Today we turn to the last aspect of the ACTS acronym for prayer: S for supplication. It may seem that we need little instruction for this. After all, when we feel pressed for time, overwhelmed and frantic, or scattered in our thoughts, we can at least shoot out our immediate requests to God. Sometimes our needs are so urgent that it’s all we can do to get beyond, “Please, Lord, help!”
However, our petitions ought not to be guided by selfish wants. In that regard, we would all do well to survey how we speak to and treat the Lord. He is not our magic Santa Claus, there to bring us everything on our wish list. When He promises good gifts to those who ask, He does not mean He will always give us what is asked for. If our requests are contrary to His will, He will not grant them. Surely you have known this to be true many times in your prayer life.
As Christ explains, a good father will not give a snake when his child asks for a fish. Your perfect heavenly Father will always give the greater gift, the one we truly need.