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This translates into a horrible habit of being in the presence of people without being fully present. I often meet people at a bagel shop close to our church. As you approach the front of the line to order, there is a plain white sign taped to the counter that says, "Please get off your cell phone before ordering." They're asking people to give them the courtesy of being fully present for 30 seconds while ordering. Being present with others is a basic human courtesy, even if our culture has overstimulated us into forgetting that.

When we don't give people our full attention, we can't truly engage them. We cannot see the pain or joy in their eyes, hear the tremble in their voice, or even remember what they said. Presence is essential in relationships, not just with other people, but with God. If we want to hear him, to be moved by the weight of our petitions, or to be awed by the privilege we have of approaching our Father, we have to be there—heart, mind, and soul.

There is no shortcut to being fully present in prayer; it is a discipline. As we begin to pray and our mind wanders, we must force ourselves to come back. One method I have found helpful is to choose a single phrase that can draw my mind back to God. Something like, "In everything your attitude should be like that of Christ Jesus," or "God is merciful." Then when my mind tries to distract me from being in the presence of God, I have something I can use to coax it back.

Training our mind to focus and stay present with God is a process; it takes time and perseverance. But it is time well spent. My grandpa approached all prayer as more than a formality. He often wept because he was completely present. Being fully present in prayer increases the depth and joy of our prayer lives and allows us to enter the presence of God with awe and excitement.

Trevor lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife Michelle and two children, Isaiah and Ayla. He is the Pastor of Young Adult Ministries at Southern Gables Church in Littleton.

More Bible Study Helps

1 & 2 Chronicles: Passion & Prayer How can we develop a passionate love for God? The Books of 1 & 2 Chronicles may seem like an unlikely place for the answer, but a close look at these two books unveils a wealth of information that can change our lives. This six-session course looks at how we can live up to our potential, experience God's presence, learn to listen to and talk to God, and help the children of today be the leaders of tomorrow. Read more.

Teaching a Church to Pray Steps to vital, life-giving times of group prayer. by Daniel Henderson Discover the four lessons that need to be taught once you gather your prayer warriors: attributes of a prayer leader, vision for your corporate prayer, practical dynamics of prayer meetings, and principles for managing prayer meetings. Read more.

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