It may just be me, but it seems like everything in life is designed to distract. There are drugs to distract from pain, music and clatter to distract you from your own thoughts, medications galore to take you away from your feelings, and let’s not forget about television. Research shows that perfectly happy marriages have gone awry from the mere presence of a TV in the bedroom, not to mention how many grade points have been lost to the internet.
Some distractions we choose, like video games, and my personal favorite, Motion Pictures, oh how I love a good movie. Other distractions choose us, like the incessant demands of the telephone. All shapes and sizes of phones now permeate our lives. Cell phones are the marvel of the age. A tiny computer, with access to the world, and a whole new level of distraction, AI, right there in your hand. Cell phones can do everything for you now, except pray.
Have you ever noticed how hard it is to find time to pray? Distractions have become the new national pastime. IPOD and cell phone earpieces hang from our ears like so much jewelry. Once you do decide to disengage from the destructive demands of the daily distractions, to pray and find a peaceful spot, whether it be just a peaceful spot in your mind, or an actual quiet place of sanctuary, you can be certain that it won’t be long before someone or something demands your attention. It may just be a simple thought, “Did I turn off the stove?” “Does Billy have practice tonight?” “Oh, there goes the alarm for the dryer!” Then if you’re like most of us, before you can even stop yourself, you jump up to resolve the issue. Finally, you quiet yourself again, begin to feel His presence and suddenly the doorbell rings, No one rings the bell! You no sooner send off the kid trying to earn his college scholarship by peddling magazines no one wants, when the phone rings and it’s a crisis that requires your immediate attention. Sound Familiar?
It’s hard to focus our time these days. I think it’s harder to focus on prayer than just about anything in life.
Try it, just be still for a minute, try and focus your thoughts on the Lord for 5 full minutes without letting your mind drift.
I personally think that’s why we are supposed to kneel when we pray, it not only keeps us humble, it keeps us focused longer.
Many years ago I developed a simple strategy that helped transform my prayer life. and it’s helped countless others as well to have a more purposeful prayer life. I call it the ABC’s of prayer.
Because we are to come into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise, I begin my prayers with the alphabet of thanksgiving and praise; I thank you Lord for all your abundant love, and for your boundless blessings. Thank you for caring for my loved ones, I am forever grateful for your divine grace, and for giving me everlasting life. Father, your favor surrounds me and I am always grateful when I hear your voice.
I hope you can see that the ABC’s are an easy and effective way to focus your prayer life on a whole alphabet of love and joy.
Coming soon: New Creation Prayer.
We’ll delve into the subtle yet profound difference in New Creation prayer. It can transfigure your life.
