Praying through T.A.C.O.S.

At a recent men’s breakfast at church, our guest speaker—a Fellowship of Christian Athletes chaplain and university team mentor—briefly mentioned a concept of prayer called T.A.C.O.S. I had never heard of it before. So, being me, I quickly snapped a picture of the slide and tucked it into a reminder on my phone for future reference. He continued to share about ministering to collegiate athletes and mentoring them through the dark halls of secular campus life, emphasizing how a consistent, structured prayer life—like T.A.C.O.S.—can anchor both mentor and mentee alike.

Growing up, my prayers came from a book. Don’t get me wrong—I talked to God all the time. I prayed several times a day. It was cathartic, a lifeline when I didn’t know what else to do. But I wasn’t about to make it up on the fly—certainly not in public, not with a mic in front of the congregation! If it wasn’t memorized or read from the Book of Common Prayer, it felt like I wasn’t “doing it right.” As far as I was concerned, that was the priest’s job—they went to school for that. Later, when we joined a Baptist church, I asked an associate pastor how to pray. He said, “It’s easy. Start with ‘Dear God,’ and end with ‘In Jesus’ name, Amen.’ Everything else goes in the middle.” Thinking it couldn’t possibly be that simple, I started listening to others, and sure enough: “Dear God, thank you for this day… help us… bless us… in Jesus’ name, Amen.” It felt a little haphazard—until I read Romans 8:26–27: “…we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us… And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

So what does a taco have to do with prayer—or praying in public? Surprisingly, quite a bit. T.A.C.O.S. is a simple, memorable acronym that brings structure and biblical guidance to our prayer lives. It stands for Thanksgiving, Adoration, Confession, Others, and Self. Whether you’re praying alone in the garage, riding with brothers in the faith, standing with a stranger at a gas station, or on a prayer walk at a rally, T.A.C.O.S. gives you a framework to confidently speak to God.

T is for Thanksgiving—thanking God for what He has done. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 reminds us, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Whether it’s for safe travels, divine appointments on the road, or a conversation at the tent that leads to someone meeting Jesus, gratitude sets the tone for prayer. Even the trials we face—the flat tire, the rainstorm, the tough conversations—can lead to spiritual growth.

A is for Adoration—praising God for who He is. Not just what He’s done, but His very nature: holy, faithful, powerful, and full of mercy. Psalm 34:3 says, “Proclaim the LORD’s greatness with me; let us exalt His name together.” And Psalm 145:3 (MSG) reminds us, “God is magnificent; He can never be praised enough. There are no boundaries to His greatness.” When we lift up our praise, we reset our perspective—He’s not just our Father, He’s the King of Kings.

C stands for Confession. This is where we own up. We acknowledge where we’ve fallen short—our pride, our anger, our selfishness. 1 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.” Confession isn’t about shame—it’s about freedom. As James 5:16 teaches, “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed.” This is especially important in ministry—whether you’re witnessing at Daytona or Sturgis, the most powerful testimonies come from honest, forgiven hearts.

O is for Others. We intercede for the needs of family, friends, strangers, and those we serve in ministry. Philippians 2:4 urges us to “look not only to our own interests, but also to the interests of others.” When we set up a prayer station at a bike rally, or offer to pray with a grieving rider, we embody Christ’s compassion. Philippians 4:6 reminds us: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”And don’t forget 3 John 1:2, which says, “I pray that you may prosper in every way and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

S is for Self. Yes—it’s okay to pray for yourself. Jesus did. In John 17:5, He said, “Now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with that glory I had with You before the world existed.” If Jesus prayed for Himself, we certainly can too. Whether we need boldness to share the gospel, strength to keep going on the road, or wisdom to lead our family and ministry well, God invites us to bring our needs to Him. Hebrews 4:16 reminds us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

So the next time you’re asked to pray in public—or you feel led to pray on the road, at a gas station, under the tent at a rally —think T.A.C.O.S. It’s not just a quirky acronym; it’s a powerful tool to help you pray with focus, sincerity, and boldness. Whether you’re in a church or on a roadside with bugs in your teeth and a FAITH Rider patch on your back, T.A.C.O.S. keeps your heart aligned with the road and our Lord Jesus.

*All Bible quotes are from the CSB version unless otherwise referenced.