An A.C.T.S. Prayer for My Healing

Introduction

My Struggle with Cerebral Palsy and Therapy

Today, I’d like to present an A.C.T.S. prayer for my healing. On Wednesday, September 25th I began physical therapy sessions to alleviate knee pain due to Osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease that causes tissue within the joints to wear down over time.

I also live with cerebral palsy which makes walking and using my right hand challenging. Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture.

While cerebral palsy is a hassle, the most difficult part of my physical well-being is my attitude. The last time I attended physical therapy was at the age of fourteen.

I stopped attending therapy because my mother got tired of forcing me to go every week. As a teenager, I did not understand the benefits of physical therapy and did not want to spend time exercising.

Though I put no effort into working out, I still wanted God to heal me from cerebral palsy. Of course, this prayer has yet to be answered and there are moments where I doubt if God can heal me.

However, I can’t blame God for not providing a miracle when I am unwilling to do my part. I know God doesn’t depend on human effort but faith for healing without working toward this goal is futile.

The A.C.T.S. Prayer Model 

Now, I’m striving to approach each day with the work ethic necessary to bring my healing to fruition. However, becoming whole will not happen relying on my strength. 

My strength must come from depending on God through prayer. An effective way to intercede involves using the A.C.T.S. model.

Bill Hybel developed the A.C.T.S. model in his book “Too Busy Not To Pray. ” Hybel organizes the model in this manner for an important reason. The A.C.T.S. prayer sets the atmosphere and is a good way to revere our heavenly Father (Bill Hybels, “Too Busy Not To Pray,” Chapter 6).

Reverence occurs within the A.C.T.S. prayer model with

A- Adoration (worshiping and acknowledging God for who he is).

C-Confession (admitting specific sins and faults).

T-Thanksgiving (telling God thank you for what he’s done, doing, and will do).

S-Supplication (asking God for what you need).

Hybel stressed when we pray we must use faith by believing God can do what we ask. But if we pray and doubt we might as well not pray because it won’t be answered (James 1:5-6).

Thankfully, God can handle and forgive our doubt if we confess it to him. Just ask the dad in Mark 9:23-24 who says,  “Lord, I believe but help my unbelief” (New  International Version) 

Lastly, it’s important to remember to pray about what we need. This may seem obvious but often we complain, cry, and talk to everyone about our needs except  God.

An Example from Psalm 51

An example of a petition in scripture that includes these elements is Psalms 51. Psalm 51:1 contains adoration as David alludes to God’s unfailing love and great compassion. God’s great compassion compels David to confess his sins in verses one through six. 

No verse in this passage contains a direct quote where David gives thanks. However, verse thirteen shows David’s thankfulness for forgiveness as he vows to help sinners turn back to God.

David then uses Psalm 51:7-19 to make his supplication to God. Psalm 51:10-11 is one of David’s most popular forms of supplication. This is because he asks God to give him a clean heart, and right spirit, and not to remove the Holy Ghost from his life.

The Holy Ghost assures us of God’s presence in our lives and helps us pray when we are weak (Romans 8:26). Therefore, we can talk to the Lord about weaknesses and areas in our lives where we need healing.

I hope this petition for my healing helps you understand the A.C.T.S. prayer models and increases your faith in God. Let’s pray!

An A.C.T.S. Prayer for My Healing

A Represents Adoration

Father God, I’m coming in prayer with faith acknowledging you are able to do anything. You are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord my healer.

You have authority over all diseases and sicknesses. Every illness must submit to you as the creator of all creation. 

But living in a fallen world means sicknesses like cerebral palsy and osteoarthritis are common. Doctors try to provide therapy, surgery and medicine to alleviate pain.

However, it’s only in the name of your Son Jesus that healing can take place (Acts 3:16). For he is The Great Physician (Luke 5:27-32). There’s nobody like Jesus, no one like Jehovah Rapha.

Confession of Sins 

While I believe you are Jehovah Rapha, help my unbelief. A part of me struggles to think I can be made whole.

I want to believe but these ailments have been my life for thirty-two years. I want to believe but have yet to have the best attitude when it comes to petitioning for my healing.

I’ve also failed to do my part as far as trying to walk and exercise to alleviate pain. Forgive me for my stubbornness and arrogance as I expected you to heal without utilizing available resources. 

Forgive me for those times I’ve said I hate my life and felt cursed because of my disability. You make no mistakes and call everything you create good (Genesis 1:31). 

Telling God Thank You 

You are the one who allowed me to be born with cerebral palsy for the good of your will. Thank you for choosing me to suffer in this manner so your power can manifest through my life (John 9:2-3). Thank you for choosing me so your strength can be made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians  12:9). 

I’m thankful for those you’ve placed in my life to encourage and pray for me through my struggles.  I’m grateful for the medical staff who performed surgery and helped me no longer depend on a wheelchair.

Thank you for those who’ve never given up on me or allowed me to quit. Thank you for carrying through everything I’ve had to go through because of my affliction.

Through this, I’ve experienced your goodness and know how much you love me.

Supplication

Since I know you love me, I can ask anything according to your will and it shall be done. So I ask that you make me whole from cerebral palsy and osteoarthritis.

Touch and strengthen my legs, ankles, and feet as you did for the man in Acts 3:1-10. While I wait for my healing to come to pass, give me a willingness to keep praying.

Show me how I should specifically pray about my healing. Give me the discipline and motivation necessary to take care of my body in order to alleviate pain.

Give me the willingness to do my exercises to enhance my balance, increase strength, and walk without a cane. 

Should you choose not to completely heal me, grant me the willingness to still serve and glorify your name. Help me be a source of encouragement to others living with disabilities and other forms of sicknesses.

Allow my faith in you to inspire others to trust you for their healing. Most of all, use my healing to help others repent and come to worship you as the only true and living God. In Jesus name, Amen.

Did my prayer for healing help you understand the A.C.T.S. prayer model? Do you have prayers you say when asking for healing?

I’d love to hear about them. Your comments are greatly appreciated!