Acts 9:40 – “But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up.”

As I prayed, read, and meditated on the Word of God today, I heard, “Remove the Distractions and stand on Holy Ground.” That perplexed me only in the sense of the two elements of the directive.

I realized that this was a direct reference to prayer and results! It was a revelation of how to pray effectively! Effective prayer cannot become a reality when distractions are present. Distractions distract! Distractions demand attention. Distractions open the door to doubt.

But the directive was not just to remove distractions. It was to stand or pray on Holy Ground.  As with Moses in the desert at the burning bush, God said, “The place where you are standing is Holy Ground.” What made it Holy? God’s Presence!  So, effective praying flows from an undistracted focus in the presence of God!

In Acts 9:40, when Peter was brought to where the body of Tabitha (Dorcas) was, he did just that – removed distractions, stepped into the presence of God, focusing on God, and prayed.  THEN, he turned to face the problem, the dead girl. From the undistracted time in the presence of God (Holy Ground), he spoke in faith, and she arose from the dead.

He removed the distractions, stepped onto the Holy Ground of God’s presence, and prayed. That prayer produced the faith required for the miracle.

We do not know how long he prayed, only that he removed the distractions, entered the presence, and prayed. It might be quick or take time, but in the atmosphere of heaven undistracted, he communed with the presence, and from Holy Ground, heaven came to earth.

If you are not getting through in prayer?  Maybe distractions are preventing you from focusing and blocking you from Holy Ground. Create a place, a time, a space to Shut Everything Out but God. In that undistracted condition, step onto Holy Ground and watch what happens.

Lord, help us be free from distractions as we come into Your presence!