Be Thankful-10

 

One summer I had the wonderful pleasure of teaching first through sixth graders, How To Pray. I used the acronym ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.

According to this definition, we are to Think of a supplication as sort of a prayer, a request for help from a deity. The word carries a sense of awe and adoration with it, suggesting something tentative, even servile, a respectful appeal to a higher power.

Adoration or Praise brings us to the throne of God. God is omnipresent. He is always with us, always present but sometimes we forget that the Holy Spirit resides in us. That is the reason the Word of God shares that we can grieve the Holy Spirit with our actions, thoughts, and deeds. Have you ever praised your way through the alphabet? I praise you Lord because you are the alpha, I praise you Lord because you a beautiful, I praise you Lord because you care for us. Have you ever went on a prayer walk with a friend? This is so much fun because you pray out loud and you take part walking and praising God.

Confession is a time where you admit where you know you have grieved the Holy Spirit. God is omniscient, all-knowing. He already knows what you have done in word or deed. Our inner conscience knows when we have sinned, those are the things you confess or admit.

Thanksgiving is a time to thank the Lord for the blessings that are in your life. An attitude of gratitude. When I am sad, I give thanks and I begin to feel better. When I am mad, thanksgiving improves my attitude. When I am happy, thanksgiving flows easily.

Supplication is a big word for asking the Lord for your needs and wants. God is Omnipotent, all-powerful.  He knows our past, present, and future. So one may ask why we have to ask the Lord.  He is in our lives. He is active in our lives. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and the door will be opened to you. … Matthew 7:7.  When we ask we invite to work in our lives. God is all powerful and God’s grace is enough to meet our needs. 

That summer, I asked the children to write their prayers and I made some really cute journal pages and I used the acronym ACTS. Then at the end of the class, they had a prayer journal to take home. Today I am thankful for prayer. This method of connecting with God is instrumental in my life. Is prayer instrumental in your life? If not, why not.

There will be a study of Max Lucado’s book’ “Before Amen”  through Proverbs 31.org that starts next week November 17. Will you join me in the study? You just need a book, a bible, and of course it is on the internet so an email account, and facebook is a plus.  Please email me if you would like to participate but unable because of not being able to buy the book. I would count it all joy to get the book for you. To sign up for the free study just go to http://www.proverbs31.org

Father God thank you for being omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Thank you for your love, your grace, your mercy. The verse says we do not have to be anxious. Your word says we can bring our fears, hopes, and dreams to the foundation of the cross. I am in awe of your majesty. Amen.

Your turn, I am thankful for………………………

Blessings