--- title: 10 Ways to Fight Distraction in Prayer description: To let worldly things intrude on God time, robs us of the graces we could be receiving. --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/05/08/10-ways-fight-distraction-prayer#) # 10 Ways to Fight Distraction in Prayer May 8, 2017 7:00:46 AM  |  by [Patti Maguire Armstrong](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patti-maguire-armstrong) [!["10 ways to fight distraction in prayer" by Patti Maguire Armstrong (CatholicMom.com)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/distraction-in-prayer.jpg?width=800&height=534&name=distraction-in-prayer.jpg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/distraction-in-prayer.jpg) Via [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/photo-1868772/) (2016), CC0 Public Domain “A hungry man does not have to be reminded to eat.” Those were the words of my pastor after I confessed that I often allow myself to be distracted. “If you hunger for God more, you will be distracted less,” he said. We are humans not robots, so complete mental focus is not ours to be had, but sitting in Mass or to set aside time for prayer and adoration and going over a to-do list instead of receiving all that God has to give is devaluing our time. “It’s pride,” my pastor said. “Because rather than soaking in all that God has to give you, you are focused on yourself.” That sounds harsh, but I know it is true. To let worldly things intrude on God time robs us of the graces we could be receiving.  And if we are not paying attention to our own prayers, we can't expect God to. For inspiration, to do better, I read ***[Thirsting for Prayer](http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1594172080/catholicmom)*** by Jacques Philippe, author and retreat master. “What the world most needs today is prayer,” according to Fr. Philippe. “Faithfulness to prayer is a path of freedom.” I also read what St. Teresa of Avila has to say about prayer and focus. Below is a list based on some of their advice on focusing on God and minimizing distractions. [tweet "10 ways to combat distraction in #prayer by @pattiarmstrong"] 1) Ask God for help. 2) Ask the saints for help. Their love of God helped them to focus intensely. Some even levitated during prayer. The saints were often so absorbed by their union with God, that they were not aware of what was going on around them. 3) Accept but don’t welcome distractions. 4) Refocus. 5) Be humble. You can’t control everything. Even the doctor of the Church and mystic St. Teresa of Avila was plagued with distraction and wrote about it. 6) Have faith in God’s presence. Meditate on God truly being right there with you. 7) Have faith that God gives you the grace you need to focus without expecting perfection. 8) Persevere. “Humble people persevere in the life of prayer without presumption and without relying on themselves,” - Fr. Phillipe. 9) Expect improvement, not perfection. 10)Hunger for God. Desire God more and the distractions will be less. > Let nothing disturb you, > Let nothing frighten you, > All things are passing away: > God never changes. > Patience obtains all things > Whoever has God lacks nothing; > God alone suffices. *- St. Teresa of Avila* *Copyright 2017 Patti Maguire Armstrong* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2F10-ways-fight-distraction-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2F10-ways-fight-distraction-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2F10-ways-fight-distraction-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=10%20Ways%20to%20Fight%20Distraction%20in%20Prayer) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2F10-ways-fight-distraction-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2017%2F05%2F08%2F10-ways-fight-distraction-prayer%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Patti Maguire Armstrong](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/PATTI%20MAGUIRE%20ARMSTRONG.jpeg) ### [Patti Maguire Armstrong](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/patti-maguire-armstrong) [Patti Maguire Armstrong](https://www.ncregister.com/author/patti-maguire-armstrong) is an award-winning journalist and author, managing editor and co-author of bestselling  [Amazing Grace Series](https://ascensionpress.com/pages/amazing-grace). Her latest books are [Dear God, I Don't Get It](https://holyheroes.com/products/dear-god-i-dont-get-it),  [Dear God, You Can't Be Serious!](https://holyheroes.com/products/dear-god-you-cant-be-serious),  [What Would Monica Do?](https://ascensionpress.com/products/what-would-monica-do), and  [Holy Hacks](https://www.avemariapress.com/products/holy-hacks). Patti worked in social work and public administration before freelance writing while she and Mark raised their 10 children. Twitter:  [@PattiArmstrong](https://twitter.com/PattiArmstrong); blogs at  [PattiMaguireArmstrong.com](http://www.pattimaguirearmstrong.com/)  [**](https://twitter.com/PattiArmstrong) ## Related Blog Articles [ Christian Response to Evil Display Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2014/12/22/christian-response-to-evil-display) [ The F-Factor: Freedom or Fool Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2013/12/23/the-f-factor-freedom-or-fool) [ How to Pray Like Jesus Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2012/08/03/how-to-pray-like-jesus) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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