It has been my observation, during the time we spend talking to God, he gradually aligns our will with his, changing the way we view a situation, and changing the way we respond to a problem. Sometimes we miss his answers (because we are not listening or we are expecting a different answer so we do not recognize it when it comes), and other times the answer comes through reading the Bible or talking to others, but God will answer. His wisdom sees farther and loves deeper than we can imagine. God enables us to set our vision for an eternity fellowshipping with those he loves, not just gratification in the immediate moment. There is no one else who can see and know what he does, and he delights to share his wisdom with us in prayer.

If you have an approach to formulate your prayer, then stick with it. Nurture your method and grow close to God. If you were curious about finding something different to formulate your prayer time, you might consider using the ACTS approach (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication). Let us take a closer look at the four elements.

Adoration. Begin your prayer in adoration and praise of God. When the time is right, focus on the absolute majesty and wonder of who God is and how He desires to be with you, always. If you want inspiration, you can pray with a Psalm of praise such as Psalm 100, or Psalm 67.

Contrition. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your sinfulness and need for God’s mercy and grace. Become comfortable talking with God about specific sins — repent and seek forgiveness. Check out Psalms 51 for an example.

Thankfulness. Take the time to thank God for the positive things in your life. Try to notice the blessings you often take for granted. Take a look at Psalms 77 for an example.

Supplication. lift up your cares and concerns to God. Pray for the people in your life, for those who are suffering, for the needs of all people throughout the world. Ask God to show you who to pray for today.

If the Holy Spirit—God’s way of being with us, working through us, and speaking to us—is the way in which continuity is maintained between the life of Jesus and the life of Jesus’ community, then prayer is the primary way we receive and participate in that presence. Prayer is our way of being attentively present to God who is present to us in the Holy Spirit. This frees us from thinking that prayer is about our posture or our ‘right words.’ Prayer is a part of being attentive to the God who is already present with us; to the God already at work in us, our communities, and the world; and to the God who wants us to participate in his ongoing work.

As we pray, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit whether we recognize it or not. Paul says — we do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God (Romans 8:26–27).

In this passage, Paul is saying more than — When you cannot find the words, the Spirit will help. We are given assurances the Holy Spirit is interceding as needed. As needed, the Holy Spirit will take whatever we offer, however rich or impoverished our words are, however inadequate we feel, and intercede. This is an amazing part of prayer and of the relationship we foster with the one true living God. He fills in the blanks. We are struggling, unsure how to proceed, he moves with authority. He then gives us glimpses of his plan, his focus, his assurance we are in a safe harbor. Why? Because we have yielded to him, we have conformed our requests to his will.

In Revelation 5, John describes a vision of a slain Lamb upon a throne, surrounded by elders who are constantly worshiping. Each elder is holding a golden bowl full of incense, the incense in the bowl are the prayers from the people of God. Our ordinary, everyday prayers reach the very presence of God. They fill the throne room. They are the smoke that surrounds the throne.

I choose Jesus.