Wandering thoughts are normal
Everyone who prays gets distracted. The disciples fell asleep in Gethsemane. Martha was “distracted with much serving” while Jesus taught in her house (see Bible verses about distraction).
26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. Paul admits that “we don't know how to pray as we ought,” and says the Spirit helps in that weakness. Prayer doesn't depend on perfect concentration.
In contextMake a quieter place
6 But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Jesus is teaching against praying to be seen by others. The inner room with the door shut is about being alone with God, and it also describes a place with fewer interruptions.
In contextPut your phone on silent and out of reach, or in another room. Pray in the same place each time. Some people pray while walking, which keeps a restless body busy and the mind more settled.
Give your mind something to hold
- Read firstA few verses give your prayer a starting point. Read them slowly, then pray back what they say.
- Pray out loud or in writingWhispering or writing slows your thoughts to the speed of words, which makes them easier to follow.
- Use a short listThanks, sorry, please, and the people on your heart. When you lose your place, pick up the next item.
- Turn the distraction into a prayerIf you remember an email, pray for the person it's for. If a worry interrupts, hand it to God in one sentence, then come back.
Short prayers, often
10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth.” Psalm 46 is full of roaring waters, shaking mountains and nations in uproar. “Be still” is spoken in the middle of the noise, not after it.
In contextA long prayer you dread is easier to skip than a short one you return to. Brief pauses through the day, before a meeting, before you open an app, before bed, add up. If mornings are your clearest time, see how to build a morning prayer routine. If the distraction becomes a pull toward something you want to avoid, read how to overcome temptation with Scripture.
A prayer for a distracted mind
Questions
- Is it wrong to get distracted when I pray?
- No. Noticing and coming back is part of praying, and God knows how your mind works.
- Can I pray with my eyes open?
- Yes. The Bible describes people praying standing, kneeling and looking up. Use whatever helps you pay attention.
- How long should I pray?
- Start with two or three minutes you can give your full attention, and add more later.
Pray before the apps that pull at your attention
PrayLock asks you to pray before the apps you choose open. With Mindful Moments that happens before every session, and each prayer opens them for the session length you set.
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