I love the raw honesty in the comments on these prayer posts. I am so thankful for the transparency and community here at The Grit. Thank you for sharing your hearts in this space. I want to pass along some things that help my prone-to-wander heart stay connected with God in prayer. Not as a formula or because I think these are the best or only ways to do it. But because maybe they will spur on ideas that work for you personally.

: : :

I create prayer prompts for myself. I'm visual, so it helps me when I connect things I want to pray for with specific objects or even places. Then those serve as triggers, prompting me to pray whenever I see them. For instance...

My pillow is a reminder, when I lay my head on it at night, to pray for my mind, thoughts, dreams, and sleep.
Putting my hands on the steering wheel when I get in the car reminds me to acknowledge that God is in control and not me.
Y'all know I like me some Starbucks --- It's comfort in a cup for me. So I've made Starbucks to-go cups a prompt to thank Him for the peace, security, and belonging I have in Him.

Short arrow-like prayers invite the Lord right into the moment with me. I love Nehemiah's example of this: "The king said to me, 'What is it you want?' Then I prayed to the God of heaven, and I answered the king..." Mid-conversation, before he even responded to the question, Nehemiah shot up a prayer. I try to be intentional to do the same, shooting up quick prayers for help and wisdom, to thank Him, or just to point out something that I love...

I keep pen and paper nearby. Scribbling down the random things and to-do lists I think of makes it easier to keep my mind fixed on talking to God.

Some of my best prayers are prayed in bed at night. I usually struggle to fall asleep, because my brain lacks an OFF switch. Quieting my heart to pray is a good way for me to turn late-night concerns right into conversations with God... even if I do fall asleep mid-prayer.

I use post-it notes. Lots of them. I write down things I want to pray for, and stick them where they'll be visible. I have Fuzzy Brain Syndrome, and will simply forget without reminders like this.

I don't often tell someone I'll pray for them. Because I know full-well how quickly my good intentions get away from me. When I do say I'll pray, I stop right then and do it.

Often when I'm driving alone, I pray out loud in the car. I tend to spiderweb less when I'm praying out loud.

When I really need to hash through something with God, I journal my prayer. Writing out my conversation with Him helps keep me focused, and seems to make it easier for me to listen for His response.

I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit intercedes for me. When I don't know what or how to pray (which is pretty often), I often just whisper: I have no words right now. Holy Spirit, I need You to pray for me because I simply can't...

: : :

"Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love; Here’s my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above."

-from the hymn Come Thou Fount

What are some things that help you pray?