My focus is waning. I’m Zoomed out and zoned out.

I don’t want to be but there you have it.

I’ve been zoned out of my prayer time too.  Maybe you’ve had these same thoughts:

What was I praying?
God are you there?
What are we having for dinner tonight?
Oh wow, how long have I been napping?

I’ve zoned out due to busyness, unanswered prayer, sheer exhaustion, and dare I say even boredom.

When we zone out, we can look to Jesus and the scriptures for inspiration. Consider these ten reasons to stay zoned into prayer.

1. We need Jesus now more than ever. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 ESV). Are you brokenhearted? The Lord is near. Do you feel crushed under the weight of today’s worries? Jesus will tenderly hold you until you catch your breath.
2. Prayer is about a relationship. In his book, Prayer, Richard J. Foster shares: “He (Jesus) aches over our distance and preoccupation. He mourns that we do not draw near to him. He grieves that we have forgotten him. He weeps over our obsession with muchness and manyness. He longs for our presence.” Prayer nurtures this relationship.
3. Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever (Hebrews 13:8). Is it not refreshing to believe and pray to someone who never changes in this every-changing season? He is still sovereign. Still our peace. Still our hope.
4. We draw from His strength. Did you know even when we are weak, he is strong? His power is displayed in our weakness. We have this treasure—his extraordinary power—in us (2 Corinthians 4:7).
5. God delights in you. The psalmist declares, “The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in his unfailing love” (Psalm 147:11 NIV). Let this truth trickle through you and in you.
6. He wants to mature and perfect us during this trial. Oh, this one hits close to home. We were never meant to avoid trials or work around them but to go through them. When we go through the trial, we will grow in maturity and completeness (James 1:4). I know, easier said than done. But if I know there is purpose in my pain, I’m more likely to prayerfully persevere through the trial.
7. Prayer fills us emotionally. In his book Mere Christianity, C. S. Lewis writes, “Now God designed the human machine to run on Himself. He Himself is the fuel our spirits were designed to burn or the food our spirits were designed to feed on. There is no other.”
8. God gives us wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him” (James 1:5 ESV).
9. Gratefulness displaces hopelessness. When we remember to thank God, his light sweeps away the darkness.
10. Others need our prayers. The church, our black brothers and sisters in Christ, our pastors, our neighbors, our family members, our spouse, missionaries, our children, and our community need our prayers.

And here’s a bonus for you: God still answers prayer. 

Can you think of another reason to keep praying? Share in the comments below.