Crossroads North
It is so easy for people with a consistent prayer routine to forget how foreign and confusing prayer can be for new followers of Jesus. In our discipleship course at Crossroads Church, we teach prayer as one of our core “Digging Deep” principles. We use the tried and true A.C.T.S. model of prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. It takes intentional effort to translate these church concepts into approachable ideas, but the feedback has been positive. This well-rounded method of prayer allows us to enter into a meaningful dialogue with God. We practice reading a daily text, and then use the heart of the text to lead our prayer. Did you just read about forgiveness? Then adore God for the endless mercy we receive and confess the ways in your life that you are not forgiving. After that, give thanks and make your requests to the Lord. Adding a minute or two of silence to close your prayer time is important in order to listen for any inspiration from God. No matter what model of prayer you use, it is important to give a written and concrete method of prayer so that others can start applying to their lives. So pick a method, make it a part of your life, then share the habit with others.
