God-Shaped Prayer: A Theology and Practice of the Lord's Prayer

Prayer is incense, delivered by angels before the face of God, pleasing to him.

Prayer is the human response to God's being and activity. It is not so much an expression of human desires, though it often is that also. But God has determined the very nature of prayer-its functions, contents, and even its power. God-Shaped Prayer helps readers understand and appreciate the concept of prayer in its biblical-theological scope. As with God's own nature, prayer is ordered, Christ-centered, and sustained by the Spirit.

God-Shaped Prayer is an exposition of the Lord's Prayer framed in the popular ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) model of prayer. It combines practical guidance with biblical study and theology. It challenges Christians to abandon shallow, self-centered prayers and to pray with the saints throughout history, prayers that reflect God's holiness, covenant love, and the purposes of his Kingdom.

• God-centered prayer (Adoration): Prayer begins with God, not us. Adoration directs our attention to God's holiness, fatherhood, and kingship so that every prayer is an act of reverence and praise.
• Man-reflective prayer (Confession): When we see God's holiness, we see our own sin clearly. Prayer facilitates repentance, honesty, and the reception of God's grace.
• Christocentric prayer (Thanksgiving): Christian gratitude flows from Christ's saving work and covenant promises. Christ-centered thanksgiving parallels the church's Eucharistic prayers, so that our everyday devotion aligns with corporate worship.
• God-inspired asking (Supplication): Asking of God is about aligning our desires with God's, not bending his will to ours. Supplicatory prayers reflect the heart of God, to see his Kingdom purposes be accomplished in our lives, relationships, the church, and the world.

Above all, God-Shaped Prayer emphasizes Christ as the Mediator of prayer. Our prayers are not effective because of eloquence, persistence, or personal strength but because Christ has risen from the dead, ascended to the right hand of the Father, and intercedes continually for his people. God-Shaped Prayer reminds us that every prayer offered in Christ ascends like incense before the throne of God and is heard and answered according to his will.

Table of Contents

Introduction: God-Shaped Prayer

Adoration: God-Centered Prayer

Confession: Man-Reflective Prayer

Thanksgiving: Christocentric Prayer

Supplication: God-Inspired Asking

Conclusion: A Rule of Prayer

Epilogue: The Jesus Prayer

Appendix: Supplicatory Prayers for the Church