Pray about Everything
Sometimes, I was not sure that God was doing things for me, but I know that I felt better praying about it, whether I got an answer immediately or not. I knew He still had His hand on me. I was making it through and gaining the strength to understand what was going on and how to make the appropriate decisions. I had gotten to the place where I was asking God about everything. “Should I get this dress? Then will you make it so that I can afford it? I can go to the store, and it will be the right price.” Everything, from how to go in the store to how to spend my money better, more wisely – things that I did not think about or pray about before. Taken from Twelve Women: Inspirational Journeys of Faith, Hope and Love by C. Westmoreland.
We are told in the Bible from Philippians 4: 6-7, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peach, which exceeds anything we can understand.” These words are such a blessing to me as I journey through this life. Communicating with God about everything empowers us in difficult times.
“God desires for us to pray on all occasions with all kinds of prayer and requests”. Ephesians 6:18. The ACTS formula is a very good starting point for us to begin our journey of praying for everything. As we walk through life we can begin and end each day with this basic Christian prayer based on the Lord’s Prayer given to us by Jesus Christ in Luke 11.
The ACTS formula:
Adoration: Give God praise and honor for who he is as Lord overall. Begin our day with stepping out of bed and praising God and honoring him for how great and mighty our God is in this life and how He is with us on this journey. As we look at everything that we have, praise God for the provisions and the creation of all things that give him glory. Every step that we take can be a praise step in Jesus’ name.
Confession: Honestly deal with the sin in your prayer life. This part of our prayer life may be very challenging. For I know the things that are obvious that I need to repent of but those hidden and secret things that I have pushed back in a corner, or conveniently forgotten are the things that God wants us to confess honestly and turn from them. Confession could be an all-day prayer vigil from thoughts, words and deeds done in the heart. Father, forgive us of all the overt and covert behaviors that we have done. Please bring them to our remembrance so that we can bring them before you and lay them at the altar. Our daily prayer is to “23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:24 And see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23-24.
Thanksgiving: Verbalize what you are grateful for in your life and in the world around you. When things are going well for us, thanksgiving and praise more easily flows from our mouth. But when times are difficult this act of prayer becomes the element that is most forgotten or neglected. God requires us to look at everything through his eyes and see the good that will come out of the tough situations in our life. Also standing on the word of God that says “ 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. These words can help to us continue our journey knowing that everything will work out for our good.
Supplication: Pray for the needs of others and yourself. As people of faith, we must “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil. Proverbs 3:5-7. And that also means to not only trust him for ourselves but for others in need. One of my dear friends has been an example of praying for others. If you ask her for prayer, she will stop and immediately pray right then. Why put off for tomorrow or later when you can do it NOW.
Prayer is the master key for all Christians to unveil all mysteries, it is mandatory for Christians to pray always and for everything. A prayerful Christian is victorious and more than a conqueror through Christ.