Faith Over Chaos

Well, this might get messy—but come with me on a walk through prayer in my head. Buckle up, it’s a ride.

“Good morning, God. (Wait—creamer crisis. I’m here, just slightly under-caffeinated.)

Lord, I praise You for all You do—for giving us Your Son, for blessing my life beyond measure. You are worthy of all praise. Hallowed be Your name.

I lift my husband up to You. (Is he working today or off? If he’s off, I’m definitely asking him to clean that one drawer.) I pray for his relationship with our oldest son.

Thank You, God, for our children and grandchildren. (Hmm, we still need to figure out Christmas gifts. Amazon cart, here we come.)”

You get the drift. My mind wanders—south when I’m trying to head north. I constantly have to reel it back in like a toddler with a sugar rush. That’s why Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 10:5 hit me right between the eyes: “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Even my coffee cravings and Christmas lists can be surrendered to Him.

And listen, I struggle with this one but I’m still striving. When I say my mind wanders, trust me—it’s wandered five times in the last five sentences. (And probably twice while you were reading that.)

I know I’m not alone. (Cue the wink.) So let’s talk about some practical ways to rein in our roaming minds without losing our sense of humor:

1. Ask for peace.

When you sit with Him, ask for peace. He knows your heart, your restless mind, and your “busy body” tendencies. He’s not rolling His eyes—He’s ready to calm your spirit.

Prayer: “Lord, grant me the peace You promise. Not the peace the world offers, but Your peace—the kind You spoke of in John 14:27. I need that peace now, so I can rest in You and spend this time fully with You.”

2. Anchor your prayer with scripture.

You know I love a good sticky note. Slap one on the fridge, the bathroom mirror, or right next to the coffee pot. When your brain wanders, let His Word reel you back in.

Verse: “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14)

3. Journal your prayers.

For my bullet-point journal friends—this one’s for you. Write your prayers down, slow those racing thoughts, and when God answers, check them off like the ultimate divine to-do list. Bonus: it becomes a testimony for future generations.

Verse: “Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord.” (Psalm 102:18)

4. Use breath prayers.

Short, repeatable phrases that reset your focus faster than a toddler yelling “Mom!”

Examples: “Jesus, be my center.” or “Lord, quiet my heart.”

5. Give yourself grace.

Don’t scold yourself for wandering. Smile, reel it back in, and remember: God isn’t grading your focus. He delights in your desire to talk with Him—even if it’s messy, caffeinated, and interrupted by Christmas lists.

So yes, my prayers sometimes sound like a mash‑up of worship, grocery lists, and chore charts. But here’s the thing: God isn’t grading me on focus—He’s inviting me into relationship. And if He can handle my wandering mind, He can handle yours too. So, grab your coffee, scribble your prayers, and let’s keep reeling our thoughts back to Him… one creamer crisis at a time.

Helping you find peace in the garden again— because even wandering minds can bloom there.

I’ve confessed my wandering thoughts, now it’s your chance. Let’s see if your brain is as squirrel‑chasing as mine.

1. What’s your “creamer moment” this week—the random thought that hijacks your prayer—and how can you hand it to God instead of chasing it?
2. If your mind had a GPS, where would it wander most often—north, south, or straight into the junk drawer—and how can scripture anchor you back?
3. What’s one prayer you scribbled in the margins or on a sticky note that God has already answered—and how can you check it off like the ultimate divine to-do list?
4. Which breath prayer could become your reset button—“Jesus, be my center,” “Lord, quiet my heart,” or maybe something snarky like “Lord, save me from my own brain”?
5. How can you give yourself grace the next time your mind wanders mid-prayer, remembering that God isn’t grading your focus but delighting in your desire to talk with Him—even if it’s messy?

Alright, I’ve confessed my squirrel‑brain prayers—now it’s your turn. What tricks do you use to tame the wandering? Drop your ideas in the comments. I’d love to hear your thoughts… even the ones that race faster than mine.