Thoughts during prayer - please advise

[Katchit]

Hello all.

This is a really helpful forum and i wondered if someone would be able to help please.

Is it normal / usual to get intrusive thoughts during prayer? When i prayer i try to visualise Jesus on the cross, or look a picture of Jesus on the cross, to help me concentrate, but some times, my thoughts wander to thoughts / images that i don't want during prayer.

I hope this isn't a sin to have these thoughts during prayer? I really try hard to keep my mind and thoughts focused on Jesus.

Another thing, is it normal for Christians to worry during prayer that their prayers aren't going towards God? or is that my OCD taking over?

Many thanks!

God bless you all.

 

[babegirl111]

I feel like you are talking about me lol. You experience the exact same things I experience during prayer. I have to stop my prayer sometimes to just shake the thoughts away and start again and I do sometimes think that my prayers are not getting heard. Its so frustrating. But I know GOD understands and he sees what we are experiencing. He hears our prayers and he knows we dont want these thoughts!! So that keeps me positive about everything.

 

[Katchit]

Thank you for your reply!

I know God understands, and knows me better than i know myself, i just struggle with anxiety so much that it is difficult for me to walk in faith and not by my own feelings!

 

[hollyda]

Try really, really hard not to think about ice-skating polar bears. Do ANYTHING to not think of ice-skating polar bears. Let me know how that works.

Much of OCD is actively trying to keep oneself from engaging in unwanted thoughts, be it ice-skating polar bears or unwanted thoughts during prayer. You have no control over what pops in your head, and by trying very hard to focus on one thing, your focus is actually now on keeping yourself focused. Does that make sense? By doing your best not to distract yourself during prayer, you're now thinking about your thoughts.

Don't try to fight whatever comes into your mind during these times. It sounds like prayer is a trigger for you, but that means you should pray often and don't try to focus on pictures or anything else. If your mind wanders, it wanders. A compassionate deity won't blame you for something you can't control. It's like blaming you for having brown eyes. You didn't ask for your eye color, and you certainly didn't ask for OCD. You just have to play the hand you're dealt.

 

[Katchit]

Thank you hollyda.

I know what you mean about trying hard to get rid of a thought.

However, isn't it a sin to dwell on worries, intrusive thoughts?

 

[hollyda]

Thank you hollyda.

I know what you mean about trying hard to get rid of a thought.

However, isn't it a sin to dwell on worries, intrusive thoughts?

You have to differentiate this from a spiritual issue. OCD is a medical issue. One way or another, you're going to be thinking about the thoughts. Trying not to think about something doesn't make it any less in your head. The difference is by not fighting them, you're fighting your disease. By encouraging them, you're working on getting rid of them.

So you can either keep fighting them, and have them with you for a long time. Or you can face your fear, let the thoughts be, and eventually they'll fade on their own as your exposure increases.

 

[Katchit]

Thank you hollyda.

I understand what you are saying! Thank you for your replies and it's great to see you doing so well with OCD. God bless.