Further Thoughts on Prayer by Puritan Thomas Manton

O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.   Psalm 5:3

How shall we remedy our wandering thoughts in prayer?  (1.)  We must wait upon him for the power of his grace.  As long as his love and grace are powerful in us, we are kept in a lively, heavenly frame.  As this abates, the soul swerves, and returns to vanity and sin.  (2.)  Meditate upon the greatness of God.  It is of great consequence with whom we are dealing.  O if you could see him that is invisible, you would have more reverence!  Imagine yourself in heaven in the midst of the blessed angels standing before the all-seeing God.  O with what reverence, with what fear, should a poor worm creep into his presence!  (3.)  Seek to mortify the lusts that are apt to draw away your minds.  What thoughts are we pestered with when we come to God?  One vile affection will hinder our praying.  (4.)  Prepare for prayer.  Take note of the impediments that distract you, and put off carnal distractions.  Resolve to shut your heart against God’s enemy and direct it only to God.  (5.)  Focus on our purpose.  Watch against the first temptation to divert our attention no matter how reasonable it seems.  The devil’s policy is to cheat us of the present duty by an unseasonable distraction.  He does not begin by casting in a thought of blasphemy; that would make us quake and shake.  He begins with reasonable thoughts.  Be careful to avoid them.  Do not even dispute with the diversion, but despise it.  (6.)  Develop spiritual affections and you will find it more delightful to converse with God.  Is there any better company than God’s when we seek our soul’s good?  (7.)  Consider the weight of responsibility.  Are we not dealing with life and death issues?  (8.)  Promote solemn meditation in the things of God.  As a man entertains truth in his heart, he will be ready in word and affection to avoid so frequent distractions.

Read more: http://creationrevolution.com/2012/07/daily-devotional-o-lord-in-the-morning-you-hear-my-voice/#ixzz2VFciCgw5

Some Thoughts on Prayer by Puritan Thomas Manton

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving   Colossians 4:2

Distractions of thought haunt us in prayer.  We are set to seek God, but it is impossible to shut the windows to keep out all of the wind.  If distractions are resisted, God will gather up the broken fragments of our prayers and mercy and answer us.  Our thoughts stray in and out like a spaniel that runs up and down, and then returns to his master.  What causes these vain thoughts in our prayers? (1.)  Satan is at our right hand ready to resist us in prayer.  He will be sure to disturb us, seeking to take the edge off our affections, or to divert our mind.  He is afraid of prayer, and seeks to cheat us of our prayers.  We need to stand guard.  (2.)  We are restless creatures.  It is difficult for all of us to concentrate on one object for any length of tie.  We are tossed up and down like a dried leaf before the wind.  He is a stranger to God and his own heart who does not find it so daily.  (3.)  We are distracted by practical atheism.  We have little sense of the unseen world of spirits.  Things we see have a greater force upon us than the true God who is Spirit and invisible power.  He is far off from our sight and apprehension.  (4.)  Lust rooted in us will also distract us when we go about any duty.  The covetous man about the world, the fleshly about his pleasures, and the ambitious about his honours, will surely draw away our attention.  (5.)  Fancy and curiosity offered us by the senses or memory, will be an occasion for diversion.  (6.)  Sharp worries will hinder our faith and draw away our attention from prayer.  We must be like priests, who went on with their sacrifices as the roman troops broke into Jerusalem.  All others fled this way and that, but the priests, as if they heard nothing, continued preferring their duty before safety as Rome rushed in on them with their swords.

Read more: http://creationrevolution.com/2012/07/daily-devotional-continue-steadfastly-in-prayer-being-watchful-in-it-with-thanksgiving/#ixzz2VFblxjCP