QUIET TIME TOOLBOX
Dealing with Distractions
Dealing with Distractions: You know how it is. You sit down to pray, and suddenly your mind is filled with distractions. From the rumbling of the refrigerator to remembering an important detail you forgot in yesterday's meeting, it can almost seem impossible to focus on the Lord. Here are some encouraging thoughts from an old saint, and some tips that might help!
Thoughts From An Old Saint
We bear in our bosoms a nest of turbulent thoughts, which, like busy gnats, will be buzzing about us while we are in our most inward and spiritual converses.
Stephen Charnock, a 17th century believer reminds us that distractions are part of living in a fallen world, and that God even allows them. Why? They protect us from feeling proud of our prayer time, they remind us how much Satan hates prayer and therefore how important it really is, they make us more thankful for God's grace -- that He willingly accepts imperfect prayers, and they help us rely more on Jesus.
Do jot down things to do later on a piece of paper.
Do picture yourself filing thoughts in an imaginary file cabinet to deal with later.
Do offer your anxieties, emotions and fears as prayers by writing in a journal.
Do see useless thoughts flowing by you in a stream, emptying into the vast ocean's waves.
Do gently return to prayer when you have released them.
Do keep on trying - it will get easier with practice!
(Taken from the book The Soul at Rest.)
