1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: Teach Us to Praise brought to you by Life Audio 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: and is a part of our Faith Toolkit series. For 3 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: more inspirational faith affirming podcasts, visit lifeaudio dot com. 4 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: Hello friend, you are listening to the Teach Us to 5 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: Pray podcast with me Christina Patterson, where we teach believers practical, 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: in real life tips on how to grow your faith 7 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 2: and relationship with God through the power of prayer. By now, 8 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 2: I think we've laid a pretty good foundation on the 9 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:36,760 Speaker 2: importance of prayer for believers. Still, I'm sure at some 10 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:42,479 Speaker 2: point we've all struggled with focusing when we pray. While praying, 11 00:00:42,479 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: has your mind ever drifted off to your to do list? 12 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,400 Speaker 2: Have you been distracted by notifications on your phone, or 13 00:00:48,560 --> 00:00:51,520 Speaker 2: just lost your place and forgot what you were praying about. 14 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 2: If so, in today's episode, I want to offer you 15 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 2: some practical tips that you can implement to stay more 16 00:00:57,560 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 2: focused when you pray. The first tip is to get 17 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:11,559 Speaker 2: rid of distractions. If your phone keeps ringing or going off, 18 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: put it on silent, or if it's really bad, then 19 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 2: just put your phone in an entirely different room. It's 20 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,520 Speaker 2: important to be intentional about recognizing what your distractions are, 21 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: and then addressing them. If you have a family, communicate 22 00:01:25,959 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: and let them know, Hey, I'm going to spend a 23 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 2: few minutes in prayer. Please do not disturbed if you're 24 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,400 Speaker 2: concerned that they may come in. Now. I know some 25 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:36,959 Speaker 2: of you may have small children or toddlers, and I 26 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 2: understand that there is no compromising with them. But then 27 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:43,320 Speaker 2: I suggest choosing a time to pray when you may 28 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:48,280 Speaker 2: be least likely to be distracted, like when they are asleep. Now. 29 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 2: I understand some things, of course, will be completely out 30 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:54,639 Speaker 2: of your control, but as much as you possibly can 31 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 2: be intentional about limiting distractions, and then my suggestion is 32 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 2: to just give yourself grace. The second tip I have 33 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: for you to stay focused when you pray is actually 34 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: one of my favorites, and it's super simple. Ask God 35 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: to help you stay focused. Pray about focus when you pray, 36 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:19,079 Speaker 2: if that makes sense. We can pray about absolutely anything, 37 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:20,920 Speaker 2: and sometimes I think we feel like we have to 38 00:02:20,919 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 2: come to God in prayer and be so perfect when 39 00:02:23,280 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: we approach him. But just let God know from the 40 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: beginning of your prayer. Listen, God, I have a lot 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 2: on my mind and I'm struggling with focus. Can you 42 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: help me with this? And don't you know that God 43 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 2: wants to help you focus? Don't you know that He 44 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,119 Speaker 2: wants you to be in a position where you can 45 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 2: clearly hear from him. So if you're finding yourself distracted 46 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 2: and losing focus as you pray, ask God to help you. 47 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 2: If anybody is going to be able to help you, 48 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 2: trust me, it's Him. The next way we can stay 49 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 2: focused during prayer is to not give into any distractions 50 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:58,800 Speaker 2: that may happen. So if you find yourself where your 51 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,240 Speaker 2: thoughts are kind of wondering off and you realize it, 52 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 2: just rerill yourself back in and just say, Okay, I 53 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: got a little distracted. Let me get back focused on God, 54 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: hearing from him and speaking to him. So the point 55 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 2: is you don't want to give life to those distractions 56 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 2: by making a big deal about becoming distracted. You don't 57 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: want to be so focused on the fact that you 58 00:03:19,520 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: got distracted that you just continue to stay in that 59 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 2: distracted place. When you realize you've become distracted, take a 60 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:31,080 Speaker 2: deep breath, give yourself some grace, remember that you're doing 61 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 2: a good thing by praying in the first place, and 62 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:37,080 Speaker 2: keep praying. The next tip I would give you to 63 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 2: stay focused when you pray is to keep a prayer schedule. 64 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,320 Speaker 2: Come up with a format and pick what days or 65 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,160 Speaker 2: times you want to pray about certain things. So at 66 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 2: one point in my life, on my phone, I had 67 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 2: little reminders that would pop up for me to pray 68 00:03:50,800 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 2: for certain things on certain days, so that when it 69 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 2: was time for me to pray, I already knew what 70 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:57,360 Speaker 2: I was going to pray about, and I didn't have 71 00:03:57,440 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 2: to risk losing focus by spending too much time wondering 72 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 2: what I was going to pray about in the first place. 73 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:04,720 Speaker 2: Of course, if the Holy Spirit leads you to pray 74 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: about something else, then do that, but you would have 75 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: to be focused in order to be able to do that. 76 00:04:11,080 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: And since the leading of the Holy Spirit in that 77 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,440 Speaker 2: way anyways, so if that happens, by all means pray 78 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,160 Speaker 2: by the spirit. But having a schedule is a great 79 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: way to stay on task and minimize loss of focus. 80 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: The next tip to stay focused during prayer is to 81 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:32,159 Speaker 2: not give up praying. A distracting, unfocused prayer is better 82 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 2: than no prayer at all. If you're experiencing a high 83 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: level of lack of focus when it comes to your prayer. 84 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 2: It could very well be a spiritual attack. The enemy 85 00:04:42,520 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 2: knows that you're gaining power and strength every time you 86 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 2: go to the Lord in prayer, and he might be 87 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 2: using distraction and loss of focus to discourage you from 88 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 2: getting into your prayer closet and praying to God in 89 00:04:54,120 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: your secret place. Don't let that happen. You push through 90 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:02,680 Speaker 2: and you keep praying. James Chapter four, Versus seven through 91 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:06,559 Speaker 2: eight tells us, therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, 92 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:09,039 Speaker 2: and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, 93 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,799 Speaker 2: and he will draw near to you. My last tip 94 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,719 Speaker 2: on staying focused when you pray is to allow yourself 95 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 2: to grow in prayer. A focused prayer life is something 96 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:22,479 Speaker 2: that we work up to. So start small and work 97 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: your way up to more, longer focused prayers. You want 98 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: to train yourself up in this area. So maybe you 99 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: know today you sit and you say, I'm gonna pray 100 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: for ten minutes. Start simple, start small, and then when 101 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:39,039 Speaker 2: you get the hang of it, say hey, I'm going 102 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: to pray for fifteen or twenty minutes, and go up 103 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 2: from there as the Lord leads you. Now, if you 104 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: start with ten minutes and you reach your time limit 105 00:05:48,440 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: and you feel you want to pray longer, then do that. 106 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: The point is not to put pressure on yourself to 107 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: feel like you have to have these perfectly focused prayers 108 00:05:56,560 --> 00:06:00,080 Speaker 2: all the time. Start small, be patient with yourself, and 109 00:05:59,839 --> 00:06:03,279 Speaker 2: you will get there. God does not need much to 110 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,920 Speaker 2: do much, So if five minutes of focused prayer is 111 00:06:05,960 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: all you have to give God right now, know that 112 00:06:08,640 --> 00:06:12,559 Speaker 2: He cherishes every single minute. I hope that these tips 113 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: were helpful as you seek the Lord in focused prayer. 114 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 2: We have so much more to talk about when it 115 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:19,760 Speaker 2: comes to prayer, so I hope that if you were 116 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,719 Speaker 2: encouraged by today's episode, you will share with a friend 117 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 2: and subscribe so that you don't miss any future episodes 118 00:06:26,120 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: of the Teach Us to Pray podcast. Will will continue 119 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,279 Speaker 2: to learn how, just like breathing, prayer can become a natural, consistent, 120 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 2: and life giving part of our everyday lives. Until then, 121 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:39,560 Speaker 2: be sure to connect with me Christina Patterson at Belovedwomen 122 00:06:39,680 --> 00:06:41,880 Speaker 2: dot org and check out the show notes in today's 123 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,479 Speaker 2: episode to download my free five day prayer guide to 124 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 2: help you put into practice the powerful habit of prayer. 125 00:06:47,520 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for taking time to listen today. 126 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:51,520 Speaker 2: God bless you and I'll talk to you in the 127 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:58,480 Speaker 2: next episode. 128 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:03,880 Speaker 1: Teach Us to Pray is a production of Life Audio 129 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,919 Speaker 1: and the Salem Web Network. If you enjoyed this episode, 130 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:10,240 Speaker 1: would you take a minute and leave us a review 131 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: in your podcast app? It really does help more people 132 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:17,960 Speaker 1: like you find the podcast. To hear more from Christina Patterson, 133 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: be sure to check out her fantastic site, Belovedwomen dot org. 134 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: A special thanks to Kelly Gibbons, Stephen Sanders, and Stephen 135 00:07:27,560 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 1: McGarvey for their production and editing on this episode. You 136 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 1: can find more podcasts like this over at lifeaudio dot com.