This is the fourth and final article in a series taking a closer look at the acrostic “ACTS.” I first mentioned this acrostic in Part 1 of the “Can the Gospel Wreck Your Marriage” series. It is an easy and memorable way to structure your prayers.
So far, we have taken a look at “A” – Adoration, “C” – Confession and “T” – Thanksgiving. Today I am looking closer at the “S” – Supplication.
Supplication is not a word that is used very often these days. In fact, I don’t think I have ever heard it used in conversation that wasn’t related to a Bible verse. Philippians 4:6 is where it is usually quoted:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
The above quote is from the New American Standard Bible (NASB). That same word “supplication” is used in several other versions of the Bible including the King James, American Standard Version, English Standard Version, and Revised Standard Version when translating this verse. Other Bible versions use the word “petition” instead (for example Holman Christian Standard Bible and the New International Version just to name a couple). In the original Greek, the word is δέησις (deēsis), which Strong’s Concordance defines as, you guessed it, supplication!
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines supplicate as “to make a humble entreaty, to ask for earnestly and humbly” which is also a pretty good description of how the word δέησις is used in the Bible.
So, now that we have defined the word, how do we make our requests known to God by prayer and supplication?
1. First of all, we ask!
“You do not have because you do not ask.” – James 4:2b
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8
God wants you to bring your requests to Him. Now, the purpose of asking is not so that God will know what is on your heart. Just like we discussed in the article on Confession, God is omniscient and already knows your hearts desires before you ask. But yet, God acts in response to our prayers. This is one of those deep theological thoughts that I choose to not get hung up on but accept that yes, God is all-knowing and He knows the requests we are going to make and how He is going to answer, yet He still responds and reacts to our prayers. He just already knew in advance what we would ask and how He would respond.
It is important to note that the verse above in James is followed by:
“You ask and do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your pleasures.” – James 4:3
I don’t want to imply that God will automatically grant your every wish just because you asked for something. Not only does God know what our desires are but He knows the motives behind our desires. He answers our prayers according to His sovereign will and when our requests line up with His will.
2. Then we might ask again.
The same Greek word δέησις is used in Luke 1:13, this time the NASB translates it as “petition:”
“But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.”
In this verse, the angel is talking to Zacharias who was a priest. He and his wife Elizabeth were both advanced in years and did not have a child because Elizabeth was barren (Luke 1:5-7). The child that the angel is referring to is John the Baptist. Zacharias and Elizabeth wanted a child and seeing that they are advanced in years one can make the assumption that they had been praying for a child for a long time. Their petition was almost certainly not a one-time request.
The Bible also tells us that Paul asked three times for his “thorn in the flesh” to be removed (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Supplication, earnestly asking for something, may entail asking more than once.
3. We come to the throne with boldness and humility.
“Therefore, let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16
Boldness AND humility? Those may seem in opposition to each other but are not necessarily. We can approach God with boldness and confidence as He is our loving Father who wants to bless us. Remember, He invites us to His throne (Revelation 4:1-11).
“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” – Matthew 7:9-11
We shouldn’t be afraid to bring our requests to God but we should do so humbly. God is our Creator and Maker. We approach Him with an attitude of reverence and give Him the honor that He rightfully deserves. Our humility is a direct reflection of our view of who God is.
4. We bring our requests with faith.
“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us” – Ephesians 3:20
We make our requests to God with faith that He is able to meet our requests. Whether or not God answers our prayers the way that we would like for Him to, His is certainly able to do anything. As the verse in Ephesians above says, He is able to do far more abundantly than we ask or even think. The word “think” in that verse never popped out to me before until I was praying over writing this article. Not only can He meet our needs and do anything that we might ask, but He can also do far more than we would ever even think about asking for. Let that sink in. Our God is able. End of sentence, no further clarification needed.
We bring our requests to God not only in faith that He can meet them but with faith that regardless of however He answers the prayer (even if the answer is “no”) that He is sovereign and knows what is best for us. We desire His will to be done over our own.
5. We ask with thanksgiving.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” – Philippians 4:6
We make our requests known to God by prayer and supplication with a thankful heart. Thankful for previously answered prayers. Thankful that He listens and is capable of answering our prayers. Thankful for all that He has done for us.
This reminds me of a scene in Facing the Giants, a movie produced by the Kendrick brothers. One of the main characters, the wife of a high school football coach, desperately wants to have a child but has not been able to. She thinks she may be pregnant and goes to the doctor to verify but is once again told, no, she is not. Through her extreme disappointment and utter hopelessness, she tells God that she will praise Him anyway.
Bringing our requests to God by prayer and supplication with a thankful heart is deciding to praise Him regardless of His answer.
God loves you. He wants to have a relationship with you. He wants to commune with you. Whether you use the acrostic “ACTS” to structure your prayers, follow closer to the example of the “Lord’s Prayer” found in Matthew 6:9 – 13, or just cry out with a single word to Him. Your heavenly Father hears your prayers. Have you talked to Him today?
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