Anything becomes more powerful as you focus it. Prayer is no exception. If you want to boost the power level of your prayers, you’ve got to focus them. Jesus taught about the power of focused prayer when He said…
But when you pray, go into your [most] private room, and, closing the door, pray to your Father, Who is in secret; and your Father, Who sees in secret, will reward you in the open. Matthew 6:6 (Amp)
The three essentials to more powerful, more focused prayer are…
1. A Private Place
Focused prayer doesn’t just happen. Jesus said “Go into your most private room…” He said that we’ve got to take action. We’ve got to be deliberate about it. We must be intentional. This isn’t just going to spring up by itself. It must be cultivated.
You and I have to have a private place designated. It doesn’t have to be anything special but it does have to be set apart. You’ve got to set a time and a place. You’ve got to decide this is when and where I plan on meeting with God for a time of focused prayer.
2. A Shut Door
You’ve got to shut the door on distractions and intruders. Things are constantly battling for your attention. You’ve got to arrest those things both internally and externally if you’re going to experience the power of focused prayer.
The truth is that you can’t surf the net and focus on prayer at the same time. You can play with your cell phone and truly commit to prayer while doing it. Focused prayer requires undivided attention.
Now, the Bible also speaks of “praying without ceasing” and that is certainly important. Most people don’t do that enough and it’s a valid type of pray that we should all incorporate into our lives but it’s different from this focused prayer we’re talking about.
Focused pray requires a commitment to push distractions aside.
3. A Secret Prayer
Jesus said that your Heavenly Father “is in secret” and “sees in secret.” He’s there with you in your private place. He’s there so that you can share a secret with Him. There’s something very powerful to sharing a secret with God. He wants you to come to Him and share everything that’s on your heart. Share it as if you were sharing with the most trusted friend you could ever imagine.
People are honored when you trust them enough to share a personal secret with them. God is too. He wants you to open your heart and share it all with Him. Focused pray is also being intentional about being as open and honest with God as possible. The more open you are the powerful the prayer becomes both in the private room and outside of it.
Why not experience some the power of focused prayer right now? Shut everything down. Go into a private place. Tune everything else out and share your thoughts, hopes and fears with your Father. He’s waiting for you there and He’s ready to listen.