If you have a difficult time focusing when you pray it’s important to understand that prayer is a spiritual practice that we get better with overtime. I encourage you to start small and work your way up to longer, more focused prayers. Begin with a commitment to a 5-minute prayer, then 10 minutes, and when you get the hang of that, 15 minutes. Start simple and small. We serve a God who can move mountains with faith the size of a mustard seed, so don’t underestimate the power of starting simple and small.
Jesus said, “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20 ESV)
Praying a distracting, unfocused prayer is better than no prayer at all because at least you’re actively working your prayer muscle to get stronger. But you can’t get stronger in your prayer life if you don’t pray at all. If you’re waiting for the perfect prayer life, you’ll never get started.
The point is not to pressure yourself to have perfectly focused prayers all the time. Be patient with yourself, and you will get there. God does not need much to do much. If five minutes of focused prayer is all you have to give God right now, know that He cherishes every single minute.
Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for valuing every moment we spend with You in prayer. Help me start small and grow in my prayer life. Strengthen my faith and draw me closer to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflect: What obstacles are preventing you from starting a regular prayer routine, and how can you overcome them?