Whether it is true or not, women seem to be known for their ability to multitask. Sometimes I feel like my name should be Andrea Multitasker Daggett whose name could also be Andrea a woman with many hats Daggett.
Multitasking can be great, but it is not great when it comes to being still, silencing my mind, and making a one on one connection with God in prayer. Many years ago, a friend confided in me that she was struggling in her prayer life. She shared she was distracted when she began to pray and instead began to think about her to do list. I too had the same problem especially when my kids were little, and it seemed I had a million and one things to do. I suggested she start to pray out loud.
Here is an example of a distracted prayer.
How is it that I start out talking to a righteous God and end up thinking about a wretched toilet. It is crazy really.
When you do your prayer time out loud, it forces you to keep your mind focused on what you are saying. When there is a lull in the conversation, you know it. Your mind cannot wander onto pointless subjects when you are talking out loud.
The older woman in the movie War Room was such an inspiration in the part she played when she prayed out loud. I believe words have the power to tear down or to build up. God spoke words and created the world. Praying God’s word can be a powerful experience too like a praying a Psalm, for example. I think this is also a great tactic for people who are fearful to pray in groups. If you start doing this when you are alone, it can seem normal and easy when you are in a group.
I want to have a powerful prayer life. I want to be like that woman in the War Room. I wanted to jump up in the theater when she started praying, “Raise ’em up, Lord”. That lady was something else. I want that! It was such a great reminder that praying out loud can be a truly powerful experience.