ACTS is an old, simple outline for prayer, four movements in order: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Praise for who God is, honesty about what needs forgiving, gratitude for what’s already been given, and only then, requests for what’s still needed.
These thirty verses follow that same order, starting with who God is before moving to what’s actually needed. For another structured approach to prayer, an opening prayer for worship pairs well with the Adoration section here.
Pray these in order, letting each section actually finish before moving to the next rather than rushing straight to your requests.
ACTS Prayer
1. Psalms 145:3 (KJV)
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.”
Adoration: Great are You, and most worthy of praise, Your greatness no one can fathom.
Let this greatness settle over me before I ask You for anything.
2. Isaiah 6:3 (KJV)
“And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
Adoration: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of Your glory.
Let a sense of holiness fill this moment, the way it filled Isaiah’s vision.
3. Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Adoration: You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power.
Let this worship echo what’s already happening around Your throne.
4. Psalms 96:4 (KJV)
“For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.”
Adoration: Great are You, and most worthy of praise, You are to be feared above all gods.
Let reverence, not familiarity, shape how I approach You right now.
5. Psalms 8:1 (KJV)
“O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.”
Adoration: Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth.
Let this majesty be genuinely awe-inspiring to me, not just a phrase.
6. 1 Chronicles 29:11 (KJV)
“Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.”
Adoration: Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor.
Let all of this belong to You alone, not shared with anything else I’m tempted to worship.
7. Psalms 47:7 (KJV)
“For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.”
Adoration: You are King of all the earth.
Let this kingship be real over my own life specifically.
8. Exodus 15:11 (KJV)
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”
Adoration: Who among the gods is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in glory?
Let nothing else compete for this place in my life.
9. Psalms 51:1-2 (KJV)
“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
Confession: Have mercy on me, according to Your unfailing love, wash away all my iniquity.
Let this confession be honest, not just a formality.
10. 1 John 1:9 (KJV)
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Confession: Let me confess my sins, trusting You are faithful and just to forgive and purify me.
Let confession be regular, not a rare, dramatic event.
11. Psalms 139:23-24 (KJV)
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Confession: Search me and know my heart, see if there’s any offensive way in me.
Let me actually welcome this search, not avoid it.
12. Psalms 32:5 (KJV)
“I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”
Confession: Let me acknowledge my sin to You, not cover it up, and receive Your forgiveness.
Let honesty replace whatever I’ve been hiding.
13. Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Confession: Let me confess and renounce my sins, rather than concealing them.
Let mercy be what I actually find, not shame.
14. Psalms 51:10 (KJV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Confession: Create in me a pure heart, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Let this be real change, not just guilt acknowledged.
15. Daniel 9:9 (KJV)
“To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;”
Confession: To You belong mercy and forgiveness, even though I have rebelled against You.
Let rebellion not disqualify me from this mercy.
16. Psalms 100:4 (KJV)
“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”
Thanksgiving: Let me enter Your gates with thanksgiving, and Your courts with praise.
Let thanksgiving be genuine, not just the expected next step.
17. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV)
“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
Thanksgiving: Let me give thanks in all circumstances, this is Your will for me.
Let this include the circumstance I’m actually in today.
18. Psalms 107:1 (KJV)
“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
Thanksgiving: Let me give thanks to You, for You are good, Your love endures forever.
Let this simple truth be enough reason to give thanks today.
19. Philippians 4:6 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Thanksgiving: Let me present my requests to You with thanksgiving woven right in.
Let gratitude accompany even what I’m about to ask for.
20. Psalms 118:1 (KJV)
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever.”
Thanksgiving: Let me give thanks to You, for You are good, Your love endures forever.
Let this be true regardless of how today actually goes.
21. Colossians 3:15-17 (KJV)
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Thanksgiving: Let Your peace rule my heart, and let me be thankful, whatever I do.
Let thanksgiving color everything, not just this section of prayer.
22. Ephesians 5:20 (KJV)
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Thanksgiving: Let me always give thanks to You for everything, in the name of Jesus.
Let thanksgiving cover even what I don’t fully understand yet.
23. Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV)
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Supplication: Now let me present my requests to You, and let peace guard my heart and mind.
Let these requests be specific, not vague or general.
24. Matthew 7:7 (KJV)
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”
Supplication: Let me ask, seek, and knock, trusting You to answer.
Let persistence not turn into losing hope while I wait.
25. James 1:5 (KJV)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Supplication: I lack wisdom, give it to me generously, without finding fault.
Let asking for help feel normal, not embarrassing.
26. Psalms 37:4 (KJV)
“Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”
Supplication: Let me delight myself in You, and let You give me the desires of my heart.
Let my desires be shaped by delighting in You first.
27. 1 John 5:14 (KJV)
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”
Supplication: Let me approach You with confidence, that if I ask according to Your will, You hear me.
Let my requests align more and more with what You actually want.
28. Jeremiah 33:3 (KJV)
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”
Supplication: Let me call to You, and let You answer, showing me great and unsearchable things.
Let this promise be true for exactly what I’m bringing You now.
29. Psalms 20:4 (KJV)
“Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.”
Supplication: Grant me the desire of my heart, and make my plans succeed.
Let this be answered in Your time, in Your way.
30. Numbers 6:24-26 (KJV)
“The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
Supplication: Bless me and keep me, make Your face shine on me, and give me peace.
Let this old blessing close this whole prayer well.
Conclusion
The order matters more than it first appears. Starting with adoration keeps requests in proportion, confession clears the way honestly, and thanksgiving reminds you what’s already been given before you ask for more. By the time supplication arrives, it comes from a very different place than if it had come first.
Try praying through all four sections slowly today, even if it takes longer than your usual prayer time.
For the confession portion specifically, a prayer for forgiveness is worth praying deeper into on its own.