Difficulty Praying
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Isaiah 26:3
Admit it. When we pray, sometimes our minds wander to other parts of our lives. We start to think about what we did during the day or what is going to happen in the future. Then we snap back to our prayer and feel bad because we weren't focused on God and what we were praying about.
Don't fret. God understands that this world is sometimes overwhelming in what it requires of us. Where our minds wander during prayer and communication with God can become part of our prayer. It makes us aware of what is burdening us, and though God already knows about it, He enjoys it when we bring those things to Him.
When your mind returns to prayer, talk to God about where you wandered off to and let Him know what is weighing on your mind.
However, if your mind is wandering to sinful thoughts, we need to take those thoughts captive. We walk in the flesh. We are living in a sinful world. We are not waging war against other people, though it may seem so at times. We are fighting the powers of darkness who are sent to destroy us. One of the ways we can be destroyed is by allowing our thoughts to be on things of this world and not of Christ.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6
When your mind wanders in prayer to your grocery list, that is one thing, but when it wanders to hate and anger toward a co-worker, that is another thing altogether. If you are waiting to spend time in prayer until you are tired and stressed out from your day, your mind is more likely to wander. When we find minds wandering to places that make us fearful, or angry we need to reign in those thoughts and ask God for help.
Admit it. When we pray, sometimes our minds wander to other parts of our lives. We start to think about what we did during the day or what is going to happen in the future. Then we snap back to our prayer and feel bad because we weren't focused on God and what we were praying about.
Don't fret. God understands that this world is sometimes overwhelming in what it requires of us. Where our minds wander during prayer and communication with God can become part of our prayer. It makes us aware of what is burdening us, and though God already knows about it, He enjoys it when we bring those things to Him.
When your mind returns to prayer, talk to God about where you wandered off to and let Him know what is weighing on your mind.
However, if your mind is wandering to sinful thoughts, we need to take those thoughts captive. We walk in the flesh. We are living in a sinful world. We are not waging war against other people, though it may seem so at times. We are fighting the powers of darkness who are sent to destroy us. One of the ways we can be destroyed is by allowing our thoughts to be on things of this world and not of Christ.
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. 2 Corinthians 10: 3-6
When your mind wanders in prayer to your grocery list, that is one thing, but when it wanders to hate and anger toward a co-worker, that is another thing altogether. If you are waiting to spend time in prayer until you are tired and stressed out from your day, your mind is more likely to wander. When we find minds wandering to places that make us fearful, or angry we need to reign in those thoughts and ask God for help.
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7
We can reign in our minds because God offers us one of the fruits of His Holy Spirit i.e. self-control. The fruit of self-control is not just about resisting temptation. It is also available for us when we need to stay focused on Christ or when we need to stay silent instead of voice our opinions. Self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit that is, unfortunately, not utilized much in today's society but is vital when we are trying to control our wandering minds.
If your mind wanders when someone is talking to you, they will surely realize that you are not paying attention. Communication is how we have relationships that are sustainable. Communication with God is the same. God will never give up on being our friend, no matter how often our minds wander, but we cannot have a sustainable, close relationship with Him if our minds wander off when we are in the middle of a conversation.
He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:8
A person who's mind is always wandering off or thinking of their own issues and activities is not focused on God. We can easily become double minded and unstable Christians. Our goal as Christians should always be to continually mature and draw closer in our relationship with God.
Be aware of where your mind is wandering. Reign it in and discuss it with the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit for self-control and practice self-control when you pray.
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