How to Push Past the Bully of Distractions

I didn’t need an alarm. The howling wind outside made the early morning hours difficult to sleep. Throwing back the sheets, I begrudgingly rolled out of bed. 

My morning routine felt as chaotic as the winds outside. Even my quiet time was harried. The demands on my calendar vied for my attention, and the weight of responsibilities taunted me like a schoolyard bully hiding in the shadows. 

I confess I let the flurry of distractions rob me of honoring the open invitation to acknowledge and revere the Creator of all living things—the Savior of my very soul. 

Although my routine boxes were checked, I failed to do little more with my prayer time than perform a religious ritual devoid of any conviction, compassion, care, or confidence.

As a follower of Christ, shouldn’t I learn from Jesus’ actions? Throughout the four gospel accounts, we often see Jesus preaching and performing miracles. Then, unexpectedly, He wanders off into the desert to pray—sometimes for days.

But what about my responsibilities? Family, church, ministry, occupation, appointments, investments, and so on. 

Given the example of Jesus, shouldn’t I also step away from distractions? 

Shouldn’t I intentionally choose to pray? To seek the face of God? To be transformed by His Presence? To intercede on behalf of others? To worship Him “in the light of His glory and grace”?

Recently, I attended a conference where I met a host of individuals from across the globe who share the gospel with children. Among them was Brother Z. He’s been disowned by his family, arrested, beaten by police and soldiers, and left for dead numerous times resulting in a continuing traumatic brain injury. Yet, his joyful focus was to return to his homeland and continue sharing the gospel in his Muslim country.

I also met a woman named Rami whose home was burned to the ground just a week before the conference. She was saddened but emboldened to get back to her mission and continue with confidence.

Many others were in attendance whose countries oppose the Christian faith and therefore face unimaginable persecution. I was humbled and challenged by their faithful commitment under such scrutiny and dire circumstances. 

While we celebrate incredible life-transformations happening in America, there are sadly far less results here comparable to the number of souls dynamically and miraculously transformed within these depressed countries around the world. 

We have more opportunities and physical resources than most other countries, yet we lack the one undeniable resource that these brothers and sisters note as the reason for the outcome of their bountiful mission: a reliance on God through prayers of desperation. 

Perhaps you already pray by faith in desperation for your own soul and the souls of others like the prophet Jeremiah who was called the “weeping prophet”. 

I, however, am humbled, convicted, and challenged, not because I don’t pray — I do — but because I have fallen short of becoming desperate in prayer like the Christians I met from across the globe. 

Prayers of desperation help to realign my thoughts to see myself, children, and others in the way God does, as harassed and helpless, "like sheep without a shepherd"  as it says in Matthew 9:36.

As the prophet Samuel spoke before the people, he also challenges me to utter, "far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you" (1 Samuel 12:23 ESV).

Recognizing the critical, spiritual needs of ourselves and others within our community, should move us to cry out with desperate prayers in faith. 

Our pleas before the Good Shepherd, combined with the abundance of opportunities and resources He’s provided, empowers us to do His will on earth as it is
in Heaven.

It’s time to push past the bully of distractions and quietly wander off to pray with purpose. 

Like Jesus, let’s find a place where the Father can refresh our spirits and replenish our strength to continue the mission He’s called us to.