If you would like our congregation to pray for you or someone you know, send an e-mail.
Prayer is simply a conversation with God. Just as in other conversations, both speaking and listening are essential. The more you pray, the more you get to know God, and the more opportunities God has to transform you into the person God created you to be. W can call on God anytime, anywhere, any way. There are no special formulas, no prescribed rituals or routines that you must follow before God will hear you. Speak to God like you would a loving Father.
Anything you want! The usual thinking about prayer is that it is “asking God for something.” Although this is true, we at LCM we talk about ACTS as an acronym for different kinds of prayers.
A stands for “Adoration.” This is simply relating to God how marvelous God is. Although God already knows this, it can open us up to become more aware of the greatness of God.
C stands for “Confession.” Unburdening yourself in total honesty to God is very cleansing and healthy. Rest assured, no matter how you may feel about yourself at any given moment, God loves you and wants to hear from you. You cannot surprise God, nor can you make God love you less. Amazingly, confession opens us up to receive the forgiveness through Jesus Christ God so readily wants us to have.
T stands for “Thanksgiving.” As you get to know God better, you will find more and more things to thank him for. But begin with basics, e.g., food that day, a place to live, relationships, an income, Jesus dying on the cross for you. God is very active in your life out of love for you, and by praying prayers of thanksgiving, you open yourself up to see more and more of the blessings God provides for you.
S stands for “Supplication.” Here is where we ask for things: health for a sick friend, direction in a time of confusion, help in a seemingly hopeless situation, even clearness of mind before a math test! Know that God hears all our prayers, but God’s answers aren’t always what we expect. Just because a prayer isn’t answered the way we think it should be, we need to trust that God has our best interests at heart, and may be working out a solution that is better than we could have imagined. It is also helpful to know that God’s timing may be very different than ours. Patience and trust go hand in hand. Keep praying, especially if it seems as if prayers aren’t being answered. As you continue to pray, God has the opportunity to speak to you, telling you what he is doing and how good it will be for those you are praying for.
The best and most reliable way to hear God is through God’s Word, the Bible. Here, God can speak directly to your heart, and can change you from the inside out. Just as in other conversations, listening to God is always more difficult than speaking to him. But know that God wants you to hear him, and has wonderful things to say to you. Persistence, again, is key. You may want to use an online concordance, e.g., Crosswalk Concordance or Cleveland Bible Search to help you find relevant verses in the Bible for your situation.
Another valuable way to hear the voice of God is through Sunday worship. Many churches offer relevant messages that speak directly from God’s Word to our life circumstances. You may also want to speak with trusted Christian friends who are mature in their faith. They can guide you as well. Perhaps they would also recommend a book they have found helpful as a resource to aid you as you listen for the voice of God. One you may find valuable is Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala, Zondervan Publishing, 1997. Zondervan Church Source