“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But as for you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:5-6, New American Standard Bible).

I begin this article with a confession. Although I prioritize prayer in my schedule, I do not always have the most ideal setup. I usually pray at my desk—where I work full-time and write this blog, among other things—reading the Scriptures on Bible Gateway and the Book of Common Prayer online. Admittedly, I can be easily distracted with this setup.

Around 15 years ago, I stumbled into an ideal arrangement for personal prayer. When my son got married, I converted his bedroom into a prayer and reading room. I could bring a Bible, my prayer list, and a prayer book, close the door, and spend undistracted time with the Lord. However, since moving to our current apartment four years ago, my wife and I do not have a spare room to set aside like that. Perhaps a goal for 2024 would be to return to using a printed hardcopy Bible instead of a computer or phone app that is likely to ping forth a barrage of notifications and alarms while I am trying to give the Lord my full attention.

Jesus did not mention the dangers of technology in prayer. His audience had limited devotional technology; the synagogue had the Scriptures on scrolls, but that was it. For them, the greatest distraction would be other people, and the greatest temptation was to try to look like they were holier than everybody else. This is why Jesus told His disciples to pray in their “inner room” (some translations say “closet”). Prayer should be how we connect with our heavenly Father, not how we try to look good to others.

In 2023, though, we face new challenges Jesus’ disciples did not worry about. Many of us read our Bibles on digital devices: cell phones, tablets, laptop computers, etc. Although this brings some benefits, it adds the problem of distractions. Also, most people do not read digital devices as intently as we read printed books and Bibles. We have grown so accustomed to skimming websites that we apply that approach to everything we read online, instead of intently reading a passage word-for-word.

With this in mind, a goal I am setting for 2024 is to get into a habit of reading the Bible and praying non-digitally. If you are struggling with digital prayer like I do, I invite you to join me in this journey:

• Find a room or part of a room where you can get alone for prayer. In my case, I will probably have to switch between a corner of my living room or a chair in my bedroom, depending on what my wife is doing at that time.
• If you have a spare room in your house or apartment, set it aside as a holy place, which you use exclusively for prayer, devotional reading, and praise and worship.
• Find a “thin space” for occasional outdoor prayer, reflection, meditation, or reading. There is a church near my house where one can pray or reflect near some outdoor statues of the Holy Family. A nearby park has also worked for me in previous years. When I lived in my hometown growing up, I could occasionally connect with God and His creation by sitting on the boardwalk admiring the beach and ocean. (However, there are extra distractions on the beach during the summer that will not make this an ideal prayer location during that time of year.) Do you have outdoor venues near your home where you can spend time connecting with the Lord?

Wherever and however you pray, always make certain your primary goals are to be seen and heard by God and to encounter Him, hear His voice through the Bible and His Holy Spirit, and cast your burdens, fears, anxieties, and stressors before Him.

Lord God, You invite us to cast all of our cares upon You because You care for us. Show us how to seek You, hear Your voice, and draw closer to You. Show us how to silence the distractions that draw us away from spiritual intimacy with You. Draw us more closely to Yourself. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Have you found ways to reduce distractions or otherwise improve your time praying to the Lord? Share your experiences and suggestions in the comments below.

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.