The Rant: The Formula for Prayer

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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

The Formula for Prayer

There isn't a single universal "formula for prayer" across all beliefs, but various religious traditions—especially within Christianity—offer structured models to guide effective prayer. These are often seen as helpful frameworks rather than rigid rules, emphasizing heartfelt communication with the divine. Below, I'll outline some of the most commonly referenced formulas, drawing from biblical teachings and spiritual resources.

https://secundumscripturas.com/2019/06/29/an-amplified-lords-prayer/

1. The ACTS Formula

This popular acronym provides a simple sequence for prayer, often taught to beginners or children. It's loosely inspired by the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9–13 but isn't directly biblical. The structure helps balance worship, self-reflection, gratitude, and requests:

A - Adoration: Begin by praising and worshiping God, focusing on His attributes (e.g., "You are holy and mighty").
C - Confession: Acknowledge and confess sins or shortcomings, seeking forgiveness (e.g., admitting specific failings and asking for cleansing, as in 1 John 1:9).
T - Thanksgiving: Express gratitude for God's blessings, such as salvation, provision, or answered prayers (e.g., thanking Him for daily mercies, per Philippians 4:6).
S - Supplication: Make requests for personal needs or intercede for others (e.g., praying for wisdom as in James 1:5 or for the well-being of loved ones).

To use it, follow the order in a single prayer session, but it's flexible—prayers don't need all elements every time. This model encourages a heart-centered approach over formulaic repetition.

2. The You-Who-Do-Through Formula

This structure, rooted in Catholic and broader Christian traditions, frames prayer as a direct address to God, often used in formal or communal settings. It's divided into four parts and concludes by invoking Jesus:

You: Address God by an aspect of His nature (e.g., "Loving God" or "Forgiving God").
Who: Describe an attribute or action of God (e.g., "Who gathers us in Your loving arms" or "Who forgives us before we ask").
Do: State the prayer's action or request (e.g., "Bless our family and friends" or "Forgive us for times we fail to love").
Through: End by offering the prayer through Jesus (e.g., "We ask this in Jesus' holy name. Amen.").

This formula adapts to different prayer types like adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, or praise. For example, a thanksgiving prayer might be: "God of the morning sun (You), by the power of Your word, all creation came into being (Who), we thank You for Your wondrous gift (Do), in Jesus' name. Amen (Through)." It emphasizes God's character and relational aspect.

3. The Ask-Seek-Knock Formula

Drawn from Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7:7 ("Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you"), this model focuses on seeking divine revelation or guidance, particularly in Latter-day Saint (Mormon) contexts but applicable broadly. It's a process for persistent, faith-based prayer:

Ask: Clearly petition God for what you need, with specificity and faith, avoiding doubt (e.g., based on James 1:5–6).
Seek: Reflect and allow ideas or solutions to come through inspiration (e.g., via the Holy Spirit placing thoughts in your mind, as in Doctrine and Covenants 8:2–3).
Knock: Act on the received insights, confirming them through spiritual feelings like peace or confirmation.

https://hallow.com/blog/contemplative-prayer-imaginative-prayer/

The purpose is to receive answers or personal revelation, requiring preparation like righteous living, scripture study, and unwavering faith. It's often used in counseling to help resolve life challenges, such as family issues, by breaking down why prayers might go unanswered and guiding action.

Other variations exist, such as using the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9–13) as a template, which starts with honoring God ("Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name") and includes elements like daily needs, forgiveness, and protection from evil. Ultimately, these formulas aim to deepen connection rather than guarantee outcomes—prayer is personal and evolves with one's relationship to the divine.

*https://grok.com/chat/6b84394b-e307-4471-852a-580ea13fc02d*

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The kingdom of God is among you

Luke 17:20-25 Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was to come, Jesus gave them this answer, ‘The coming of the kingdom of God does not admit of observation and there will be no one to say, “Look here! Look there!” For, you must know, the kingdom of God is among you.’ He said to the disciples, ‘A time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. But first he must suffer grievously and be rejected by this generation.’

Live Adoration from Tyburn Convent

Adoration, also known as Eucharistic Adoration, is a Catholic prayer in front of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a sign of devotion and worship to Jesus Christ, who is believed to be present in the consecrated host. During adoration, Catholics pray to Jesus Christ before the Eucharist at their local parish. The Eucharist is typically kept in a tabernacle at the parish church, and may be presented in front of a closed tabernacle or in front of the exposed host in a monstrance. A monstrance is a vessel used in Roman Catholic, Anglican, High Church Lutheran, and Old Catholic churches. It is a stand made of precious metal that holds the Blessed Sacrament during adoration. The word "monstrance" comes from Latin and means "to show".

It is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword

Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. A man’s enemies will be those of his own household. ‘Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. ‘Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me; and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me. ‘Anyone who welcomes a prophet will have a prophet’s reward; and anyone who welcomes a holy man will have a holy man’s reward. ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’ When Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples he moved on from there to teach and preach in their towns.

The beheading of John the Baptist

Matthew 14:1-12 Herod the tetrarch heard about the reputation of Jesus, and said to his court, ‘This is John the Baptist himself; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Now it was Herod who had arrested John, chained him up and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ He had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet. Then, during the celebrations for Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. Prompted by her mother she said, ‘Give me John the Baptist’s head, here, on a dish.’ The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered it to be given her, and sent and had John beheaded in the prison. The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went off to tell Jesus.

Psalms 9:16

The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah - Question: What does Higgaion and Selah mean? Answer: Both Higgaion and Selah are used numerous times in the Old Testament. They occur together in Psalm 9:16. The meanings of these words are uncertain. We observe Higgaion in such passages as Psalm 9:16; 19:14; 42:3; Lamentations 3:63. In Arabic, the root gives a deep vibrating sound, like the murmering sound of a harp (Psa. 92:3). The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia states that it may be derived from the Greek versions of Psalm 9:16 and takes it to mean an instrumental interlude. It may also mean a soliloquy or meditation such as concerning the judgment of God (Psa. 9:16), the words and work of God (Psa. 19:14), and the loving kindness and faithfulness of God (Psa. 92:2-3). In the Septuagint, Selah is translated as daplasma (meaning a division). It occurs in Habakkuk 3:3, 9, 13 and 71 times in the Psalms. It is used in 39 of our 150 psalms. Of those 39 psalms, 31 they are ones handed over to "the chief Musician." So, pause and meditation may be the predominate idea. In addition, it may mean to lift up (Hebrew, salal) or, in some definitions, a repetition, end of a strophe, or a recurring symphony. In his sermon named "HIGGAION!" about Psalm 9:16, Archibald G. Brown, on August 17, 1873, at the East London Tabernacle said this: "When the psalmist wrote this verse, and reached the words 'The wicked shall be snared in the work of his own hands', he seemed to be overpowered at the terror of the thought, and so put a full stop and wrote in the word 'Higgaion!' As much as to say, 'O my soul, meditate on the tremendous truth my hand has penned, and let all who read the same meditate.' And then after 'Higgaion' he puts 'Selah'. He would have there to be a solemn pause. Oh, I would that there could be just one moment's solemn pause in our meeting tonight. Would that there could be a Selah, a Higgaion! Friends, shall there be? I put it to you. 'The Lord is known by the judgment which he executes; and the wicked shall be snared in the work of his own hands!" Now let us just for a moment meditate on that. Let there be a solemn Higgaion, and let every heart ask itself the question, 'How do I stand in reference to this tremendous truth?' *Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr. (https://thirdmill.org/answers/answer.asp/file/47892)*

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