God-Shaped Prayer
A Theology and Practice of the Lord’s Prayer
by Anthony Delgado
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Description
God-Shaped Prayer: A Theology and Practice of the Lord’s Prayer by Anthony Delgado is a theological and practical guide to prayer, based on the Lord’s Prayer and structured around the ACTS prayer model: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. This work is both biblical and liturgical, presenting a theological meaning to prayer that is shaped by God’s own nature, character, initiative, and instruction.
God-Shaped Prayer is written for followers of Christ seeking deeper communion with God, pastors planning for liturgical prayer, and any Christian seeking a theologically rich, Christ-centered approach to prayer. It reflects Delgado’s broader theological emphases on covenantal faith, enchantment, and Kingdom spirituality.
Prayer as Incense and Worship: Delgado traces the biblical imagery of incense, connecting Old Testament worship practices to Christian prayer. Incense symbolizes prayer ascending before God, mediating God’s presence through Christ. The book describes prayer as sacramental, as a God-ordained means of grace for those who practice it.
The ACTS Model of Prayer (Chapters):
Adoration: Prayer starts with exalting God for who he is. Using a biblical-theological approach to Scripture, Delgado emphasizes God-centeredness, showing how prayer establishes God’s holiness, fatherhood, and kingship at the forefront of our prayers.
Confession: Recognizing God’s holiness leads naturally to seeing our own sinfulness and separation from God. This chapter emphasizes the importance of honesty, repentance, and the transformative power of grace in prayer.
Thanksgiving: Focused on Christocentric gratitude, this chapter highlights Christ’s atoning work and the covenantal relationship believers enjoy through him. Comparison is made between the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist, and prayers of thanksgiving.
Supplication: Here, prayer is described as a humble petition that aligns with God’s will. Delgado clarifies that prayer is not about changing God’s mind so that he acts in your favor, but about being transformed by a desire to see God’s will and purposes come to fruition.
Prayer is God-Initiated: A unique feature of this book is its sacramental theology of prayer. Delgado argues that prayer doesn’t begin with human initiative but is a divine ordinance. God has designed the content and purpose of prayer to conform us to his image so that, as we pray in obedience to his design, he acts according to our prayers by his will.
Theology and Practice: Each chapter contains three parts: explanation of the Lord’s Prayer, practice, and theological reflection. Delgado ties prayer closely to liturgy and spiritual formation, making the book useful for both personal devotion and planning corporate worship.
Christ as Mediator: Christ’s mediating role is emphasized throughout the book. Our prayers are effective not because of fervency or repetition or simply because God listens to all people’s prayers, but because Jesus, as High Priest, lays the prayers of his people before the Father.
Table of Contents
Introduction: God-Shaped Prayer
Adoration: God-Centered Prayer
Confession: Man-Reflective Prayer
Thanksgiving: Christocentric Prayer
Supplication: God-Inspired Asking
Conclusion: A Rule of Prayer
Epilogue: The Jesus Prayer
Appendix: Supplicatory Prayers for the Church
