How to Focus During Prayer

child praying

Your child starts praying and seems totally focused, then they start talking about characters from their favorite video game. After that, it’s all about who did what on the playground. Then, you’re distracted too and start talking about your day, and before you know it, you’re completely off the subject of prayer.

Does this sound familiar?

It can be difficult to remain focused during prayer; our minds tend to run rampant, and we get distracted by the business from the day or stressful to-do lists. But it doesn’t have to be this way! Take a few extra steps so you and your child can focus on talking to God.

Declutter Your Mind

First things first: declutter your mind. It’s challenging to think about prayer when your brain is racing with everything that needs to be done. Start by writing everything down. Write down important thoughts, create a to-do list, and then move on to your time with God.

Remove Distractions

Don’t use the Bible app on your phone — it’s too easy to float into Instagram or your email inbox. Just like clutter in your mind, clutter in your home can distract you from your goals. Find a quiet, clean place to pray. Shut off your phone, or at the very least put it on airplane mode and silence all alarms. Power down your computer, and turn off your music. 

Get into the Habit

Consistency is key. Try praying at the same time every day, whether it’s the first thing you do in the morning or the last thing you do before falling asleep. It’s important that you give yourself time to get used to praying every day. Encourage your child to do the same, and join them if you think it will make it easier for them. Once it becomes a habit, it becomes easier to focus.

Prayer Journal

Rather than sitting and praying quietly in your head, it can be easier to stay focused by putting your thoughts on paper. Keeping a prayer list can help you maintain concentration and follow through on your offers to pray for someone, as well as help you keep track of which prayers have been answered and how.

Study Ready-Made Prayers

There’s nothing wrong with using pre-written prayers. When the Disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He gave them the Lord’s Prayer. You can start here! Pray the Lord’s Prayer, then spend extra time on the parts that speak to you that day. Maybe you need help resisting temptation, or maybe you’re struggling to forgive someone who has wronged you. Let these ready-made prayers help guide your thoughts.

Speak Now

Why not speak your prayers out loud? After all, prayer is meant to be a conversation, and it might help you to stay “on topic” if you speak to God as if He’s sitting in the chair across from you. Utilize your car ride to or from work, or take a walk on your favorite nature trail. 

At private schools in Palm Bay, FL, we challenge students to be creative and critical thinkers who integrate faith, moral leadership, and compassionate service to make a better world. Through a low student-teacher ratio, classroom technology, and a variety of enrichment activities, we strive to inspire excellence in our students. Contact us to learn more!