When Distractions Don't Win

Margaret Dwyer Hogan shares a powerful strategy for battling distractions in prayer.

It was a beautiful Tuesday morning in Massachusetts, an uncharacteristically warm day in early March so I decided to take a walk and pray my morning Rosary. As it was a Tuesday, I prayed the Sorrowful Mysteries.

I began in earnest but soon found my mind wandering to things other than the Lord’s Passion. I brought my attention back to the third and fourth Sorrowful Mysteries, but once I started contemplating the Crucifixion, it was full spiritual warfare.

Battling Distractions in Prayer

First it was thinking about one of my kids, then it was about a random issue at work. STOP. I told myself. REFOCUS. I started the decade again, this time a whopper “You are a failure, Margaret, you can’t even do this right.” That was it. I was SO mad!

I was ASHAMED that there I was, contemplating Jesus dying on the cross, and still I couldn’t quiet my mind. Then I turned my gaze to Him, visualizing Him — on the Cross. I remembered a prayer my first spiritual advisor taught me years ago, “In the name of Jesus Christ, I command any evil spirits in and around me to go to the nearest tabernacle to be disposed of as my Lord Jesus Christ sees fit.” Immediately, I felt a sense of peace. I finished my Rosary.

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Satan Wins When We Don't Believe in Him

At our parish last Sunday, our priest preached on the real presence of Evil in our world. Satan wins when we don’t believe in him.

If you experience distractions during prayer, consider that what you are working on might be something that will bring others to Christ. By choosing to work in ministry, we are hated by the enemy, who will go to great lengths to distract us and plant thoughts that we are unworthy. He is the father of lies.

Take a deep breath. Center yourself with your eyes on the Cross.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Philippians 4:13)

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Remember, God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. In the end, we can look to the Easter story! Jesus always wins! We just have to invite Him into the battle.

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