A.C.T.S. of Prayer

FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, May 26, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 13:15-31 Psalm: 107:1-16 Epistle: James 1:22-27 Gospel: John 16:23-33 ADORATION Almighty God, I praise You as the exalted God of our ancestors.   From the story of Your people Israel, I learn that You stop at nothing in order to enter into relationship with humanity, and therefore with me. As You brought Israel out of Egypt, so You bring me out of bondage to passion and sin. As You destroyed the seven nations, so You destroy the seven evil thoughts which afflict me. As You gave them judges and kings, so You show yourself to be my righteous Judge and my gracious King forever. As You sent John the Baptist to preach repentance, so You bid me return to Your presence. And as You raised Your Son from the dead, so also You raise me to new, eternal, and everlasting life. CONFESSION Lord God, heavenly Father, You ask me not only to hear Your Word, but also to do it. You warn me that if I do no...

FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, May 19, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 11:2-18 Psalm: 98 Epistle: James 1:17-21 Gospel: John 16:5-15 ADORATION Almighty God, I praise You because You are the Father of lights. In You there is no variation or change or shadow. In You there is no darkness at all because You are perfect Light, Word of truth, Spirit of holiness. I worship You because every good and every perfect gift comes from You. You do not send me anything harmful because You hate nothing You have made. Your nature is eternal goodness and love. You send Your Spirit to comfort me in all our trials. You implant Your Word in my heart in order to save and heal my soul. I adore You for coming to me, very much a work still in progress, to shower me with Your manifold blessings. CONFESSION Holy Spirit, You cleansed all animals in the vision of the Apostle Peter, and You fell upon the Gentiles before him, convincing him not to stand in their way. I confess that I ...

THIRD SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Readings: Lesson: Acts 10:34-48 Psalm: 33:1-12 Epistle: 1 Peter 2:11-17 Gospel: John 16:16-22 ADORATION Almighty God, I understand from Your Word, as Peter did, that You do not show partiality. Instead, from every nation, race, and culture, You accept and welcome with open arms all who do right, and all who seek You with a sincere and honest heart. I praise You because You exclude no one. I worship You because You use our own limitations and divisions, transcending them to work Your sole purpose of goodness for everyone. You have opened wide the gates of everlasting life for any and all who wish to enter, and I believe You will leave them wide open until we all choose to come in. CONFESSION Father, Peter recognized that favoritism has no place in You. I confess to You that I am guilty of perpetuating systems of partiality that favor one group of people above others. Some of these systems I know; others I admit I live in comfortable igno...

SECOND SUNDAY AFTER EASTER Sunday, May 5, 2019 Readings: Lesson: Acts 4:8-21 Psalm: 23 Epistle: 1 Peter 2:19-25 Gospel: John 10:11-18 Almighty God, Your Word teaches that salvation is found in no one else except in the Name of Jesus, Your Son. The Name “Jesus” means “the Lord saves.” From this, I learn that real and true salvation comes only from You, the Lord, the God of all peoples. To seek salvation with an honest and sincere heart is really to seek You. I believe that all who are on this search—regardless of race, culture, or creed—will find You, for You never forsake those who seek You. I believe that all who call on Your Name, by however they understand it, will be saved. I praise and worship You for the wideness of Your mercy, for it is like the wideness of the sea. Father, the Apostles declared that they could not stop telling people about what they had seen and heard. They chose to obey God and continue to teach in Jesus’ Name rather than listen to th...