The Quiet Christian, Part 6

Prayer can be an introvert’s superpower. As something we can do anywhere, anytime, and all by ourselves, prayer suits us introverts. Of course, praying with a group is appropriate at times, but it is in those quiet, private moments, just us and God, when our souls speak the loudest, with honesty and passion.

Jesus demonstrated the example when he often retreated to a quiet, solitary place to pray. (Read my article, Exploring Jesus’ Quiet Side, about solitude and prayer, here).

Mark 1:35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went to a solitary place, where He prayed.

Years ago, likely at a women’s retreat, I learned the acronym “ACTS” to guide my prayer life. Without being intentional, I tend to get stuck on “Thank you, thank you, thank you . . .” which is valid and true, but there’s so many other things I need to talk to God about, in addition to expressing my gratitude.

A - Adoration: Worship. Tell God how much you love him!

Psalms 145:1-3 I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom.

C - Confession: We all sin. Apologize.

Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,’ and You forgave the guilt of my sin.

T - Thanksgiving: My go-to prayer. Years ago, I read a book by Ann Voskamp called One Thousand Gifts. It changed my life. Now I live in a mindset of gratitude. Good times and bad. Thank You!

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

S - Supplication: It is here, under the letter S for supplication, where we can use prayer as an avenue to serve God and the church. Service can be a challenge for introverts. But we can pray! Yes, absolutely God wants to hear our personal requests. But intercession is service. We can pray for the needs of others; for healing, for wisdom, for safe keeping, for salvation. In God’s eyes, I suspect praying for others may be the greatest act of service.

Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit in all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. [I interpret saints to mean “everyone”].

AMEN!

PS: This may be the last post in the series, unless I feel further inspired moving forward. I actually would love to continue exploring this topic further. If you have any questions about being an introvert and trying to fit into our extroverted Christian culture, or questions related to making your church more introvert-friendly, please write a comment. I would appreciate some dialogue. You can read the first five parts of The Quiet Christian here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5.