The Distractions Are Everywhere!

Distractions happen all the time. I bet you've experienced many and maybe even one of these:

-Talking on your phone but you can’t find your phone

-Wearing glasses but can’t find them

-Texting and walking or driving

-Talking on the phone with a friend but didn’t hear a thing they said?

What about when you’re praying?

Distractions are a part of life. They are inevitable whether you’re trying to clean, get a job done, reading a book, doing homework, talking to a friend and yes, even when you sit to pray. Although these distractions happen, we can't let them keep us from spending time with God.

There are ways to combat the distractions and stay focused. Let’s start by looking at what Jesus says…

'“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. “You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.'

Matthew 7:7-11

The Message version says it like this: '“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better? Matthew 7:7-11

Here Jesus gives some encouragement and instruction when it comes to really pushing in and pressing in when it’s hard. There is a promise here…what is it? If you ask, you will receive and if you seek, you will find. You can’t go to God and not get something. Even if it’s not the answer you want or the timing you had hoped for, it is not possible to get nothing. Now, sometimes God is silent but that does not mean He is absent. Sometimes we’re not ready to get the response and God is working on things and so while it may seem delayed, it is not.

If we believe that the word of God is true and that He cannot lie then how does this promise help us when we’re distracted? We keep seeking and asking…refocus and press in.

I know that for many in our world it is not an easy thing to view God as a loving father because so many fathers are just not making it happen. For someone like me who has a dad who still, even though I am an adult and almost 40 years old, is still someone I go to when I need advice or help, it’s easy. My dad lived his life in front of us in a way that we can see how good our Heavenly Father is. When we went to my dad for something, he didn’t yell at us or brush us off. And God won’t either. Have you ever seen a little kid run to their parent? That is how God wants us to approach Him.

You have to find what works for you. Here are some ways to try to keep your heart and mind focused while you pray.

ACTS Method

A—Adoration

Worship! Tell God how great He is and how much you love Him.

C—Confession

None of us are perfect…what do you need to bring and leave at His feet?

T—Thanksgiving

Thank Him for always hearing your and for never leaving you. Thank Him in advance for the answers to the prayers you are offering. Thank Him for Jesus and for the forgiveness of your sins.

S—Supplication

This is the knocking…this, by definition, is begging. Relentlessly pursuing and asking God for your needs to be met, for direction and for guidance, for your family and friends to be saved, etc…

The Distraction Reduction

So now you have a bit of direction and somewhat of a formula to follow to help you stay focused but what is the best way to approach prayer and reading our Bible to help reduce distraction?

Pray out loud—not only are you hearing what you are saying which just by nature drowns out the other noises but you are building up your own faith! 'So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. ‘ Romans 10:17

Write it down/journal—Grab a notebook or a journal and start writing your prayers down as if you were writing a letter to a friend. This is my go-to way to talk to God.

Create-color, art, sing, etc…

Change of posture

Often times one of the best and easiest things we can do is change our posture. Kneel, walk, sit, stand...just do something you don't normally do.

And no matter what…L I S T E N. It does no good to only hear the voice of God and not do what it says. Pastor Mark Batterson says, “Hearing without doing is hearsay at best and hypocrisy at worst.”

Let's be honest. Prayer would be a whole lot easier if it weren't for distractions. Really the important thing is to take the time to be with God, to seek His face, and to connect with Him on a daily basis.

Every year the Assemblies of God sets aside the first full week of January for a focused week of prayer. This year's focus begins tomorrow. Each day our church will share a video talking about the daily focus and ways to pray on Facebook. You can follow along here!

Do you have a prayer method that works great for you? Share it in the comments section. You never know. You could help someone else on their journey.