Posture of the Heart?
by Kerry Lighty
When I think of the phrase, “posture of the heart”, many images come to mind. Yet, for me the one overriding theme tying them together is sincerity. At the core of our hearts, we know whether we are being honest. And the same is true when it comes to prayer. God understands our hearts. You can’t fake true prayer. Amid a proper posture of the heart, we are more apt to hear what God is saying to us. With this in mind, let’s look at some examples of the A.C.T.S. method of prayer through the lens of sincerity.
Adoration: There’s an occasion in the Old Testament where King David requests the people of Israel to donate their treasures to the building of the Temple of God. David had already emptied all his personal coffers for the cause. The people responded in kind and gave generously as well. Afterward, King David publicly praised God by stating, “We adore you as the one who is over all things.” King David was truly moved, not only by the people’s outpouring of gifts, but ultimately by the source of the gifts themselves, God. It is vitally important that we know the Wellspring of our blessings, and not just seek the blessings themselves. (1 Ch 29:10-12 NLT)
Confession: Isaiah had a moment of heartfelt confession. It began when he saw the Lord. He was confronted by the awesome holiness of the Almighty. Then he exclaimed, “I have filthy lips.” The scriptures teach that our words overflow from our hearts. Here Isaiah was admitting that his heart was also evil. We should regularly ask the Holy Spirit to examine our hearts and show us any wickedness that needs to be confessed. (Is 6:5 NLT)
Thanksgiving: There are many things to give thanks for, but one stands out. Can anything be more valuable than salvation through Jesus? Because Jesus died and rose again, we can have eternal life and be called children of the Most High! Wow! Now that will make your heart grateful. (Ro 7:24-25 NLT)
Supplication: When it comes to asking God for our needs, we don’t need to use a bazillion words and keep repeating the same thing over. I find comfort in this. God hears us the first time. We may not always be the best listeners, but He hears our words and our hearts. (Mt 6:7 NLT)
“Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.” Ps 62:5 (NLT)
