5 Prayers that will Help When You Want to Focus on Jesus
I don’t know about you, but one of the hardest parts of walking in faith for me is keeping my focus on Jesus.
It’s easy for me to get tossed around by my circumstances and my thoughts about those circumstances. Like the disciples, I can get so frightened by the storms that I fail to remember I have the One who calms the storm with me.
I can hear Jesus say…
“Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
Mark 4:40
And I realize it’s because even though the Lord has revealed His power countless times (His power to calm storms and/or to strengthen and calm me), I can still let life’s concerns distract and unsettle me.
I take my focus off Jesus and deny myself the blessings He wants me to have … blessings He wants to give me.
Today, I’m going to the Bible and praying God’s Word, asking for help to focus on Jesus and receive the strength and peace I need when the storms blow in and rock my boat.
I’d love for you to pray with me…
5 Prayers that will Help When You Want to Focus on Jesus
“Be still, and know that I am God!
Psalm 46:10
I will be honored by every nation.
I will be honored throughout the world.”
Father, when the enemy uses the noise of this world, the lure of negativity and controversy on social media, and circumstances in my life to distract, discourage, and distress me … please help me. Please forgive me for the times I’ve joined in on the noise and negativity. Forgive me for the times I’ve agonized over the way things might be without trusting You to give me everything I need to live today with the way things are.
Please help me to “be still and know” You. Help me remember the many times You have met my need in the past. The times You have calmed the storm and delivered me. And the times You have allowed the storm to continue but given me strength and peace. You are Lord of all – worthy of all my worship and praise. Thank you!
Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.
Hebrews 12:1b–2a
Father, Forgive my stumbles and weaknesses. Forgive me for the times I’ve gotten off track because of fear, worry, and doubt. You have plans and purposes prepared for me as I run my race. Please help me. Give me the endurance I need to keep moving along the path. Help me keep my focus on Jesus, the One in whom my faith is found.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Philippians 4:8
Father, Please help me focus my heart and mind on You and on Your truth as You have revealed it through Your Word. You tell us what is true, honorable, pure, lovely, and admirable. Please forgive me for the times I have listened to and entertained distortions of Your Word. By the power of Your Spirit, please help me.
Father, I love You! By Your grace, help me SEEK You first. love You with all I am, and focus my heart and mind on that You have made excellent and praiseworthy!
My child, pay attention to what I say.
Proverbs 4:20–21
Listen carefully to my words.
Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
Father, may I make time with You a priority in my life. May I sit at Your feet through the study of Your Word and may I prayerfully talk with You throughout each day. Lord, may Your truth be so imprinted on my heart and mind that I rely on them when the enemy tempts me and the world unsettles me.
Father, there are so many things I could do better that would guard my heart. I could carefully limit my time on social media and show more discernment in the things I choose for entertainment. Please help me make wise choices on the teachings I absorb, the books I read, and the things I hear and observe. By the power of Your Spirit, help me make decisions that are pleasing to You.
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:2
Father, I give my life to You. I surrender my heart and mind and ask You to transform me into the person You want me to be. Mold me. Change me. Focus my heart on mind on You that I might know and follow Your will for me. Your Word says that when I seek You first … You will give me everything I need. What an awesome and amazing blessing! Thank you! Help me, in the name of Jesus, trust and obey Your good, pleasing, and perfect will for my good and Your glory. Amen.
Sometimes I wish God’s transformation was more like flippin’ a switch than remodeling a house. The process of knocking down walls, tossing the junk, replacing and rebuilding with new … is slow and tedious.
It takes patience.
Once again, I’m thanking God for His patience and persistence with me as He works to change me. I’m praising Him for the gift of His Spirit who helps me focus on Jesus and receive peace and strength when I’m impatient and discouraged.
God’s grace is sufficient. It is well with my soul.
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I love how Scripture can be the basis for and shape our prayers. Thanks for so many good examples of that and the reminder to turn our focus to Him and His Word.
Your thoughts here on focus are SO RIGHT ON, Deb, and they even remind me of C.S.Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. There is no harm, no alarm on our enemy’s part when we think vaguely religious thoughts. It’s when we get our focus on the gospel and other people and God’s heart for the world embodied in Jesus that we start messing with him and his plans.
Blessings to you!
Oh, how much I needed to hear this today: “And I realize it’s because even though the Lord has revealed His power countless times (His power to calm storms and/or to strengthen and calm me), I can still let life’s concerns distract and unsettle me.”
I need to stop looking at the storm and start looking at Jesus.
I prayed with you, Deb, these beautiful petitions you wrote here. May we all focus on Jesus, putting Him first in our lives.
Blessings!
Beautifully said Deb! A good reminder to stay focused on Jesus today and every day. I found myself this early morning stressing over life as it is. I just need to be still and listen. God has a plan and loves me despite my weaknesses and faltering faith. He is so good!!
Focusing on God is never a waste of time .It prevents us from sinking .
I am blessed by this post , Deb !
Minding God’s business is so important!
Thank you for having my post “ How to rise above your sinking circumstance” as the Friday fav highlight ❤️
Deb, these verses were just what I needed today.
These are great prayers prayers to pray every day! laurensparks.net
Thanks for sharing these verses, Deb. It’s amazing how I can sometimes forget to focus on Jesus, after all that I know! Always good to be reminded.
It is well with my soul! Praise God for His infinite patience with this daughter of the King!
Thank you Deb,
Blessings,
Jennifer
Deb – Thank you for your prayers. I said them all tonight. A great way to end the night. Thank you, Maree
Thanks for highlighting my post, Deb. The fact that God loves us is simply the best news on the planet. And appreciate your reminders in God’s Word on how to focus on Jesus. I particularly like Philippians 4:8 to redirect my thoughts and the Proverbs 4 passage is comforing as well.