TACS
Teaching ~ Adoration ~ Confession ~ Supplication
TACS, a blend of prayer and Bible reading, is a form of meditation described by 16th century monk, Martin Luther.
Instructions:
Go to your quiet prayer space. Relax as you focus your attention and submit your heart and mind to Jesus. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach and guide you.
Read through your given section of scripture slowly and thoughtfully, preferably twice. (You can also use Prayer of Recollection for this step.)
As you read, mark parts of the section that stand out to you. You will come back to these later.
If at any point you have sudden clarity, insights, or new ideas, stop and write everything down. This could be the Holy Spirit speaking to you.
Choose a short selection that stood out to you (one or two verses maximum). Re-read the verse(s) 3-4 times, then follow the TACS steps below.
Teaching – What does this piece of scripture say or teach? Specifically: A. What does it tell us about who God is and what God does? B. What does it tell us about who we are and who we should be?
Adoration – What does this tell me about God that I can love, praise, and adore?
Confession – In light of this, what do I need to confess?
Supplication – What would I like to ask for with regard to this?
For each teaching you identify in the verse, (T), write out your ACS. You can think of Martin Luther's metaphor of wrapping adoration, confession, and supplication around each teaching like a garland.
Continue using TACS with the other verses you originally noted, as desired.
Follow-up question - Why might God be bringing this to my awareness today?
When finished, pray your TACS thoughts to God.
Encourage your mind to return back to these thoughts throughout the day.
Col. 3:2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
TACS Example
Here is an example from Timothy Keller, based on the first word of the Lord’s Prayer: “Our father in heaven…”
Teaching: the word “Our” teaches me that I am not to pray alone, but in fellowship with other Christians.
Adoration: I thank and praise God for giving me the church.
Confession: I confess my cold-heartedness and ingratitude towards the church, and my neglect of taking the opportunity to pray with my fellow believers.
Supplication: I pray for a true faith that keeps me in the fellowship of the church.
For more information, check out Timothy Keller’s sermon, “Meditation – How to Start” (Keller, Gospel in Life, 1998).