PRAYER: The Power of Pausing Before Praying
HOW DO YOU PRAY
Understanding the Importance of Prayer in Christian Life
Even after years of believing in Jesus and striving to follow Him, I’m amazed at how easily I drift. I don’t drift from the core essentials of the Christian faith, such as believing in Jesus’ divinity, His promises, or the truth of the Bible. But when it comes to the power of prayer, I sometimes lose sight of its significance.
I pray daily—sometimes multiple times a day. But because prayer often appears outwardly uneventful, I can sometimes drift into the habit of praying without fully realizing its power. It may look like nothing has changed after speaking a few words to God, but the Bible assures us that prayer is a powerful connection to Him.
What Does the Bible Say About the Power of Prayer?
Scripture is filled with passages emphasizing the significance of prayer. Here are a few key verses:
1 Peter 3:12 – “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer…”
James 5:16b – “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Proverbs 15:9 – “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.”
These verses remind us that God’s ears are open to our prayers, our prayers have great power, and He hears us when we call upon Him. Through biblical prayer, we come directly into His presence, seeking guidance, making requests, and participating in His divine plan.
Why Is It Important to Pause Before You Pray?
Despite being committed to my faith, I recognize my human fallibility. My mind and soul are still being renewed, and I don’t always maintain a conscious awareness of God throughout the day. Additionally, spiritual opposition can cause doubt, making it seem like prayer is ineffective.
However, Scripture makes it clear that prayer is one of the most powerful and valuable things we can do. The enemy wants us to believe that prayer is merely a routine act, but pausing before we pray can reignite our focus and expectation.
How Pausing Transforms Your Prayer Life
Before I pray, I take a few seconds—or even a couple of minutes—to remind myself of what’s happening in the spiritual realm when I engage in prayer. This simple act enhances my faith and deepens my connection with God. Here’s what happens when we pray:
We connect with the most powerful and loving Being in existence. We are speaking to our Heavenly Father, who loves and delights in our prayers.
God hears every single prayer. According to 1 John 5:14–15, “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
We can pray with certainty. If we know that God hears us, we can be assured that He will respond in the best possible way.
Practical Steps to Strengthen Your Prayer Life
To make prayer a more impactful part of your daily routine, try these steps:
Pause before praying. Take a moment to reflect on God’s promises and visualize the power of your prayers reaching Him.
Remind yourself of biblical truths. Scripture assures us that God hears and answers prayers.
Pray with confidence and expectation. Believe that God will act according to His will.
Be persistent. Jesus encourages us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking (Luke 11:9–11).
Trusting in God’s Timing
Although we don’t always know when or how God will answer our prayers, we can be assured that He will. As 1 Timothy 6:12 says, we must “fight the good fight of faith.” Through faith and patience, we inherit His promises (Hebrews 6:12).
By pausing before we pray, we remind ourselves of the incredible privilege we have in speaking directly to our Heavenly Father. Prayer is not just a habit—it’s a powerful act of faith. I’ve found that this practice has energized my prayer life, and I believe it will do the same for you.
My goal is to help busy believers experience God more deeply, grow consistently—both spiritually and personally—and confidently live out their unique purpose.
