Okay, let’s be real for a second.
Have you ever sat down to pray and your mind just… went everywhere but there? Like, one second you’re trying to thank God for your blessings, and the next you’re thinking about whether you remembered to switch the laundry, or what you’re making for dinner, or that random embarrassing thing you said in 7th grade?
Yeah. Me too.
Honestly, I feel like I’m like that All. The. Time. I’ll try to pray in the car, but my brain’s like, “Oh hey—did you pay that bill?” Or I’ll sit down in the morning, determined to start my day with Jesus… and then I either wake up later than planned (because I was up all night off and on… again), or my mind is running 100mph with all the things I “have to” get done.
And I keep wondering—is that the problem? Am I treating prayer like another thing to check off my to-do list?
You know:
☐ Workout
☐ Answer emails
☐ Pray
☐ Buy dog food
No wonder it feels rushed or scattered sometimes.
Maybe the shift needs to be this: make prayer the priority, not a priority. Like, the first thing—not just “if there’s time.” Maybe even write it at the top of the to-do list in ALL CAPS, underlined three times.
But then comes the other struggle: keeping my prayers coherent.
Sometimes I surprise myself. The words tumble out, and I feel connected, focused, even a little poetic. But other times? It’s like my thoughts are scrambled eggs. I think, God knows everything, right? So do I really need to say it all out loud? Or turn it into this polished, church-perfect prayer?
After all—He already knows what I need, what’s on my heart, what I’m trying to say.
But then I remember this:
“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NIV)
And it hits me — He’s not looking for perfect words. He’s looking for an open heart.
Lately, I’ve found that what’s working for me is a prayer journal. Right now, I’m using the Prayerful Journal by Prayerful Planner, and it’s been a game changer. I just… write. Whatever comes to mind. No overthinking. It’s messy and raw and real. Sometimes it’s deep; sometimes it’s as simple as “Lord, I need You today. Help me not lose my cool.”
I love how the journal is set up—it has a section for praise, rejoice, affirmation, and yield in the morning. And at night, there’s reflection, forgiveness, uplift, and lesson sections. Plus, a space for morning and evening prayers. I usually pull a verse from my Bible app and let that guide my prayer. Writing it down keeps me focused in a way that speaking sometimes doesn’t.
I’ve also been experimenting with a prayer board, trying to read through my Bible, and even jotting down my dreams each morning (because hey—maybe God does speak to us through dreams, but that’s a story for another blog).
Here’s the big thing I’m learning: I’m far from perfect. I’m still figuring it out, and honestly? That’s okay.
There’s no perfect formula. No “right” way to do it. What matters is that we keep showing up. That we’re worshipping Him daily, pouring out what’s on our hearts, asking forgiveness, thanking Him for His love, and praying for others.
That’s the good stuff.
I’m still a newbie at carving out intentional prayer time each day, but I’m committed to doing my best. And if you’re in that same place—feeling distracted, disorganized, unsure—just know you’re not alone.
Let’s give ourselves grace. Let’s keep trying. And let’s remember: even our messy, distracted prayers are beautiful to Him.
A Little Prayer for You
Lord, thank You that You don’t require perfect words—just an open heart. Help me to keep showing up, even when I feel distracted or unworthy. Teach me to quiet my mind, to seek You first, and to trust that You hear even the simplest cries of my heart. Draw me closer to You every day. Amen.