“Whatever we do, it seems, guilt hangs on. But there is a workout that can heal out guilt.”
My financial advisor greeted me warmly with a “man-squeeze” of my bicep. “You’ve been working out,” he said, impressed. I don’t remember the details of the following discussion. But I remember his compliment! It is proof that the more consistent I am with my workouts at the YMCA, the more obvious is the fruit of my labors. So it is with prayer.
For example, we spend much of our lives working to ameliorate guilt. Guilt sticks to our ribs more doggedly than body fat. Guilt lurks in the background as we go through our day. We try to overcome it by doing nice things for those we love, by holding the “right” opinions, and by speaking out when we see injustice. Sometimes we give up and do those things that made us feel guilty in the first place. Whatever we do, it seems, guilt hangs on. But there is a workout that can heal guilt.
You may have heard about it using the acronym “ACTS.” People have found that regular use of Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication in their morning reduces their sense of guilt, increases their enjoyment of life, and increases their ability to makegoodhappen in their lives, their relationships, and their community.
Today’s post, the first of four, focuses on the first, most critical, and often most difficult part of this prayer process. This step is worth the effort, however, because it begins our healing from guilt by giving us the power to shift our focus from ourselves to God.
So what is adoration? We use the word in phrases like:
his adoring fans
an adoring spouse
her adoring eyes
A prayer of adoration is a time when we show great affection to God. Something like this:
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
-Psalm 95: 1-2
Adoration is often the most difficult part of taking the reins out of guilt’s hands and putting them in God’s. When we try, we hear things like “I don’t feel like it,” or “I don’t have enough belief to do adore God” or “I have too much to worry about right now.”
Here are some counter-thoughts to begin practicing.
Instead of: “I don’t feel like it, I am in a bad mood.”
Try: “Adoration isn’t about our situation. It isn’t about whatever is going on in the world. It is about God.”
Instead of: “I doubt, I’m not sure I believe enough for it to work.”
Try: “Adoration isn’t about our faith but about who God is, no matter how much be believe.”
Instead of: “How can I let go of all of my worries and concerns?" I need to solve them.”
Try: “Adoration isn’t an escape from our problems, but a way to find strength and wisdom to work through the challenges and trials of life.”
Psalm 95 (quoted above) in its entirety is an ancient way to do battle with our cynical and wounded hearts, leading them to God.
Here are some other passages that have the power to move us past objections and to adore God:
Ponder what God has done for us in Jesus:
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
-Romans 8:1-4
Here is a wonderful Psalm to open our morning:
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;[a]
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures for ever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
-Psalm 100
3. And in the two verses that follow, consider the character of God, the Alpha and Omega, the One Being adored from the beginning to the end:
A. The Beginning, in the early part of Scripture:
And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, ‘The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. -Exodus 34:6-7
B. The End (and forever), in a vision of eternity in Revelation:
Day and night they never stop saying:
‘“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” who was, and is, and is to come.’
Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say:
‘You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.’
-Revelation 4:8b-11
If you read these verses and are still struggling with adoration, try writing out one or more of these passages in your prayer book. I have found that this practice gives my struggling heart extra time to move into adoration.
I also urge you to memorize the passages that empower you to adore God. Then wherever you are, at whatever time of day, you can turn your heart toward God.
Next week we’ll look at the “c” in ACTS: Confession.