How to stay focused
In my answer to the question about being quiet and focusing I share the thought that trying to focus after becoming still to hear God’s voice might not serve you.
I understand this particular question a little differently. I would reword it this way: How do I stay focused while talking with God.
This likely comes from experience with traditional prayer. In my experience I always found that my mind would wander from one thing to another – Here I was coming before God and in His presence I caught myself wondering about washing the car, what to eat for breakfast, or why there are 336 dimples on a golf ball or some equally interesting and important topic.
That type of distraction used to drive me crazy and I felt condemned before God. I mean if I couldn’t come before the throne of Grace and really BE there, what good was it and what kind of believer was I anyway?
I’ve mentioned before that traditional prayer didn’t work for me – now you know why.
Let me also explain that traditional prayer for me was coming to God with a list. I had a list of people to pray for and situations that needed to be fixed. Actually most of the people needed to be fixed too – I mean after all, that’s why you pray for them right?
So prayer was really more of the presenting of a to do list to God. “Here’s what I need today, God. Can you have this stuff done by Friday?”
From where I am today, it appears that I had very little or no faith in the God I was praying to. If I’d have had any faith at all, I would have had confidence in the way God was working in those people and situations.
No wonder I was so distracted. I didn’t have any real faith in the God I was praying to. At some level I probably knew it then – and it’s hard to stay focused when what you’re doing isn’t in alignment with your belief.
Needless to say my concept of prayer has changed greatly. No longer do I feel compelled to ask God to fix stuff. I know that He’s aware if it’s broken and He’s on it! I don’t have to remind Him.
It’s much easier now to focus – now that I trust God more. My waiting in His presence is about listening instead of rambling on about my perceived problems.
Trust that God knows what you need. You will be better served by waiting in His presence for the word, help and direction that you desire – and you will find it much easier to remain focused.
When you focus only on being still to hear God’s voice instead of the multitude of issues you have, you won’t be nearly so distracted.
I guess what I’m saying is this: to stay focused you need to change your position a bit. Try seeing things from God’s all encompassing perspective. From that perspective everything is under control and in His hands. In that space of calm acceptance and quiet peace it’s not a problem to stay focused on communicating with God.
Make sense? Share your comments and experiences below!
