ACTS: A Way to Pray

Wednesday, January 5

Focus: Confession

1 John 1: 8-9

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When I have contemplated this particular format of prayer (ACTS), I can see in my mind a physical posture un-fold:

Adoration—LOOK UP—lifting my hands high in praise to God for who he is

Confession—LOOK IN—bowing low, realizing my sin-condition in his holy presence

Thanksgiving—LOOK UP—lifting my face to God in gratitude for his mercy

Supplication—LOOK IN—asking God to pour out his provision on my needs

Today, our focus is on confession. As Dayna so beautifully explained adoration of God yesterday, it almost seems natural for our next response to be a humbled heart. We see this in Scripture so explicitly played out in these 3 biblical characters:

1. Isaiah. When this prophet was in God’s glorious throne room surrounded by his holiness and a host of angels, Isaiah accurately responded, “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!” Isaiah 6:5

2. Job. When God encountered him in a whirlwind, he presented Job with question after question concerning his ability to control both the heavens and the earth (see Job 38!). After this holy-to-human therapy session, Job said, “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore, I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42:5-6

3. John. When the weary-fisherman-disciple was discouraged because of a hard night’s work with nothing to show for it, Jesus commanded him to throw his empty nets into the water one more time, which then became so full of fish the boat began to sink. “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ feet saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

Luke 5:8

When we spend quality time in ADORATION and gain proper perspective of who God is, we then also gain the accurate perspective of who we are, which leads us to CONFESSION.

The good news is this, we don’t stay in our sinful state. When we confess, the gracious action of God’s forgiveness allowed Isaiah, Job, and John to move from their lost, despised, and unworthy mentality to a cleansed, used-by-God instrument of his glory. And likewise, with us! Healthy shame and guilt of our sin leads us to the cross where Jesus not only takes it away, but replaces it with his righteousness. Realizing his mercy and grace, we then can walk in freedom to serve him with a THANKFUL heart.

Today, look up, ADORE God more and more. Then , look in, bow before him, allowing him to lovingly convict you. Humbly CONFESS anything that he brings to mind. Rejoice in his cleansing. He makes you white as snow! Then rise, look up, and THANK him.

Stay tuned. We'll hear more on the "T" in ACTS tomorrow.

Dear Heavenly Father,

You are Holy, All Powerful, and All Knowing. Teach us to focus on you more so that we automatically focus on ourselves less. Forgive us when we think we are in control. Forgive us when we think we can do life without you. Convict us of our sins, O God, and teach us how to humbly confess them to you each day. Thank you for your complete cleansing. Only because of you, we are righteous. In Jesus’ name. Amen.