A Prayer Model for Living a Victorious Life

I attend one of the most on fire, radical life-changing, uplifting the spirit and soothing the soul churches anyone could ever hope to go to and yesterday was one of the MOST endearing services I have been to.

The topic was a prayer model to follow, the chosen lead scripture was Matthew 11:28, ironically the same exact one that a sweet adopted daughter of mine gave me just this past week. The concept, A.C.T.S.

Pastor Dan was explaining how we all find ways to escape our greatest struggles, failures and obsessions. God instructs us to come to Him because only He can give us rest, true rest. And what do we do, we go to everything else for a fake calm before the next storm of life blindsides us. We turn to other people to make us happy, shopping to anesthetize us to the realization we don't have it all, to substances for numbing against the pain, to busy-ness so that we don't have to face rejection, to job security so we don't have to trust a Being we cannot grasp a hold of with our human hands, and even to denial so we won't believe we need God.

What's up with us frail humans? We think we have it altogether when our lives are falling apart. When we become desperate, it is then we might finally turn to our loving Father and beg for His help. Pastor Dan likened this to his daughter who calls out to Him for a hug and eventual popsicle, being perfectly content with the popsicle. I liken it to partying our lives away and when we get caught up in our troubles it is then we need bailed out; now God is there to help us with open arms and a smile on His face. In a way this may be true as He says He will never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5), but what God desires of His children and those who have not yet accepted Him, is for us to come to Him anytime, every time, all the time. With whatever spoils we have to lay at his feet, He can turn them into precious gems of infinite value, if we will only come....as we are.

The model of A.C.T.S. is a wonderful foundation we should all adopt on a daily basis. One in which will bring glory to God, support for our overburdened souls, strength in our spirits and rest for our weary bodies and minds. God expanded on this concept with me and made it quite simple.

A- adoration; adoration for our God, adoring Him above everything and everyone else in our life

C- confession; confession to our Lord; confessing those things we say, do and think that are displeasing to God

T- thanksgiving; thanksgiving for Jesus Christ; always being thankful for the One Who gave us eternal life

S- supplication; supplication from on high; receiving our daily supply of what we need from almighty God, precious Jesus and the ever comforting Holy Spirit

Wow! Concepts to change my life, give me strength, draw me closer to Jesus, provide rest for my body, mind and soul, help me grow in the ways of the Lord, give me hope, support others, pray with power, share the love of Jesus with all who cross my path, be humble before my Lord, loosen all power the enemy could have over me, and to give me abundant life on this earth.

Okay, am I missing something here. Hmmmm, turn to imperfect people for help or trust a most perfect God; spend money on things that will perish one day or savor time with someone Who can provide me with what I truly need not want; use and abuse substances that will alter my thought processes or remember God says I have a sound mind and He can heal my pain; remain too busy to hear from God or seek His plans and purposes for me to further His kingdom and glorify Him; find my security in a job that I can lose at any given moment or have my security in the Creator of all heaven and earth; believe in myself and deny I even have issues at all or know Jesus is worth believing in and trusting for every detail of my life, let's see which do I chose to live by?

HA! Who are we actually kidding?! When the world says, "Look to yourself", know that God says He is always near and waiting with open arms for you to rest in His care, His love, His peace, His salvation, His support, His protection, His comfort, His knowledge, His grace and mercy.



* Supporting scriptures are listed below to look up and concentrate on, contemplate their meanings and apply to your life. Believe and be blessed!


Adoration: I Chronicles 29:10-13, 29:20
Confession: I John 1:9, Psalm 32:1-5, James 5:16
Thanksgiving: Psalm 13:5-6, 69:30, 95:2, Philippians 4:6-7
Supplication: Philippians 4:6, Matthew 6:8, 7:7-11, I John 5:14-15, Ephesians 3:20-21

* To take part online in the wonderful service I commented on, go to
www.pureheart.org and listen to Sunday August 1st service under the column Items of Interest, Sermon downloads and sit back with a cup of coffee, tea or bottled water and enter into rest, rest that will change your life.

Noteworthy Revelations for 2010

Today, being the first day of 2010, I want to shed some light on the prophetic meaning of the number 10. I am sure you can all understand my divine interest in this topic since I'm an evangelical born again Christian and a Criminal Law student. So let me give you a few noteworthy things to ponder.

Specifically spoken by Dr. Stephen E. Jones in his book,The Biblical Meaning of Numbers from One to Forty,ten is the number of divine order which is being reestablished one way or another through the judgment of the law. In other words, it manifests the actual sentence of the law which follows the gathering and presentation of the evidence. After the Holy Spirit has revealed the evidence to expose men’s hearts (as in the meaning of the number nine), the Judge reveals the law. Meaning, he pronounces the sentence (as in the meaning of the number ten) according to the law.

Ten is the number that represents the time of judgment when humans either receive their reward or come under divine judgment. The number 10 is the symbol of "the works of the law" (Romans 20:12) meaning all will be judged according to their deeds. Something we all need to remember, is that 2008 meant new beginnings for believers and signifies searching with a inner room such as our hearts. Then in 2009 was the year of Jesus visiting the earth and searching for evidence of those whom were learning right from wrong much like a divine court case where the evidence is uncovered and presented to the judge for judgment. Now, in 2010, with judgment before us, how pertinent it is to allow God to search the most innermost part of our hearts and remaining open to God's revelation of any areas within that are any wicked ways within us, Psalm 139:23-24. It is important to live our lives in a way that evidence of rightful living before God will be found out by the Judge of all judges.

If the Holy Spirit has been nudging you about any area of your life, surrender that which is not pleasing to the Lord and invite Jesus to cleanse and renew those areas. Confess, repent, and accept the correction the Lord provides you with knowing that God chastens those He loves, Hebrews 12:6-7.

There is no greater honor than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords of all creation loving us enough to have sent His only Son to die for our sins, to pay the price for all the wicked things we have done, are doing or will ever do in our lives, John 3:16. What more can we give then our very lives back to the One Who created us.

2010 will be a year of judgment but those of us that are believers should allow God to search our hearts daily as we deal with those things within us that would be displeasing to the Lord. Decide now to give your heart and life to the Lord completely, without reservation. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart, Psalm 37:4. What better way to live fulfilled and satisfying lives in the year 2010?