Helpful Ways to Focus and Make Your Prayer Time Meaningful
I needed to make my prayer time more focused and meaningful, because…
The truth is, my brain often functions like a pinball machine.
For those who don’t remember them, pinball machines are arcade games where a plunger shoots a steel ball onto a slanted field filled with obstacles. The goal… keep the ball in play as long as possible.
Back to my brain.
It seems like my thoughts are always fighting an obstacle field of distractions. I do my best to manage and keep them in play as long as possible, but it’s not easy.
When I really want to focus, I have to remove all predictable distractions.
This is especially true during my prayer time.
I have the best intentions for my quiet times with the Lord, but when I start to pray for Ann, I end up thinking about Sue, or something that happened in the past, or what I need to do tomorrow.
After several minutes, I realize I’m no longer talking with the Lord at all.
So, I’ve been working on a list of things to help me stay focused and make my prayer time more meaningful.
10 Ways to Focus
and Make Your Prayer Time Meaningful
First, I want to say that this is not a how-to post. It’s just a list of things I’ve found helpful…
♥ Prepare – I used to sit down for my quiet time as soon as I got out of bed, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the list of things I needed to do. So now, I take care of my “must-dos” first. Then I prepare my heart and mind to sit quietly with the Lord.
Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
Colossians 4:2
♥ Pen and Paper – Grab a journal and write. I’ve started pouring my heart into my prayer journals. I use the P.R.A.Y. Prayer Model—Praise. Repent. Ask. Yield. I also write Scripture verses and quotes that speak to my heart while I’m studying,
“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” ~William Wordsworth
♥ Praise – This is my favorite. I start by thanking God for who He is, and for all He has done and is doing in and around me. My attitude is always better when I stop to appreciate the countless ways the Lord is blessing me each day.
All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.
2 Corinthians 1:3
♥ Pardon – Next, I ask for God’s forgiveness and the willingness to forgive others. This one is never easy.
I’d like to gloss over i by making excuses and directing the blame elsewhere. But this is important. When I stop to acknowledge my sins and God’s forgiveness, I’m overwhelmed by His grace that humbles me and helps me forgive those I need to forgive.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32 (NIV)
♥ Personal – This is where I stop and pour out my heart. I talk with God about my joys and struggles. My hopes and dreams. And all the things I’m tempted to worry about. I give it all to Him again and again and again.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Philippians 4:6
♥ People – It’s easy to say “I’ll pray for you,” and quickly forget. Keeping a list helps. Using a prayer app works, too. Praying for others is the reason I’ve added the Blessing Counters Pray Page. Head over anytime to leave a request. Let’s faithfully pray for each other.
The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.
1 Timothy 2:1 (MSG)
♥ Persistence – I’m thankful Jesus taught about persistent prayer.
Do you have things you’ve prayed about for years? Me too! The Lord invites us to pray in faith without giving up. If something is weighing on our hearts and minds, we are to talk with God about it. Jesus said so.
One day Jesus told His disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
Luke 18:1
♥ Patience – Waiting on and trusting God’s perfect timing isn’t easy, but surrendering my impatience to the Lord helps. It’s when I need to say, “Lord, I trust that You know what is best. Give me peace while I wait on You.”
Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
Psalm 27:14
♥ Ponder – This is the hardest part for my pinball brain. Being still and listening. But it’s important. So, I’m intentionally pausing and asking the Lord to speak to my heart.
“Prayer is not a monologue, but a dialogue; God’s voice is its most essential part. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that He will listen to mine.” ~Andrew Murray
♥ Possible – I close my prayer time remembering that with God all things are possible. He is able. He will change my circumstances, or He will change me. I must simply pray, “Your will be done.”
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
Mark 10:27
If you can relate. If staying focused and having a meaningful time of prayer has been hard for you. I suggest you give these things a try.
Here’s a printable to help.
Just click here to print…
Let’s pray…
Father God, thank you so very much for inviting me to come to You with every need: physical, emotional, and spiritual. You promise to hear every prayer because You love and care for us.
I’m sorry that my mind often wanders while I’m praying. I’m sorry that I do all the talking, without clinging to Your Word and listening to Your Spirit. Thank you for sending Jesus, who taught us how You want us to pray, and whose victory tore the curtain, allowing us to enter Your holy presence.
My hope is in You, knowing that nothing is impossible for You. I love You and surrender all to Your grace, mercy, and love. Amen.
Finally, an encouraging word about prayer…
“Prayer is a sincere, sensible, affectionate pouring out of the soul to God, through Christ, in the strength and assistance of the Spirit, for such things as God has promised.” ~ John Bunyan
May God be with you and bless your prayer time.
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Oh goodness, I can relate! Ping pong brain! That’s me. I’m going to print out your printable to use. Thank you for that, Deb. I also find it helpful to have a notepad to write down the things that pop into my mind of things I need to do. That way, I know I won’t forget them and I can refocus on prayer and study time.
Blessings to you,
Cecilia
Oh, yes, Deb, my brain works in the same pinball way too many times! Thank you for this outline and the printable, too. It certainly will help me to focus and to listen. Blessings!