Keeping the Focus
By focusing on God and taking captive our wandering thoughts, we can use every thought as a prayer and draw closer to Him.
Mary Wilder Tileston, in her sermon, emphasizes the importance of fixing our eyes on God to combat wandering thoughts during prayer. By focusing on God, every thought can be transformed into a prayer, allowing us to maintain reverence and connection with the Divine. She encourages the practice of capturing stray thoughts during prayer, bringing them before God, and incorporating them into our conversations with Him, ultimately leading these thoughts into captivity to the obedience of Christ.
Text
Bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
--2 CORINTHIANS 10:5
"I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills." The vision of God unseals the lips of man. Herein lies strength for conflict with the common enemy of the praying world known as wandering thoughts. If the eye is fixed on God, thought may roam where it will without irreverence, for every thought is then converted into a prayer.
Some have found it a useful thing when their minds have wandered off from devotion and been snared by some good but irrelevant consideration, not to cast away the offending thought as the eyes are again lifted to the Divine Face, but to take it captive, carry it into the presence of God and weave it into a prayer before putting it aside and resuming the original topic. This is to lead captivity captive.
--CHARLES H. BRENT
Each wish to pray is a breath from heaven, to strengthen and refresh us; each act of faith, done to amend our prayers, is wrought in us by Him, and draws us to Him, and His gracious look on us. Neglect nothing which can produce reverence.
--EDWARD B. PUSEY
Sermon Outline
- The Importance of Focus in Prayer
- Capturing Wandering Thoughts
- The Power of Prayer and Faith
- Each wish to pray is a breath from heaven
- Each act of faith draws us to God
Key Quotes
“I WILL lift up mine eyes unto the hills.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Each wish to pray is a breath from heaven, to strengthen and refresh us;” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Each act of faith, done to amend our prayers, is wrought in us by Him, and draws us to Him, and His gracious look on us.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- Make a conscious effort to focus on God during prayer, lifting your eyes to Him and taking captive any wandering thoughts.
- Use every thought as a prayer, weaving it into a prayer before putting it aside.
- Cultivate faith and reverence in your prayers, trusting that each act of faith draws you closer to God.