May I Have Your Attention, Please!

When my family goes to church, I like to be early.  I like to chat with a few friends, then find a seat a few minutes before the service begins.  My husband can chat with people right up to the moment that our pastor steps up to the pulpit, but I need a minute or two to pray:  that the Lord would calm my heart, that I'd be able to keep my focus on Him, that my worship would be wholehearted, that I would hear what He wants me to hear.  He deserves nothing less.

With help from God, I can usually do that.  It's more challenging during my quiet times at home.  I can be easily distracted, and I need to work on being still.

"Be still, and know that I am God." (Psalm 46:10)

When I try to be still, my mind darts around in five directions at once.  I'm thinking about my to-do list, an ongoing situation, something that happened during the day, what to make for dinner the next day.  It's hard enough to focus when I pray, but even harder to clear my mind and just listen.  I'm working on that!

In the meantime, however, God is faithful.  When I pray, I can sense His presence filling my heart.  Lately I've been asking Him to give me, in the moment, the wisdom and grace to handle a situation in a way that honors Him.  He does!  Certainly I still mess up and say or do something I shouldn't have, but that's generally because I'm just not listening.

Sometimes my favorite way to spend time with the Lord is with praise and worship music.  I turn up the stereo and sing along--without writing a blog post or skimming email at the same time.  That, I can do wholeheartedly.  In this, too, I can sense the Lord's presence.  Although I've recently read essays from a few people who doubt that the Bible tells us that the Lord inhabits the praises of His people, I believe that when we praise and worship Him, He shows up.

Please tell me I'm not the only one who struggles to be still!  What helps you to focus?