If you struggle focusing on God in prayer, you’re not alone. In fact, most believers say it is one of their biggest struggles. Even Jesus, who faced every temptation that we do, had to escape the crowds and distractions for private prayer (see Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23; Luke 6:12).
Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t remove all of our struggles to focus with the snap of His fingers? He has the power to do that. I think one reason He doesn’t is because He is pleased with our fight because our efforts tell Him He is worth it. Our fight for focus is a fight to worship.
What are you focusing on when you are in prayer? Why is it so difficult to stay focused on God in prayer? Focusing on God in prayer should be the easiest thing in the world for believers. What does it mean to focus on God in prayer?
Focusing on God means being intentional about setting our thoughts and desires on our heavenly Father.
Whatever we focus our attention on is what will dominate our thoughts (Proverbs 23:7). If our thoughts are dominated by the things of this world, then we are going to get worldly results in our lives. We need to focus on God to get godly results. Andrew Wommack
The enemy know exact ally what to do to keep your focused on other things in prayer. Why? Because the enemy don’t want a Christian praying any way. Whatever he can do to distract you, he will find every opportunity to do so.
Sometimes we can get so consumed with everyday affairs, that when it comes down to our prayer life, we struggle to enter in God’s presence. Distractions is all around us. Focus on Him
You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
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How to Keep your Mind from Wandering During Prayer?
There are so many distractions around us every day. Establishing daily quiet time with God is necessary for anyone who wants a close, intimate relationship with Him.
When we get so consumed or distracted with everything that’s happening in the world around us, we lose focus on God. Our days are constantly being interrupted by texts, tweets, push notifications, ads, Instagram posts, emails, and we can go on and on. All that we consumed ourselves with, crave distraction.
We must remember that the enemy seeks “to kill, to steal, and to destroy” (John 10:10). Oftentimes, when we read that verse, we think of drastic measures, but the reality is, all Satan has to do to accomplish his goal is distract us. And when he distracts us, we become disconnected from God.
Of course, Satan wants to do everything in his power to make sure we don’t trust Jesus as our Lord and Savior on the front end. But once he lost that battle, the next best thing he can do is make sure Christians get as distracted as possible. Satan aim is to keep the saints of God so busy of everyday events, that they don’t have time to focus on the things of God. But the devil is a liar. The most distracted Christians are the most neutralized Christians.
“Jesus told him, ‘Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God’” (Luke 9:62 TLB).
Have you ever started praying, only to find a few seconds later you’re thinking about what someone said to you earlier that day? Or begun reading the Bible, only to have your thoughts on the weather for the next day?
Christians must remember the importance of prayer to keep their minds from wandering. But the good news is that with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can learn to focus and quiet our minds as we spend time in his presence.
When relationship with the Lord becomes a priority, He reveals and helps us with the things we need to change, including learning to control our thoughts.
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” (Psalm 91:1-2)
If you are challenged and struggle with a wandering mind during prayer, start your morning singing songs to the Lord. Remember, Jesus Christ is with you, helping, strengthening, and encouraging you in all your endeavors.
Benefits of Focusing on God
Do you struggle on focusing on God throughout the day? Do you wonder why it is so easy to focus on the activities of the day, but when it comes to focusing on God, it is difficult?
The truth is most of us struggle to keep our mind stayed on the Lord. The reason we struggle is we don’t know the benefits of doing so.
Knowing and understanding the benefits of focusing on our Heavenly Father will cause us to shift our focus from all that is happening around us to God. And keeping our focus on God is the key to our prayers being answered.
There are Benefits when you Focus on God:
Releases Stress
When feeling stressed and overwhelmed by all the challenges in life, take a moment to go to God in prayer to ask for relief from anxiety and stress. Position yourself in prayer before your day begins.
Prayer is an avenue by which we may share our heart to God and fully process everything that weighs down our spirit.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phil.4:6-7
Solves Problems
Got a problem? Don’t know the answer or solution? Pray about it. Prayer is, therefore, the highest path to real problem solving. God understands every situation and can provide real answers, specific answers. There is no need to go through life confused about anything.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” James 1:5
Builds Confidence
Life has many different challenges. Self-confidence limits us to only what we can do by ourselves. One of the most significant challenges for me in becoming confident is to believe God’s way is better than whatever I am trying to do to find confidence. This is the first and most crucial step.
When you make prayer a habit, God’s presence in you grows stronger and stronger and so does your confidence. Because prayer helps you to see your situation through the eyes of faith, it builds up your boldness.
“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.” Phil.4:13
Brings Peace of Mind
No matter what challenges you face, God wants us to have peace through Him, and to know that everything will work out fine if we rely and trust on Him. We find that peace when we focus on His ability and willingness to deliver us from evil, instead of focusing on the problem at hand.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Isaiah 26:3.
Draws You Closer to God
God has a plan for every one of us. Drawing near to God is the key to unlocking every door that seems shut in your life. The benefits of drawing near far outweigh any sacrifice of time. Through the Holy Spirit, He is waiting to show you special insights into the problems that you face today. He wants to help you know and walk in perfect truth and strength. And, He wants to anoint your natural ability, so you can always be above and not beneath.
Brings Forgiveness
Not only is confession good for the soul, but it is necessary to receive forgiveness for wrongdoing from God. When we confess our sins to God through prayer, He forgives us of our sins and our relationship with Him is restored. When we turn our heart towards God in prayer, we are able to not only repent and receive forgiveness but offer forgiveness to others in return.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1John1:9
What Does the Bible Say About Staying Focused on God?
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law, he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore, the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; …
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted, and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. …
Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good.
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Related: An Incredibly Short Prayer for Focus {& 12 Other Examples Prayers}
How Do I Stay Focused on Jesus?
The Bible says, “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossians 3:2
God want us to set our affection, our heart, our thoughts, our lives on Him, and Him only. What are the things above?
- Our Heavenly Father; our Savior, Jesus Christ
- Our eternal home
- Our Christian loved ones, who have passed on before us.
- A place of no pain, suffering, sorrow, nor tears
- A place of rest and peace
- A place without sin and evil
It’s time to stay focused on God when we pray, to make the decision to refocus our mind on eternal things. That’s above. Where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. So, what Paul is saying, to “seek” those things that are above — namely, the things where Christ is — he was urging us to put forward our most earnest efforts.
As we focus our thoughts on Jesus, we are putting ourselves in remembrance of all He has provided for us in Him. Of course, there is a rich inheritance of blessings He has supplied for us to enjoy in this life on the earth, but Paul says there are many things above that we are to set our attention on!
Today I want us to focus on this question: What are some of the “things above” we should set our thoughts on that will be ours to enjoy once we get to Heaven?
When you are tempted to feel that you aren’t blessed or that you’ve suffered too much or that you lack what others possess, it’s time for you to obey Paul’s command to refocus your attention on eternal things and not on things on the earth. Stay focused on God.
“Since then, you are raised together with Christ, earnestly and intensely seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Focus your mind on the many things that are above, and don’t get stuck in low-level thinking about temporary things here on the earth.” Colossians 3:1,2 (paraphrased)
I want to encourage you to deliberately put your mind on things above — on all that God has prepared for you to share with Him in the eternity to come!
It’s up to you to maintain your focus on Jesus and the “things above” that He has waiting for you to enjoy. So today and every day, no matter what’s going on around you, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and your heart open to receive the victory and blessing He’s provided for you, both in this life and in the life to come!
How Do You Stay Spiritually Focused?
When you’re spiritually focused, it means that you are lead and controlled by the Holy Spirit. That you surrender completely your mind, will, and emotions to Christ and you have committed to His way. It is the will of God that we remain focused on Him.
When we as believers are spiritually focused, it ensures us that we remain devoted and are prepared to receive the many blessings and abundance that God has instore for us.
Below are six ways to become spiritually focused:
1). Embrace an intimate relationship with God. As a believer, it is important to pray about areas that you would like to improve your relationship with God. Whether it’s increasing your prayers, time spent with God, hearing the Holy Spirit, more alone time with God, practicing the spirit of giving, or whatever you would like to strengthen.
2) Understand and look into what distracts you from God.
3) Stay around other Christians. You should identify someone to guide you on your spiritual path. The person should have a successful walk with God to guide you through.
4) Set Aside Quite Time for God. Schedule Bible Study time, and prayer time. Schedule your time for Him in your calendar.
5) Live a Faithful Life. To become more spiritually focused, you need to be faithful to God. You should not only read the Bible, practice the presence of God, surround yourself with people that help you enhance your spiritual life and stray away from people, places and things that pull you away from God.
6.) Enjoy your time with God. Always remember to walk in love with others.
If you want to enjoy a peaceful, joyful, and abundant life in Christ, being spiritually focused will help you to experience His blessings like never before!
How to Stay Focused on God Throughout the Day?
Christian who has followed Christ for a long time can sometime find it difficult to stay focused on God when praying. Even the seasoned Christians who consider themselves very religious or spiritual, sometimes waver to stay focused on God when praying. Why is this happening?
Jesus talks about the cares of this world can include a wide variety of competing activities. Many of these activities are even good, but when given the wrong level of priority can take away from focusing on God.
In Matthew 13, Jesus gives the parable of the sower that includes insight in this area. In explaining the parable, He shares, “As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful” (v. 22). The “cares of this world” and desire for wealth can cause people to no longer be focused on Christ.
There are so many cares of this world that can enter in and take their focus off God when praying.
Staying focused on God can be a difficult task. Family, work, and entertainment are just a few of the things that often distract people from their walk with God. Thankfully, you can learn to focus on God when praying without neglecting your other important responsibilities.
Prioritize your relationship with God by setting spiritual goals for yourself, spending some time alone with God every day, in that secret place, and living by your faith in God. To stay focused, we can learn much from the example of Scripture.
Luke 9:23 teaches, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”
Each day we are to deny ourselves, our personal desires and follow God’s way. His way of during things and being right. Christians are not given a day off from following God. This is an everyday lifestyle. We are to live our lives totally surrendered to Christ each day. It is a daily pursuit, and not just a “Sunday only” Christianity or where faith is seen as only one of many areas of our life, the challenge is to live our lives totally sold out to Jesus.
Here are some simple tips about how to pray and connect with God if you struggle with consistency and focus.
#1: Consistent Prayer
Prayer is an important part of focusing on God because bring us into his presence. Whether we are praying to thank God, ask forgiveness for a particular sin, worship God for who He is, or bring our requests to Him, we are focusing on God when we pray.
The Bible says, “He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder to them that diligently seek him.”
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
We come to Him because we know that He is God and that he rewards those who seek him.
Prayer is focusing on those truths and believing them. Prayer is remembering who God is and focusing on Him by trusting His ability and goodness.
#2: Schedule A Set Time
Plan for your time in the word of God. You know your schedule better than anyone. What time of the day will consistently work for you? Is it morning or is it in the evening when everyone else is sleeping? Write it on a calendar or put a reminder in your phone. Cut out TV and social media if you are struggling.
When you look at how much time you are on social media. If you struggle to stay consistent in Bible study, look at the amount of time you spend watching TV and scrolling through Facebook. You will be surprised how much time it uses.
#3: Read the Bible Consistently
The Word of God is an essential tool to stay focused on God. The Bible is God’s literal Word, and when we learn to incline our ear to it, it’ll be easier to hear.
Daily Bible Reading – be prayerful, alert, reverent, attentive, reading for clarity and understanding
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
My desire for you is to know God and grow in your walk with the Lord. Well, a good way to focus on God is by continually reading His Word. When we do that, it’ll be almost impossible to have our minds wander because His word will always be in front of us.
#4: Spend Time with God in a Quiet Place
“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6)
Spend time alone with God in a quiet place. This is where intimacy is formed. When you spend time with the Lord when no one is watching, and it’s just you and Him. This is where His heart becomes your heart, and His mind becomes your mind. It’s the place where we get know Him, and the result is becoming more like Him.
(2 Corinthians 5:18-19). Christ died on the cross to restore a relationship. Now, obviously He died because we sinned against a holy God, but that wasn’t the reason why Jesus came to save us. Christ had to die because we sinned, but God’s purpose in Christ dying was to restore us back to what we were originally created for.
If you and I learn to spend time with God in secret prayer, we will become more like Him, and the Spirit of God will give us the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:10-16).
#5: Pray in the Spirit
The Bible tells us to pray in the Spirit at all times.
“Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)
Praying in the Spirit is speaking in tongues.
“Therefore, let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.” (1 Corinthians 14:13-15)
So, we are to continually pray in tongues at all times. Now, if you know your Bible you know that it says that the mind is unfruitful when we speak in tongues. (1 Corinthians 14:14)
Which is completely true. So how will this help us keep our minds stayed on God? Simple. If I am continually praying in the Spirit, I am going to be continually aware of the Spirit. I may not understand what I’m saying to God (1 Corinthians 14:2), but I will understand that me and the Holy Spirit are cooperating in prayer.
Continually pray in tongues so that you can build yourself up and be conscious of God’s presence. (1 Corinthians 14:4)
Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance! God should be the first person we ask for help when it comes to distractions. The Holy Spirit is our Advocate and is the one who teaches us how to pray. Just as the apostles asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us how to pray,” we too should ask the Holy Spirit for help.
#6: Thank God for Everything
“And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20)
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
As you can see from these verses, we are to give thanks at all times, for everything.
Thanking God on a continual basis will make us appreciate everything that He has done for us, and it will keep our hearts fixed on who He is and that He is faithful.
Thanksgiving is the best way to stop complaining in our lives, and it is a great way to keep our minds stayed upon God.
Just think of the many blessings God has done for us. He has forgiven us from all of our sin, He has given us eternal life, He has filled us with His Spirit, He has given us His Word, He has given us a new family. The list can go on and on.
He has done so much for us, so thanking Him continually should be an easy task. If we can do this, not only will our minds be focused on the Lord, but we will become positive and more hopeful.
#7: Spend Time with Other Believers
The Bible says “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)
Who we spend time with is extremely important? Spend time with people who encourage and challenge you to go after God.
The more we spend time with other believers who love the Lord and have a desire for Him, the more we will become like them.
If you spend a lot of time with people that don’t know God and have no desire to know God, their bad company will corrupt your good character.
Now it’s important to note that I’m not saying that you should never spend time with unbelievers. That would be ridiculous. I am saying that the people close to you and who you spend most of your time with should be believers that are following Jesus.
#8: Trust in the Lord
We can put our confidence or security in the Lord because we know that He can be trusted. That is how we can stay focus on God, because we have put our faith and trust alone in the Lord our Savior Jesus Christ.
I believe one of the greatest struggles and challenges you may find yourself facing in this life is the struggle to trust God.
He can be trusted. You must remind yourself that he can be trusted. That is why it is so important to remember the things that God has done for you in your life. I am remined when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River to go into the promised land God gave them an interesting command.
“When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, ‘Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe,and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.’
So, Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe,and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you.
In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” – Joshua 4:1-7
What did God tell them? God told them to take up the stones to remind the people forever of what he had done and that he can be trusted.
Just like God told Joshua and the Israelites to trust him, he is telling you today to trust him.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV)
Questions for Reflection
- When you think of the word ‘Stay Focus,’ what comes to your mind?
- What does it mean to you to stay focus?
- What does it mean for you to be stay spiritually focused?
- Is it difficult for you to stay focused on God when we pray?
- How do you stay focused on God throughout the day?
Quotes About Focusing on God
“What consumes your mind controls your life.” “Don’t focus on your adversaries. Focus on God’s possibilities.”
“True faith is keeping your eyes on God when the world around you is falling apart.”
“Instead of thinking about how hard the test is, we can instead focus on asking the Lord to enlarge our understanding.” Crystal McDowell
“The more you focus on yourself, the more distracted you will be from the proper path. The more you know Him and commune with Him, the more the Spirit will make you like Him. The more you are like Him, the better you will understand His utter sufficiency for all of life’s difficulties. And that is the only way to know real satisfaction.” John MacArthur
Whatever we focus our attention on is what will dominate our thoughts (Proverbs 23:7). If our thoughts are dominated by the things of this world, then we are going to get worldly results in our lives. We need to focus on God to get godly results. Andrew Wommack
I want to take my focus off myself and focus on God. It’s like setting your spiritual compass so no matter which way you turn during the day, whatever comes up, then my thoughts go back to Him and whatever He said that morning. Anne Graham Lotz
Like, with one arm I know I can surf, but competitive surfing can be really frustrating, and sometimes you don’t do as well as you want to. It can be discouraging at times. But whenever I do get frustrated, I just focus on God. Bethany Hamilton
Vision is the ability to see God’s presence, to perceive God’s power, to focus on God’s plan in spite of the obstacles. Charles R. Swindoll
When trouble comes, focus on God’s ability to care for you. Charles Stanley
What you do with your eyes in some cases is a matter of life and death. To look at focus on the sickness brings death. To look at focus on God’s Word brings life. Gloria Copeland
Although we tend to think about saints as holy and pious, and picture them with halos above their heads and ecstatic gazes, true saints are much more accessible. They are men and women like us, who live ordinary lives and struggle with ordinary problems. What makes them saints is their clear and unwavering focus on God and God’s people. Henri Nouwen
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.
When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance. Joel Osteen
Don’t focus on the adversity; focus on God. No matter what you go through, stay in faith, be your best each day and trust that God will use it to position you for greatness. Joel Osteen
Keep God first. If you do that, if you just focus on God and keeping Him first, then everything else will just take care of itself. Do everything for Him. John Salmons
Instead of concentrating on your problems and getting discouraged, focus on God and meditate on His promises for you. You may have fallen down, but you don’t have to stay down. God is ready, willing, and able to pick you up. Joyce Meyer
I want to focus on God’s grace and give thanks for all the good things in my life. I don’t want to focus on what I don’t have.
Prayer to Stay Focused on God
Father, In the Name of Jesus,
Help me to stay focused on you and not on the things around me. I make you my priority in everything.
Teach me, Lord, how to be still and know that you are God. Quiet my soul. Bring order and calm to the chaos in my life, so that I can spend time in quiet and joyful meditation with You. Remove any distractions that will take me away from your presence, and surround me with your sweet Holy Spirit.
Thank You that you are willing and able to do these things, and that when I am weak, you are strong. I love You.
I pray in the name of Jesus, Amen.
Free Scripture Printable
I pray that you enjoyed “How to Stay Focused on God in Prayer”. Here you will find a free printable that you can download by clicking on the highlighted link.
You are welcome to use this printable for personal use or in small group Bible studies.
Have a Wonderful Day! Enjoy!
