Are you ever distracted when you pray?
Sometimes I pray with my whole heart. Other times, my mind wanders while I try to focus on all I have going on around me, while still attempting to connect with my Heavenly Father. The peril of being human is full of conflict and chaos and temptation.
But it is God I am trying to speak to.
I wish I could focus 100% each time I go to my Heavenly Father in prayer.
Yet I cannot. Sometimes I’m so focused that I’m brought to tears. Other times I begin praying with various scattered thoughts flying through my mind.
But I am working diligently to center on God and completely erase distractions. How beautiful it is when we sit in the presence of the Lord and bask in Him, His light, goodness, truth, and love.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14
God knows we are human. He made us that way. But that isn’t an excuse.
If I am having trouble focusing when I pray, I stop and remember Who I am speaking to.
I treat my wandering mind simply, and pretend that I’m talking to another human in the room with me. They would want my undivided attention. Then I take it to the next level.
If a person would expect my attention, how much more does God deserve my full attention and respect?
That helps me deepen my focus closer to the way God would want me to approach Him.
I also ask God to help me to discipline my mind to focus on Him in the way He calls me to, and try to picture Him, gazing into my eyes, before me me as I pray.
“Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.” Hebrews 3:1
I remember times I’ve faced God without words to speak, because my spirit hurt so deeply, but my Heavenly Father knew my heart.
“Likewise, the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27
How gracious is our God?
When we, as believers, are in deep pain and cannot verbalize what we desire, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us before God with groans that words cannot express.
He tenderly and patiently cares for us in deeply personal ways.
“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31
The love and devotion my Father has for me presses me to continue striving to be more like Him.
As for my prayer life, I will use my heart to form the gratitude and devotion growing more intimate each day as I communicate with Him.
I can never get too close to God.
The prayers Jesus offered serve as beautiful examples for me to study. Continuing to lift my eyes, thoughts, soul, and heart toward Him as I converse with my Father through my days, and when I kneel to pray, I will worship with my ever-present God, who seeks and deserves my focus and devotion.
I will impress His greatness on my heart and remember His faithfulness to me, for He has “inscribed me on the palms of His hands.” (Isaiah 49:16)
He cares for me. He cares for you. Intimately and personally.