Focus in Prayer

[ARH521]

I have trouble focusing in prayer…well, technically I have trouble staying focused in conversation, in class, while reading, etc.

My faith is THE most important thing in my life. Why am I not able to focus? Do you all have any specific techniques you use to keep you focused?

What can you recommend to help deal with this problem?

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

Hi ARH521!

My focus in prayer is God’s presence.

Let me put it this way. When you are with a friend—a true, close friend—your mind may wander, you may miss a few words of what your friend is saying, but you know that he/she is there, and it is his/her presence that you enjoy. Heck, that mere presence may be the reason you wander in your conversation, because you want to show and tell him/her everything, so enraptured in enjoying your friend’s presence!

And so it is with prayer in my experience. My mind always wander during prayer, and yet when I notice that I do not get upset but in fact smile, and send those thoughts to my Love, saying, “See how at ease I am at Your presence, my Love, for my mind and heart truly wants to say everything to you!” And the weird thing is that those thoughts invariably “jive” with what I am meditating; that is, I get intuitions on how those thoughts expound on what I am meditating (I often pray the Rosary, you see).

 

[Immacolata]

I can understand your problem. At times, I find it hard to focus when I am praying; to help combat this, at times I sit in a dark room with one candle lit (or as many as you’d like) with a Catholic holy image (such as during Advent, I use Nativity images, during Lent I’ll use the Passion and Resurrection images, etc.). Perhaps that could help you as well?

God bless, and may you be able to focus your attention on God in your prayers.

 

[cjforJesus]

I have trouble focusing in prayer…well, technically I have trouble staying focused in conversation, in class, while reading, etc.

My faith is THE most important thing in my life. Why am I not able to focus? Do you all have any specific techniques you use to keep you focused?

What can you recommend to help deal with this problem?

Keep trying.God does hear you in spite of this,He uses all trials to bring us closer to Him.

At times I have trouble during the vocal praying of the rosary.When that occurs I quickly remind myself of the passion of Jesus and how the whole rosary centers on the gospel accounts of our redemption through Jesus Christ.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Keep your prayer simple, for as you pray, you are in the presence of God, who desires your presence, nothing more. Just a couple words simple, but meaningful words are enough.

Close your eyes and begin to say the prayer words, and go to God’s presence who dwells within you. The prayer begins in the mind but eventually joins the heart.

A simple prayer could be, “Lord Jesus,” or “Come Holy Spirit.” Its all that is needed.

When you discover that you’re mind has wandered away, just return to the prayer.

Keep in mind that God dwells within you and when you turn to Him interiorly, you
are in his Presence. Keep this as your focus, and when you discover you’ve become
distracted, just return to the prayer word which will point you back to being in God’s
presence.

It is akin to two lovers resting in each others arms sitting together on a sofa. No words are needed, just being in each other’s presence loving each other, is communicated completely.

So it is with being in God’s presence. Just rest in His presence, in his loving embrace. Whatever, comes will be from grace given out of love.

God Bless
Jim

 

[agnes_therese]

I have trouble focusing in prayer…well, technically I have trouble staying focused in conversation, in class, while reading, etc.

My faith is THE most important thing in my life. Why am I not able to focus? Do you all have any specific techniques you use to keep you focused?

What can you recommend to help deal with this problem?

You are certainly not alone! St. Teresa of Jesus spoke of those whose minds are “like wild horses.”

The most important thing, I’ve found, is not to beat myself up over it. It happens, it always has, and most likely always will (for me, at least). Getting upset with myself just piles on another distraction, which doesn’t help.
As JimR said, when your mind wanders, just bring it back. God understands.

 

[JRKH]

So much wonderful advice. I have little to add.

I will suggest this though…Not all distraction is bad.

Part of praying is contemplation and laying our troubles before the Lord. We seek to rest in Him and listen for His voice…for His help.
When we are praying something like the Rosary, we can slip into a state where we contemplate many things. Now sometimes these are just “distractions” and nothing else (like thinking about what to have for dinner) and as others have said we need to keep recollecting our mind to God.
But sometimes distractions can actually be - not distractions at all - but a conversation - a laying out before God some issue that we are struggling with and sometimes - because we are calmly praying and are open - we can receive valuable insight.

So - While becoming distracted in prayer can be a negative, don’t try to lock yourself in to concentration so tightly that you miss some great benefits and graces that God wishes to give you.

Peace
James

 

[Vouthon]

This quote from the Book if Isaiah always helps me:

“…In returning and rest shall you be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength…”

***- Isaiah 30:15 ***

The key is in allowing yourself to simply “return” to your prayer from noticing a distraction. Do not become agitated when distractions emerge. It is natural, since although supernatural life begins in stillness of body, heart and mind; the active life is and needs must be comprised of movement, change. On account of our fallen nature, we tend more towards disorientating thoughts, feelings and motion than quietude and rest.

Simply let yourself be aware of the distracting thought. Notice it but do not cling to it, let it go. Allow it to be present and then let go of the story or commentary going on in your head by simply returning to your prayer which I agree with another poster should be short in nature such, as “Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”, “Come, Holy Spirit” or something to that effect.

Then you will get out of the mental habit of watching and listening to that mental chatter going on in your head and will begin to be led not by your own urges or whims but by the breath of the Holy Ghost.

You must keep returning to your practice whenever the distracting thought snatches your attention away. For this you need to practice with focus: on the prayer, or even as a temporary aid on your own breath or your heart-beat.

Here is an exercise on how to pray the “Jesus Prayer” from the “Way of the Pilgrim”, a 19th century Russian mystical text that you might find helpful to try. Its not word-for-word from the text but rather a truncated summary. In this scene the pilgrim teaches a blind man how to keep his focus in prayer:

The blind man asked how one is to descend into the heart. The pilgrim said to imagine his heart. Imagine seeing it. Listen to it.

Once you are accustomed to this, then say the Jesus Prayer:

On one heartbeat, say the word “Lord.”
On the next heartbeat, say the word “Jesus.”
On the next heartbeat, say: “Christ.”
On the next heartbeat, say: “have mercy.”
On the next heartbeat, say: “on me.”

The next step in continuous prayer is to direct the flow of the Jesus Prayer in the heart in harmony with your breathing:

While inhaling, say, “Lord Jesus Christ.”
While exhaling, say, “have mercy on me.”

“Practice this often. Soon there will arise a pleasant pain in the heart. It is a sort of warmth, and a sort of burning. If you do this, with God’s help you will attain to the delightful self-activating interior prayer of the heart. However, as you do all this, guard against mental imaginings.”

The blind man listened attentively to everything and then earnestly began to practise the specified method of prayer. He would spend an exceptionally long time on it at night. After five days of praying in these ways, the blind man experienced this intense warmth and joy in his heart, an indescribably pleasant sensation in his heart. From time to time he would begin to see light, though he discerned no visible things or objects in it. At other times it felt as though a candle was burning in his heart. Sometimes it felt that this inner light was illuminating his whole being.

---

 

[mountee]

As you can see, ARH521, this forum is full of faithful, considerate, loving people. The advice you have been given is simply wonderful and should lift your spirits I hope. I also find my mind wandering regularly as I pray and the posts you received have made me feel better. May you find peace and comforting the knowledge that no matter what God loves you and enjoys your prayers. Merry Christmas.

 

[Vouthon]

As you can see, ARH521, this forum is full of faithful, considerate, loving people. The advice you have been given is simply wonderful and should lift your spirits I hope. I also find my mind wandering regularly as I pray and the posts you received have made me feel better. May you find peace and comforting the knowledge that no matter what God loves you and enjoys your prayers. Merry Christmas.

And a very Merry Christmas to you likewise brother/sister Mountee

May the peace of Christ be with your spirit!

 

[nuntym]

+JMJ+

May you find peace and comforting the knowledge that no matter what God loves you and enjoys your prayers.

That made me remember what we almost always forget (especially me! ) — God enjoys us and our prayers.

I just love this quote from the Blessed Jordan of Saxony:

Nowadays people say, “I think it would be great if you would come to me and have a drink with me.” And it is just like that with the Lord. For He says to the soul: “Give me something to drink.” Oh if only you knew the love of God which is saying to you, “I thirst!”

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to you too, Mountee!

 

[Vouthon]

+JMJ+

That made me remember what we almost always forget (especially me! ) — God enjoys us and our prayers.

I just love this quote from the Blessed Jordan of Saxony:

Nowadays people say, “I think it would be great if you would come to me and have a drink with me.” And it is just like that with the Lord. For He says to the soul: “Give me something to drink.” Oh if only you knew the love of God which is saying to you, “I thirst!”

Merry Christmas to you too, Mountee!

Merry Christmas brother/sister Nunt

An excellent quote, it reminds me of this:

“…You need not seek Him here or there, He is no further than the door of your heart; there He stands patiently awaiting whoever is ready to open up and let Him in. No need to call to Him from afar: He can hardly wait for you to open up. He longs for you a thousand times more than you long for Him…”

***- Meister Eckhart (c. 1260 – c. 1327), Catholic mystic, theologian & Dominican priest ***

God stands at the door to our heart, knocking, waiting for us to open and let Him come in and make His home in us.

Jesus is the vine, the tree and we are the branches. We abide in Him, He is our life. He in us and we in Him, one unity.

The Christmas Tree is such a wonderful testament to this truth.