Sunday, November 13, 2022

6 A’s of Prayer


"…in the hope of eternal life that God, who cannot lie, promised before time began."
‭‭Titus‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬ ‭CSB‬‬


American Snout butterfly on lantana



Sometimes in times of trial it's hard to know what to pray. Picking up God's Word and turning to Psalms or the prayers in Paul's letters are a great place to start.


Breath prayers can also help me. I've shared a few of those in the past, like “Abba, Father, as You wish” and “Father of mercies, comfort our afflictions.”






Recently I've started using a guide we'll call the 6 A's:
  • Adore my Lord and God: Lord, You are my rock and salvation, my safe refuge in the wilderness.
  • Admit my helplessness: I am overwhelmed and don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on You.
  • Ask the Lord for help: I need Your wisdom, Lord, Your strength for my weakness and Your light for my darkness.
  • Appropriate a specific promise from His Word. He cannot lie: You promise to give wisdom generously and without reproach to all who ask in faith (James 1:5). I’m asking, Lord.
  • Act in obedient trust. Do the next thing, one next thing at a time.
  • Acknowledge His faithfulness with gratitude: Thank You, Lord, for helping me, guiding me, and giving me Your strength. Thank You for hearing me and going with me through this day. Thank You for Your grace for all that I left undone and Your new mercies ready for tomorrow.
Sometimes when I am overwhelmed, I want a friend to come alongside and give me a plan to move forward. If this rubric helps you, I’m thankful to be that friend in your need. If not, that’s fine too. The most important things are not how we pray but to whom we pray and that we pray instead of going our own stubborn, independent way. God interprets our wordless groans and collects our tears in His bottle. Go to Him and sit quietly in His presence if you have no words. He knows.


Whatever you're enduring right now, may the Lord give you strength and peace. "Blessed be the Lord! Day after day he bears our burdens; God is our salvation. Selah" (Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭19‬ ‭CSB‬‬).