The Meaning of TAPPING: A Simple Guide to Growing in Personal Prayer

In today’s fast-paced world, many of us struggle to find time for prayer. We often feel distant from God, unsure of how to connect with Him in a meaningful way. There a simple yet  profound method called TAPPING that can help us in our efforts to connect with God. TAPPING is not just about reciting words or following a rigid formula. It’s about building a real, personal relationship with God. In this article, we’ll explore what TAPPING is, why it’s important, and how it can transform your spiritual life.

What is TAPPING?

TAPPING is a method of prayer that helps us stay connected to God on a daily basis. It’s a way to deepen our relationship with Him by integrating seven key aspects of prayer: Thanksgiving, Adoration, Pardon, Praise, Intercession, New Life, and Good Action. These steps guide us through a personal conversation with God, helping us to express gratitude, seek forgiveness, praise Him, and ask for His guidance in our lives.

The beauty of TAPPING lies in its simplicity. It doesn’t require any special skills or knowledge. Whether you’re new to prayer or have been praying for years, TAPPING can help you grow closer to God. It’s a method that can be used in private devotion or in community prayers, such as during Eucharistic adoration or healing sessions.

One of the key benefits of TAPPING is that it helps us break free from the cycle of spiritual dryness.

The Seven Steps of TAPPING

Let’s take a closer look at each of the seven steps of TAPPING:

1. Thanksgiving

The first step in TAPPING is Thanksgiving. This is where we begin our prayer by expressing gratitude to God for all the blessings He has given us. We thank Him for both the good and the challenging experiences in our lives, recognizing that everything happens for a reason. As the Bible says, “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thes 5:18).

When we start our prayer with thanksgiving, it shifts our focus from our problems to God’s goodness. It reminds us of His faithfulness and helps us trust Him more. For example, we might thank God for the food we eat, the people in our lives, or even the small joys we experience each day. This step sets the tone for the rest of our prayer, helping us approach God with a grateful heart.

2. Adoration

After thanking God, we move to Adoration. This is where we worship God for who He is. We reflect on His greatness, His love, and His power. We acknowledge that He is the Creator of the universe, yet He cares deeply for each one of us. As the psalmist says, “Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs” (Ps 100:2).

In this step, we imagine ourselves prostrated before Jesus on the cross, surrendering our entire being to Him. We offer Him our bodies, minds, and spirits, along with all our joys, struggles, and challenges. This act of surrender helps us let go of our burdens and trust God with everything in our lives.

3. Pardon

The third step is Pardon. Here, we ask God for forgiveness for our sins and failures. We confess the ways we have hurt Him and others through our thoughts, words, and actions.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 Jn 1:9).

Here we also forgive everyone who has hurt us. The Lord says, “Forgive the harm done by your neighbour and then the Lord will forgive yours too. Does anyone harbour anger against his brother in his heart and expect healing from the Lord ?” The Lord says that healing is impossible if we do not sincerely forgive others. So we say “In the name of Jesus and the most precious blood of Jesus I forgive ….(name the person).” We may repeat that a few times.

After asking forgiveness and giving forgiveness to everyone We ask the precious blood of Jesus to wash us completely. We invoke the precious blood to each part of our body and to all our thoughts,  words and deeds. Daily washing ourselves with the precious blood is our spiritual safe guard.

4. Praise

After seeking forgiveness, we move to Praise. This is where we lift our hearts in joyful praise to God. We thank Him for His love, His mercy, and His goodness. We praise Him even in the midst of our struggles, trusting that He is with us and will bring good out of every situation.

Praising is the centre of TAPPING. There are three steps before that help one to enter into a heartfelt praises of God and the three steps that follows are the result of a life focused on praising God. We can also  say that Praising God becomes the centre of life of a person who does TAPPING daily. 

Praising God has a powerful effect on our hearts. It shifts our focus from our problems to His greatness. It reminds us that He is in control, no matter what we’re going through. As the Bible says, “I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips” (Psalm 34:1). Whether we praise God with simple words like “Thank you, Jesus” or through the gift of tongues, this step helps us connect with Him on a deeper level.

5. Intercession

The fifth step is Intercession. This is where we pray for others. We lift up our family, friends, and even those who have hurt us, asking God to bless them, heal them, and guide them. Intercession is an act of love, showing that we care for others and want God’s best for them.

In this step, we also pray for ourselves, asking God to guide us, strengthen us, and help us live according to His will. As we intercede for others, we deepen our relationship with God, aligning our hearts with His compassionate and merciful nature. It reminds us that we are part of a larger community, and our prayers can make a difference in the lives of those around us. As we read  in Jam 5:16, “The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.” This assurance encourages us to continue lifting up our own needs and the needs of others, trusting in God’s faithfulness and the power of prayer.

6. New Life

The sixth step is New Life. Here, we reflect on how we can live differently in the future. We think about the areas where we’ve failed and discuss with Jesus how we can make changes. For example, if we’ve struggled with anger, we might decide to be more patient the next day. If we’ve wasted time, we might plan to use our time more wisely.

This step is about renewal. It’s about becoming more like Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions. As Saint Paul says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). By making small, intentional changes each day, we grow closer to God and become more like Him.

7. Good Action

The final step is Good Action. This is where we choose one specific action to do the next day as a gift to Jesus. It could be something simple, like helping a friend or being kind to someone who’s difficult to love. The key is to choose an action that is Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Repeatable, and Time-bound (SMART).

By offering this small gift to Jesus, we show our love for Him and our desire to live according to His will. This act of devotion helps us stay focused on doing good and making a positive impact in the world around us.  The Lord says,  “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5:16). Through our actions and gifts, we reflect His light and love, bringing glory to God and inspiring others to seek Him.

Why is TAPPING Important?

TAPPING is more than just a method of prayer. It’s a way of life. It helps us stay connected to God on a daily basis, even when life gets busy or challenging. By following the seven steps of TAPPING, we can experience God’s presence in a tangible way and grow in our relationship with Him.

One of the key benefits of TAPPING is that it helps us break free from the cycle of spiritual dryness. Many of us go through periods where we feel distant from God, unable to pray or praise Him with joy. TAPPING provides a structured way to reconnect with God and experience His grace and mercy. By surrendering our struggles and failures to Him each day, we open our hearts to His healing and transformation.

TAPPING also helps us develop a habit of prayer. Just as Jesus had a regular practice of praying, TAPPING encourages us to make prayer a daily priority. Whether we pray in the morning, at night, or during a quiet moment in the day, TAPPING helps us stay connected to God and grow in our spiritual lives.

How to Start TAPPING

If you’re new to TAPPING, here’s a simple way to get started:

  1. Find a Quiet Place: Choose a quiet place where you can pray without distractions. This could be a corner of your room, a park, or any place where you feel at peace. If you are not able to find a place you can do it while traveling (with the help of the above video or by yourself) or any other time.
  2. Set Aside Time: Decide how much time you want to spend in prayer. Even 15-20 minutes can be enough to go through the seven steps of TAPPING.
  3. Follow the Steps: Begin with Thanksgiving, thanking God for His blessings. Then move to Adoration, Pardon, Praise, Intercession, New Life, and Good Action. You can use the prayer and reflections provided in the book Power in TAPPING as a guide.
  4. Be Consistent: Try to practice TAPPING every day. The more you do it, the more natural it will feel, and the deeper your connection with God will become.

Conclusion

TAPPING is a simple yet powerful method of prayer that can transform your spiritual life. By integrating the seven steps of Thanksgiving, Adoration, Pardon, Praise, Intercession, New Life, and Good Action, TAPPING helps you build a real, personal relationship with God. It’s a way to stay connected to Him, even in the midst of life’s challenges, and to grow in holiness each day.

Whether you’re new to prayer or have been praying for years, TAPPING offers a fresh and meaningful way to deepen your relationship with God. So why not give it a try? Start today, and experience the power of TAPPING in your own life.

3 thoughts on “The Meaning of TAPPING: A Simple Guide to Growing in Personal Prayer

  1. Pingback: Subtle Strategy of Temptation:  the Evil One’s Mode of Operation (Part 1) | Vox Divini

  2. Praise God!
    My name is Amala Mariya. I just wanted to share how things have been going for me with meditation and spiritual fencing.

    During our TAPPING retreat, some of you might have seen me confused and not really understanding what Fr. Jerry was talking about, especially regarding meditation and the four stages. Honestly, I was in a “kili poya” stage. Even during the break, I told Fr. Jerry, “Father, I think you made a mistake by selecting me for this retreat. This is not my level. This is not for me. You picked the wrong person this time.” I was genuinely struggling to understand what he was saying about meditation.

    That doesn’t mean I now know everything. What I meant is, if we put in some effort, the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest. And that’s something I started experiencing after the retreat.

    After the retreat, everyone started doing meditation. I had this desire to give it a try, even though I felt like I couldn’t do it. But I began reading again and again the examples of meditation that Fr. shared in the group. Then I prayed, picked a verse, and started meditating and it actually went really well. The way I read the Bible started to change. The more I meditated, the more insights I began to receive.

    For the first few meditations, I was happy with the insights I was getting. We’ve read these verses so many times before, but never realized that each word carries such deep meaning. But now, I feel the responses are the most imp. part of meditation. Getting insights is great, but when we start applying those qualities to our lives, our way of thinking, our behavior, everything begins to change.

    One thing I’ve noticed is that when I focus on the response, I started seeing areas where I was lacking, small, broken parts in my relationships with others that I never paid attention to before. These may not be sinful areas. And when I start identifying those areas and try to bring in the qualities of Jesus, it becomes something truly beautiful.

    Another part is spiritual fencing and TAPPING. For me, washing with the precious blood is my favorite part of TAPPING. Since I started doing it, I’ve got a special love for the precious Blood of Jesus, just like the reverence and love we have for the Eucharist. All the burdens, all the guilt from sin , they begin to vanish when I do TAPPING. I don’t feel anything physically or emotionally, but the relief after washing everything with the precious Blood of Jesus is indescribable.

    This doesn’t mean I’m doing everything perfectly or regularly. I fall. Sometimes I’m not able to do my fencing. Sometimes I feel weak and low. But even during those times, I have this desire, to go back to meditation and TAPPING.

    The biggest change I’ve noticed after starting meditation and TAPPING is that I’ve become more conscious of my identity and relationship with God. Before the retreat, I was struggling myself to be in God awareness, but now, it happens naturally, the aware about God .

    So, if any of you are struggling to get started, just give it a try. The rest, God will take care of.

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  3. Pingback: Growing in Holiness: The Triangle of Spiritual Fencing, TAPPING, and POWER Meditation | Vox Divini

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