Begin to break free of insecurity and know your identity in Christ today! Click HERE!
What is the ACTS Prayer Model and How Can It Help Me Pray?
What is the ACTS prayer model? The ACTS prayer model is a simple framework that helps you pray with greater intention and focus. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Each step gives you a place to focus your heart as you spend time with God, helping you move from praising who He is, to confessing what weighs on your heart, giving thanks for what He has done, and bringing your needs and the needs of others before Him.
First, let me reassure you: there is no perfect formula for prayer. God loves when His children come to Him. He wants to hear your heart and all the thoughts circling your often-too-busy mind.
“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
— Hebrews 4:16 NLT
Prayer models can help us be more consistent and intentional in prayer. They give us a simple framework to follow when our thoughts wander, or we aren’t sure where to begin.
It is so easy to wander in our thoughts. We start praying for a friend’s circumstances or a personal need, and suddenly we find ourselves adding bread to the grocery list or solving a scheduling conflict for tomorrow’s schedule! Sometimes those wandering thoughts are the Holy Spirit leading us to things we need to pray about, but other times, it’s purely our racing minds and distractions.
I’ve found that those distractions happen less when I pray with intention. A prayer model helps me do just that. It keeps me focused while helping establish wise habits in my prayer life.
My favorite is the ACTS prayer model.
What Does ACTS Stand for in the ACTS Prayer Model?
A — Adoration
Begin by focusing on who God is.
Starting our prayers with adoration sets the stage. It prepares our hearts and minds by putting our focus in the right place. We get the opportunity to adore our Heavenly Father for His power, goodness, faithfulness, love, and so much more. This is our time to express to Him these thoughts and also remind ourselves of His goodness and therefore why we can trust Him.
C — Confession
Confession takes humility.
We cannot experience the depth of an authentic relationship with God while holding tightly to our pride. We can trust Him with our broken attempts at life.
When we bring the sin weighing us down before Him, there is freedom in no longer hiding it. God already knows. Yet there is something powerful about admitting our sin, asking for forgiveness, and turning back toward Him.
Thanksgiving allows us to remember what God has already done in our lives. As we name His blessings and faithfulness, we are reminded of the ways He has carried us before.
I used to struggle with the difference between adoration and thanksgiving. One simple way to remember it is this:
Adoration focuses on who God is. Thanksgiving focuses on what God has done.
S — Supplication and Intercession
Finally, we bring our needs and the needs of others before God.
After praising Him, confessing our sins, and remembering His faithfulness, we can confidently bring Him the circumstances weighing on our hearts.
Supplication is bringing our own needs before God. Intercession is praying on behalf of someone else.
How the ACTS Prayer Model Helps When You Feel Stuck
One of the things I appreciate about the ACTS prayer model is how it keeps us from getting stuck in the muck of our circumstances.
Negativity can pull us in like quicksand. We begin by unloading our struggles, then keep unloading until our problems become the only things we can see.
That doesn’t make our struggles disappear. But it can change the posture of our hearts as we bring those struggles before God.
The ACTS model gently redirects our attention.
Before we arrive at our requests, we’ve already paused to remember who God is, confessed what’s weighing on us, and recognized what He has already done.
Do You Have to Use the ACTS Prayer Model Every Time You Pray?
No. The ACTS prayer model isn’t a rule for how Christians must pray.
It’s simply a tool.
There will be days when your prayer is only a whispered, “Help me, Lord.” Other days, you may spend most of your prayer time thanking Him or praying for someone you love.
The purpose of a prayer model isn’t to make prayer rigid. It’s to give you somewhere to begin when you need help focusing or don’t know what to say.
Over time, the rhythm of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication may become something you naturally carry with you into prayer.
A Simple ACTS Prayer Model Example
If you’re learning this prayer method for the first time, your prayer could be as simple as:
Adoration: God, You are faithful, loving, patient, and good. Thank You for being present with me today.
Confession: Father, forgive me for the places where I’ve allowed fear, frustration, or pride to guide my choices. Help me surrender those things to You.
Thanksgiving: Thank You for the ways You’ve cared for me, for the people You’ve placed in my life, and for the grace You continue to give me.
Supplication: Lord, I bring You the needs on my heart today. Give me wisdom for the decisions I’m facing, and please be near to the people I love who are walking through difficult circumstances.
You don’t have to use these exact words. Let them simply show you how each part of ACTS can lead naturally into the next.
Get a Printable Copy of the ACTS Prayer Model Chart
I’ve also created a printable ACTS prayer model chart you can keep nearby when you pray or journal. And guess what! It’s yours as a subscriber! Just use the form below to subscribe, and you will get free access to my entire Library of Hope, where you can download prayers, forms, journals, and more.
Use this form as a gentle reminder of the four parts of ACTS — Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication — as you grow in confidence and intentionality in your prayer life.
As a Christian author, speaker, and retreat host, Lori Schumaker is passionate about helping women unveil their hope, find rest for their souls, and break free from insecurity through God's truth. With certifications in Christian Life and Mental Health Coaching, she weaves Biblical principles with mental wellness to address the whole person.
Lori's journey as a wife and mom to adoptive, biological, and special needs children infuses her ministry with authenticity and compassion. Her award-winning book "Surrendered Hearts" shares powerful lessons of faith through her family's adoption story.
When not writing or speaking, Lori creates spaces—both online and through intimate retreats—where women can experience the transformative power of Christ's unfailing love.
This month is National Adoption Month. As many of you know, we are an adoptive family. Our youngest, Selah, was adopted in April of 2011 when she was just two months short of 5 years old. Adoption is a gift – a miracle of God’s unfailing love. A love we are humbled by and thankful for. So, on this day before Thanksgiving, I want to give tribute to God, adoption, and family. Continue Reading…
Hi Lori, I’m back from a summer blogging break and it’s good to be linking up with you again. I’ve seen several prayer models and haven’t paid many of them much mind, but somehow I think this one will stick with me. Thanks for sharing.
It’s so great to see you back, Tiffiney! I hope your break was replenishing and restoring, my friend ♥ I took a break July-mid August, as well. I have learned that if I want to keep offering quality content and minister to others well, I need those breaks in this season of life. Maybe someday when the needs change at home, the time won’t be as necessary, but for now, it is. I’m so glad this model will serve as a help, too! Thanks so much for joining me here ♥
What a great and simple way to help our prayer life! I can relate to that idea that we start off praying and suddenly we are working on the mental grocery list! So grateful that God has grace for us and knows our hearts. And grateful for simple tools like this!
ACTS always makes me smile, because I was sharing it as a handy reminder for my middle school girls’ Sunday School class. I could tell by the expression on their faces that they were wondering about something, so I asked what was up, and it turns out they thought I was coming up with this really cool acronym on the fly–that it was original with me in that moment!
They’re all grown up now, one in college, one working (and dating my son!), and one just had her first baby. This post reminds me to pray for them today.
This is beautiful! I love picturing myself before the throne of God when I pray. It humbles me and reminds me that my prayers should be filled with thanksgiving and an attitude of praise and adoration. I also love that you mentioned praying through Scripture. That is certainly a powerful tool!
When we really stop to think of the incredible gift we have to approach God before His throne any time we would like and be received as a precious child, it is quite humbling! Thank you so much for joining me here each week, Emily!
I learned this prayer model when I joined a group of moms to pray for the school and students our children were attending. It was so helpful for keeping us on track as we took turns praying through each of the 4 items. It is also easy to teach kids to pray using this model. For awhile, I made a paper dice and each side had one of these categories (one side had a “roll again” and the other side had “do all four”). My son and I would roll the dice and then just do one of the categories that day. So maybe all adoration. Another day all confession. Etc. It taught us the 4 categories and it was then easier to combine all four.
I’ve used this prayer model for a long time, and have found it to be so effective. I don’t use it every time I pray, of course, but when I need to pull it up in my head, I’m glad it’s there to rely on. Thanks for sharing it here, Lori! I’m sure it will bless many.
Isn’t it funny how it is kind of like riding a bicycle? I’m the same. I don’t always pray with the model, but it lives in the back of my mind kind of guiding my prayers and when I need to get specific, it’s always right there.
I was reminded today that prayer takes effort and focus and practice! You might enjoy Dave Lomas message on Christian meditation – linked in my post today – actually the next one concentrates on prayer itself – pastor of Realty SF. Blessings as you align your heart and will and message with His which blesses so many!
I remember when I first heard His words about going boldly to the throne. Bold just wasn’t even a part of who I was – in any area of my life! What a difference it made and what a journey it set me on! Thanks so much for joining me here, Christine!
Hi Lori, I’m back from a summer blogging break and it’s good to be linking up with you again. I’ve seen several prayer models and haven’t paid many of them much mind, but somehow I think this one will stick with me. Thanks for sharing.
It’s so great to see you back, Tiffiney! I hope your break was replenishing and restoring, my friend ♥ I took a break July-mid August, as well. I have learned that if I want to keep offering quality content and minister to others well, I need those breaks in this season of life. Maybe someday when the needs change at home, the time won’t be as necessary, but for now, it is. I’m so glad this model will serve as a help, too! Thanks so much for joining me here ♥
What a great and simple way to help our prayer life! I can relate to that idea that we start off praying and suddenly we are working on the mental grocery list! So grateful that God has grace for us and knows our hearts. And grateful for simple tools like this!
I’m glad someone else relates, Rebecca! lol! If I’m not intentional, it happens way too often! These tools help me immensely in that intentionality.
ACTS always makes me smile, because I was sharing it as a handy reminder for my middle school girls’ Sunday School class. I could tell by the expression on their faces that they were wondering about something, so I asked what was up, and it turns out they thought I was coming up with this really cool acronym on the fly–that it was original with me in that moment!
They’re all grown up now, one in college, one working (and dating my son!), and one just had her first baby. This post reminds me to pray for them today.
What a neat story, Michele! God gives us the sweetest of memories as we anchor our lives to Him ♥
This is beautiful! I love picturing myself before the throne of God when I pray. It humbles me and reminds me that my prayers should be filled with thanksgiving and an attitude of praise and adoration. I also love that you mentioned praying through Scripture. That is certainly a powerful tool!
When we really stop to think of the incredible gift we have to approach God before His throne any time we would like and be received as a precious child, it is quite humbling! Thank you so much for joining me here each week, Emily!
Models can be so helpful during different seasons of life. Thanks for the reminder of this one. laurensparks.net
Right? That is exactly how I feel, Lauren!
I learned this prayer model when I joined a group of moms to pray for the school and students our children were attending. It was so helpful for keeping us on track as we took turns praying through each of the 4 items. It is also easy to teach kids to pray using this model. For awhile, I made a paper dice and each side had one of these categories (one side had a “roll again” and the other side had “do all four”). My son and I would roll the dice and then just do one of the categories that day. So maybe all adoration. Another day all confession. Etc. It taught us the 4 categories and it was then easier to combine all four.
What a fun and effective way to teach each category! And I’m sure left you with sweet memories of your time working together on it!
I’ve used this prayer model for a long time, and have found it to be so effective. I don’t use it every time I pray, of course, but when I need to pull it up in my head, I’m glad it’s there to rely on. Thanks for sharing it here, Lori! I’m sure it will bless many.
Isn’t it funny how it is kind of like riding a bicycle? I’m the same. I don’t always pray with the model, but it lives in the back of my mind kind of guiding my prayers and when I need to get specific, it’s always right there.
I was reminded today that prayer takes effort and focus and practice! You might enjoy Dave Lomas message on Christian meditation – linked in my post today – actually the next one concentrates on prayer itself – pastor of Realty SF. Blessings as you align your heart and will and message with His which blesses so many!
I will have to check it out, Sue! Thanks for the heads-up ♥
I agree when I pray with intention I am less distracted. I also find writing out my prayers helps. I write them like a letter to God.
I love this. “Confidence leads to boldness and God tells us to come boldly to the throne.” Thanks for the reminder today.
I remember when I first heard His words about going boldly to the throne. Bold just wasn’t even a part of who I was – in any area of my life! What a difference it made and what a journey it set me on! Thanks so much for joining me here, Christine!