Should I use structured prayer?

Does structured prayer get in the way of our genuine, heartfelt communication with God? After all, there is something glorious about praying spontaneously as the Spirit brings different impressions to mind. And we should always be praying as we’re amazed or hurt or thankful or when we need help. So, since we should live with a praying disposition (1 Thessalonians 5:17), doesn’t thatstructured prayer disruptive or awkward?

What is structured prayer?

In its most basic form, structured prayer is an outline to guide our thoughts and focus while we pray. There are many examples, such as P.R.A.Y., A.C.T.S.,  P.P.P.P.P.P., or I.O.U.S:

- P.R.A.Y. stands for Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield.

- A.C.T.S. stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.

- P.P.P.P.P.P. stands for Praise, Petition, Provision, Power, Pardon, Praise.

- I.O.U.S. stands for INCLINE my heart to Your testimonies, OPEN my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law, UNITE My heart to fear Your name, SATISFY me in the morning with Your steadfast love. This us helpful before starting your Bible study.

These different structures are designed to help us ensure we include critical elements in our prayer life. The arrangements listed above are designed to include the core elements of the Lord’s Prayer.

Does a prayer structure detract from what's heartfelt?

Perhaps, especially if you’re in a hurry or moved to pray spontaneously (hopefully, we all pray this way). On the other hand, if we're not in a hurry, using an outline can remind us to consider and return to the full scope of what’s essential in our praying. Hopefully, we all have dedicated times of prayer and Bible study where we take the time to pray comprehensively.

Why do I need a prayer outline?

First, Jesus gave us an outline in Matthew 6:9-13, saying, “Pray like this.”

Second, if left to my inclinations, I will tend to leave out vital elements like confession and repentance. I quickly start to omit those things that collide with my pride and arrogance. Usually, the things I tend to skip are the very things I should focus on.

Third, we usually pray within a structure anyway. Think of your prayer life. Does the structure repeat itself? Mine does. While this structure is usually very simple, it’s there. So the question isn’t about design, it’s generally about which design to follow.

Should I always use a prayer framework or structure?

Of course not. But we need to make sure that we don’t leave out the critical components that align our prayer lives with biblical priorities.