Last week I gave you some ideas for spending some extended time with God. If you missed that post click here.

Today I want to talk about prayer. Prayer is simply talking with God! Nothing fancy needed…just talk to God like you would a friend sitting across from you having a cup of coffee and talking about real life stuff.

During the day you can talk to God when you are driving carpool, or doing dishes, or folding laundry. You can definitely talk to him when you are tempted to sell one of your children because of something they’ve done (not that any of us have ever considered such a thing!)

When you have a dinner date with God, however, you might want to do something a little different. For instance, you might like to write out your prayers. This helps slow you down, get your thoughts on paper, and serves as a diary of what is going on in your life.

When I have more time I also expand my prayer time. Instead of my “shopping list” for God (Please do this and please do that…) I try to include these things in my conversation with God:

Adoration: God, you are…holy, almighty, forgiving, grace-giving, etc.

Confession: God, I’m sorry for…

Thanksgiving: Thank you, God, for…

Supplication: God will you please…(asking God to supply our needs—that’s where the word “supplication” comes from)

Silence: God, what do you want to say to me?

The acronym for that is ACTSS—it’s just an easy way to remember all of the different ways I can talk to God.

What are other ways you pray or other practical tools you use when having a conversation with God?