Happy Winter Morning!
Hope you’re staying nice and warm, and you’re enjoying a nice cup of hot coffee (or tea…or hot cocoa…) on this cold morning. I’m sitting here listening to the wind, as its whistling at our front door wanting in, and I’m thankful to have my warm slippers on and a cozy scarf around my neck. Mmmm, nice. We have had such a mild winter this year, that really I can’t complain about a few frigid days. Every unseasonably warm day we’ve had, I’ve looked at my husband and said, “I LOVE IT!!! And I’LL TAKE IT!!!” Simple blessings from the Lord…Thank You! :0)
We talked about praying yesterday, didn’t we? And we talked about how the devil will fight against us praying…talking to God…because he knows our praying limits him. I think its a big step just for us to recognize this truth.
Well folks…I have living proof today that sometimes you just have to go to “drastic measures” to fight to get your praying done (maybe a tad overstated, but you’ll see what I mean as you continue reading).
First, I got two phone calls…one I let go to voicemail and the next one I needed to take. Distractions 1 & 2. (and yes, I took my phone downstairs so someone else could answer it and I wouldn’t have to worry about it…or be distracted…again…and would you believe it?! It never rang again!! Interesting.)
Next distraction was from my little dog, Wilbur. Now Wilbur loves me and wants to be wherever I am. All the time. Literally.
When I pray in my room he can be distracting, so today I gave him some food, then I slipped into my room while he was busy eating. Whew. Mission accomplished. Or so I thought. Even in my closet I could faintly hear my sweet husband whistle for Wilber, calling him away from my door. I knew Joe would have everything under control in the “Wilbur department,” so I was able to pray without any more outside interruptions. And he indeed had things under control!! This is what I walked out of our bedroom to…
…a barricade too keep Wilbur away from our door. My husband fighting for my prayer time, too!! So sweet! :o)
I also found having my pen and paper handy were very helpful today, as the distractions just kept coming. Again, my thoughts were tumbling over each other, reminding me of things I needed to get done and people I needed to contact. Today!! Right now!! So on the list they went (the thoughts…not the people ;o) and I could continue to pray.
Whew!! (wiping sweat from brow)
I know some folks can walk and pray, or sit at a table and look out the window and pray, but I’ve found that doesn’t usually work for me. Again, I find myself distracted (that overused word on our blog today!!) and my mind flits from this to that. It works best for me to be somewhere that I can be as free from distractions as possible, bow my head and close my eyes and, “get ‘er done!” I’ve even tried propping my prayer notebook up as I do my hair and I might pray over one or two things before I’m so distracted that it goes unnoticed and I don’t even think to pray about anything else.
Am I weird, or what?! Please tell me some of you have the same problems! It really would make me feel better. 😉 What helps you get your praying done every day? Do you have a list? A notebook? Do you have regular distractions, like me? What do you do about them?
The devil would like nothing better than to distract us so much that we do not talk to God. Don’t let him win. Whatever you need to do to get your praying done each day – do it!! Fight for that time and “get ‘er done!” You’ll put a smile on God’s face and make the devil mad…what better way to spend your day!
An old man of God once said, “If you don’t pray, you’ll rob yourself of God’s help.”
Take time to pray, my friends.
I very much enjoyed reading your post today Mitzi!
You are certainly not alone in your battle with distractions! It is absolutely amazing what the enemy can you use against you!
Would you believe that even your prayer closet can be used against you like……
That quiet place where you are in a room all by yourself and the time of day that you can get alone with God, and this is where and when I can pray most effectively!
This can be & is absolutely wonderful if it works out that way every day! However it becomes a mindset to me & if by happenstance I am in another place at that particular time of day,
I find it very difficult to pray & feel His presence. It’s almost like Moses going to another mountain to talk to God instead of Mount Sinai! I recognize of course,that this is the enemy & and he will resort to any means to keep us from prayer.
I don’t know if anyone else has this kind of complicated thought process but it certainly is a detriment to me!
Glad you’re enjoying the blog Joan!