As a dad who wants to make disciples, I have learned that most parents who follow Jesus really do want to teach their kids how to pray. We struggle because it’s not easy to teach. Kids lose focus. We might lose focus. And there is an underlying pressure to get it right the first time. I have seen this reality for years in youth ministry, and certainly in my own home.
Before I ever considered using the ACTS prayer model with my family, I used it often in youth ministry. It gave students a clear, biblical way to pray when they did not know where to start, and it helped move their prayers beyond quick requests into real conversation with God. Now I am in a different season of life. I am a dad of younger kids, and I’m learning what it looks like to take tools I once used with teenagers and thoughtfully adapt them for our home.
As parents, my wife and I are intentionally trying out a few simple tools to help our family grow in prayer. I am not writing this as someone who has already implemented a perfect family prayer routine. I am writing as a disciple-making dad who is preparing to put this into practice. One of the tools I am planning to use with my family is the ACTS prayer model. My goal in this article is to introduce this approach to prayer and then begin using it with my kids in real life. I want to see how this structure can help us pray with more purpose and more confidence before God.
Understanding the ACTS Prayer Model
One of the simplest and most helpful prayer tools I have used in ministry is the ACTS prayer model. ACTS stands for adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication. It’s certainly not a replacement for impromptu prayer moments. It simply provides a biblical structure that helps parents teach their children how to pray.
Adoration: Teaching Our Children to Praise God
Prayer begins with adoration. Adoration teaches our children to focus on who God is before they focus on what they want from Him. Scripture points us to this in Psalm 145:3. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” This verse reminds us that God is worthy of praise simply because of who He is. When prayer begins with adoration, children learn that God is not only someone we ask for help. He is someone we worship.
As I think about how to lead my own kids in this, adoration will likely look simple and very guided. We will talk about what we have read in the Bible and turn those truths into short prayers. A child may thank God for being loving, strong, kind, or always with us. My hope is that adoration will help my children connect what they are learning about God in Scripture with the way they speak to Him in prayer.
Confession: Teaching Our Children to Come Honestly Before God
Confession teaches our children that prayer is not about pretending to be perfect. It is about coming honestly to a gracious and forgiving Father. First John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This verse assures us that God welcomes honest repentance and promises real forgiveness.
When I begin using this with my kids, confession will need to be gentle and simple. I will help them think about one way they may have disobeyed God or hurt someone that day. Their prayers will be short and honest. I also know that one of the most important parts of this moment will be my own example. When my children hear me confess my impatience or lack of trust in God, they will learn that following Jesus includes daily repentance, not just learning better behavior.
Thanksgiving: Teaching Our Children to Recognize the Goodness of God
Thanksgiving teaches our children to notice God’s goodness in everyday life. First Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This verse reminds us that gratitude is not based on how easy the day has been. It is a response to God’s faithfulness in all things. We thank him for the fun things and the difficult things that He’s using to teach us something we would otherwise not understand.
As I prepare to practice this with my family, I plan to invite each of my kids to thank God for one specific thing from their day. It may be a friend, a game, a meal, or a fun moment. These simple prayers can begin shaping their hearts to recognize that every good gift comes from God and that thanksgiving is meant to be a normal part of walking with Him.
Supplication: Teaching Our Children to Bring Our Needs to God
Supplication teaches our children how to bring their needs and the needs of others before the Lord. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” This verse shows us that God invites His people to bring every concern to Him in prayer. Even though he already knows, He wants us to tell Him what’s happening in our hearts and minds.
When I begin leading my kids in supplication, I want to encourage both personal prayers and outward focused prayers. My children can ask God for help with school, friendships, fears, and difficult situations. They can also pray for grandparents, friends, pastors, missionaries, and people who are hurting. My hope is that this will help them learn that prayer is not only about what they need. It is also about learning to care about what God cares about.
Build a Simple and Realistic Family Prayer Rhythm
The ACTS prayer model offers a simple and realistic framework for family prayer time. I do not expect our first attempts to be smooth or deeply focused. I expect short attention spans, reminders, and some rolling around the floor. That is part of learning. My plan is to begin in small ways, by reading a short verse, briefly reminding my kids what each part of ACTS means, and inviting them to participate in one short prayer.
A Final Encouragement for Parents Who Want to Disciple Their Kids
I am learning that my children do not need my wife and I to be prayer experts. They need us to be present and intentional. We’re choosing to take a simple step forward by introducing the ACTS prayer model in our home. If you are feeling unsure about how to begin praying with your kids, I hope you will take this step with me. Sit with your children, open your Bible, and begin praying through adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication, trusting that God will use these small and faithful moments to grow lasting faith in your home.
Discipleship Resources
Family Discipleship: A Biblical Guide for Parents
10 Short Verses Kids Can Memorize
Why Taking Your Kids to Church Matters
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