Praying When You Keep Getting Distracted
You begin praying, and a forgotten task comes to mind. Then another. Before long, you are planning the afternoon. You can gently return your attention to God and continue the conversation.
give me an undivided heart,
(Psalm 86:11, NIV, excerpt)
Psalm 86 is David’s prayer for mercy and help. He praises God’s goodness and asks to be taught His way. His request for an undivided heart concerns wholehearted reverence and trust in the Lord. It gives us language for asking God to gather our loyalties around Him.
Return to the One you are addressing
A wandering thought can become a small invitation to return: “Lord, I am here. Help me attend to You.” Through Jesus, we come to the Father with our real need for help.
Try reading a few lines of Psalm 86 aloud before praying. Choose one truth about God, such as His compassion, and respond to it in your own words. Then bring one person or concern before Him.
If a task keeps interrupting, you might write it down and return to prayer. A shorter time of focused attention can be a useful beginning. Over time, you can build a rhythm that fits the responsibilities you carry.
Let the psalm’s deeper request stay with you through the day: a heart learning to love, honor, and trust the Lord.
A prayer
Father, teach me Your way. Gather my attention and my loyalties around You. Help me return to prayer with trust, and lead me to follow Jesus with a willing heart. Amen.
Read Psalm 86:11-13 in the NIV.
Keep reading: A Prayer Before Making a Decision · What Is the Gospel?.
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Each return to prayer is a chance to turn our attention toward God.
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