Dear Church,
When your mind wanders while praying, it wanders to a burden.
The first seminary class I ever taught was after I graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. It was the spring of 1977, and my theology professor, Tom Finger, asked me: “What class do you think we need in our theology department?”
“We need a class on prayer,” I responded.
Tom said: “I want you to teach it.”
I did.
Since then, I have taught on prayer in several seminaries, pastors’ retreats, and seminars and church conferences, in the U.S. and around the world. My estimate is that between four and five thousand pastors and Christian leaders have taken my courses on praying and spiritual formation.
When I teach, I assign my students to pray. I ask them to keep a spiritual journal. “When God speaks to you,” I instruct, “write it down in your journal.”
A common concern is this. Students will write me, asking, “I am taking time to pray. But sometimes my mind wanders so much, that I cannot focus on praying. What can be done about this?” Here is what I tell them.
When your mind wanders while you are praying, it always wanders to something like a burden. Identify the burden. Then, employ 1 Peter 5:7, which counsels, “Cast your burdens on him, for He cares for you.”
Note this: the less you spend time praying, the more will burdens accumulate, unaddressed, in your heart.
A burden-free heart is in direct proportion to your praying life.
One more thing. When your mind wanders to a burden, about a person or a situation, this can be the Holy Spirit leading you to pray towards that event, and for that person.
My dear friends, do not focus on your burdens, but on making times to get in God’s presence and pray, and experience an unburdened life.
Love,
PJ
JOURNAL
Write down where your mind wanders to.
From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.
