A HOUSE OF PRAYER

‘When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen’ Matthew 6:6

Room 1: Affirmation of God’s presence
In this first room we remind ourselves that God is here. ‘Do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go’ Joshua 1:9

Room 2: Adoration, praise and thanksgiving
We adore God for who he is and thank him for what he does. ‘Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of Jesus Christ’
Ephesians 5:19, 20.

Room 3: Confession, forgiveness and unloading
This is the place to confess our sins, fears and sorrows to God. ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you’ 1 Peter 5:7.

Room 4: Positive affirmation and reception
Cleansed by forgiveness we are ready to receive. ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you’ John 14:27.

Room 5: Petition
God cares about our personal needs and wants us to bring our requests to him. ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you’ Matthew 7:7.

Room 6: Intercession
‘I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone’ 1 Timothy 2:1.

Room 7: Meditation
‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith’ Hebrews 12:2.

ACTS OF PRAYER

The word ACTS is a helpful reminder of the main aspects of prayer:

Adoration is to to worship God for who he is: creator, sustainer, redeemer. 'Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker' (Psalm 95:6).

Confession allows us to clear away the things in our relationship with God which are displeasing to Him. 'If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness' (1 John 1:8, 9).

Thanksgiving. We need to be constantly thanking God for his blessings; both spiritual and material. 'Give thanks to the LORD for he is good; his love endures for ever (Psalm 106:1).

Supplication includes petition (praying for ourselves) and intercession (praying for others). In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God' (Philippians 4:6). 'Be alert, and always keep on praing for all the saints' (Ephesians 6:18).