At TFG we have considered the following mnemonic to help us with prayer:
A C T O N
We explain it for you below. Of course, prayer also involves reading the Bible, and asking God to speak to you through it.... why not start with just reading a chapter of Mark's Gospel each day and getting to know what Jesus is like....as you see Jesus you will see God for the Bible tells us that Jesus is the 'image of the invisible God'.
| Adoration | We start our time with God with
a time of Adoration. Focusing on Who He is, what He is like and the
reasons why we love Him. Spend a few minutes at the start of your time
of prayer doing this. Maybe focus today on "Saviour". tomorrow on
"Creator", on the God who is Just, on the Almighty, or whatever. Use
the Bible to help you to discover more about what God is like so that
you can adore Him. |
| Confession | As you see what God is like, so
you see how poorly you measure up against Him. So move to a time of
confession. Confession isn't just about saying sorry. We have looked at
what God is like, now tell Him what you are like. "God I am weak when it comes to....", "God, I know it is
wrong but I keep on....". "I did this today God, I am sorry". Just talk
to him about yourself as you are. You can also include the good bits. |
| Thanksgiving | Now Thank God for the things He
has done. Answered prayer,
forgiveness, whatever. However bad you might be feeling, find something
to be grateful for and thank Him. Even if it is "just" sending His Son
to die for you!! |
| Our~ Needs |
Finally you pray for "our Needs". The needs of the world, your family, your
friends, and then yourself. One way of doing this is to use a method
like the "Prayer 20" detailed on the next page (click here). |
Click this image for a guide to how to pray foor the school and TFG in just 20 minutes. It can easily be adapted for work and places other than Twyford!
TFG's
Aims In
Prayer
If Jesus can give all of this 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52
weeks a year....WHY do we ever go after other people/things?? (Nick Fish, TFG member in 1990)
As we have
prayed together
we have sensed God's
call to pray positively, not negatively.
Not to pray against but to pray for .
As one
of our songs goes "You are Lord in this Place"....our aim is to pray
for
the kingdom of Heaven to come on earth, specifically in Twyford.
This we want to see in the school being increasingly filled with
Christian
students and staff, in sicknesses healed, and....perhaps most
importantly
in order to bring about the other things.....in our own lives being
transformed
by the renewal of our minds that we might become more like Jesus in
every
way each day.
So if you can't make it to our meetings....do join us by praying
through
this
agenda!