Day 27

“Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.” – Nehemiah‬ 1‬:5‬-6‬ NIV‬‬

Well, I’ve finally done it. It took 27 days, but I’ve finally reached a verse where I find I have nothing to write about. I kind of knew this day would come, I’ve teetered on the highwire a couple of times so far, but it was still a bit of a nervous moment as I stared at the blank page. As I thought about what to do, I decided to pray. (What do you know, maybe I AM learning something.) Thankfully, that prayer was answered by some thoughts about prayer.

When I first learned to pray for real, I was in my thirties. When I say “pray for real” I mean actually opening myself up to God with a willingness to listen to His response. Before that time, my prayers mostly came in two flavors: asking for things, like a good grade on a test or a win for my favorite sports team, or thanking Him for things, like a good grade on a test or a win for my favorite sports team. (I was a pretty simple kid.)

But then something was awoken in me and I realized that there is so much more to prayer than just asking or thanking. Like a good conversation with a friend, you can really create a meaningful back and forth with the Father. One of my favorite strategies for this was the ACTS prayer. A-Adoration, C-Confession, T-Thanksgiving, S-Supplication. And as I prayed, and reread the passage from Nehemiah above, I began to realize how much it resembled ACTS.

“Then I said: “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God” – Adoration
“I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you.” – Confession
“who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments” – Thanksgiving (sort of…there is at least a ring of thanksgiving in what he is writing)
“let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you” – Supplication

It was new to me in my thirties, but it’s clearly a method of prayer that goes back centuries. Time-tested and tried-and-true. So, when I wonder, what’s the point of prayer? God already knows my heart; he already knows what’s on my mind. I couldn’t possibly Thank him for something he doesn’t already know I am grateful for. Or Ask him for something he doesn’t already know I need. I remind myself, just Adore Him. Open yourself up to Him and prepare your heart to hear what He has to say.