| I know prayer is important. Unfortunately, when I bow my head to talk to God, my mind wanders like a feral cat. Here’s a sample of my interior monologue when I try to pray: Dear Lord, thank you for this day … this day … man, I’m dreading that 10 a.m. call. Maybe I can reschedule. Speaking of the schedule, are we visiting my parents this weekend? No, that’s next weekend. Oh right, praying. Lord, I pray for my kids. I thank you for them. Please protect them and … my son’s been so stubborn lately. Is it just a phase? Maybe I’m too soft on him. Right, right praying. God, I pray for the missionaries our church sends out. I pray for that family in India … I wonder if I could live in India. I love Indian food. You get the idea. I have a hard time staying focused when I pray. I thought of my struggle when I read How to Pray with ADHD. I don’t even have ADHD (or at least I don’t think I do) but I understand the struggle of trying—and failing—to engage in prayer without getting distracted. If you’re like me, you’ll find it eases your guilt and highlights ways of communing with God that might be more fruitful for the neurodivergent. Another challenge when it comes to prayer is praying in front of people. Yes, you’re praying to God, but hopefully in a way that invites others in as well. Leading a Group in Prayer is a 23-page collection of articles designed to help anyone who ever facilitates a time of group prayer--for three people or 100. Glean valuable insights for helping everyone participate, in a way that is genuine, edifying, and God-honoring. |
