Chapter 40

Remember God

Suppose you came to an important person to ask something, and instead of making your request you walked through the rooms, looked at the walls, gazed out the windows, and so on. What would that person do, seeing you act this way? He would call a servant and order you to be shown out without honor. Exactly the same thing we do when we come to church for prayer and then dream about irrelevant things. Apply this to yourself: will you say it is nothing when you remember that you daydreamed almost the whole service? Do not oppose the thought; let it trouble you. Rather, strive with all your might to focus your attention so it does not wander from prayer and the service. And pray to the Lord for this, asking Him to help you.

For the mind not to wander during prayer, you must strive always to remember God: in work and in walking, at home and away, alone and with others. When you do this, you will maintain your focus on what is being done during prayer. Remember God and revere as you rise toward Him.

(Letter 1442, vol. 8, p. 172–173)