Have you ever told someone, “I’ll pray for you”?
I have. And to be honest, I’m around 50% successful in following through on that promise. It’s not that I don’t have good intentions. Life just gets busy and I forget.
Author Ginger Harrington is my guest today, and her blog post is such a freeing anthem for those of us who often say, “I’ll pray for you.” To learn the power and simplicity of praying in the moment, keep reading. I promise your prayer life — and the lives of those around you — will be changed.
For more from Ginger, I highly recommend checking out her book, Holy in the Moment: Simple Ways to Love God and Enjoy Your Life. You’ll find a message that is relatable and practical as it explores daily practices to deepen your walk with God.
And now, here’s Ginger! 🙂
My friend stood in the church hallway, holding a large camera in her hand. She wore a black wrist brace, so I asked if her wrist was healing.
“No, I’m having a lot of pain right now, but I offered to take photos this morning,” she answered with a sigh.
After a crowd of people passed by, I asked, “Would you like for me to pray for you?”
“Yes. I’d love that,” she answered, holding out her hand. Fingers touched and eyes met before we bowed our heads to pray.
Joining me for the “amen,” she smiled and commented, “Thank you. No one has ever just stopped and prayed in the moment with me before. Why don’t we do more of that?”
Her question hung in the air and echoed in my heart.
Yes. Why don’t we?
At the time, I didn’t consider that I was doing anything unusual.  But I remember a time when offering to pray in the moment would have felt risky and more than a little awkward.
Some days, the needs for prayer stack high and heavy on our hearts. We’ve promised to pray, and we intend to pray later when it’s quiet. For me, it’s too easy to forget to pray when later comes.
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NIV).
First things first, this instruction addresses both time (when) and priority (order). Rather than an if-all-else-fails plan, prayer is our first priority, our first solution, and the thing to do first of all.
Paul instructs us to pray before we do anything else, the kind of prayer best fitting the situation. Building the habit of prayer makes a difference: we live quiet and peaceful lives in all godliness and holiness.
There are many simple and quick ways to pray in the moment. Sometimes it may be like my experience this morning at church, praying aloud with someone. Then there are the harried moments when we are the ones in need of prayer.
Consider these simple ideas to pray in the moment rather than intend to pray later:
- Write a prayer on a social media thread or message when you see a request.
- Send a written prayer in a letter, card, or email to a friend needing encouragement.
- Text a prayer or make a phone call when God brings a need to mind.
- Ask God’s help at the time you face your own need.
- Pray silently for those you meet and situations you observe.
- Say a quick breath prayer such as “Jesus,” “Help me, Lord,” “I love You, God.”
When I first started praying in the moment, it felt a little awkward to stop in the middle of what I was doing. With time and a little practice, I’m discovering that simply being willing opens my heart to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
This morning I realized that God has softened my what will others think fears because I’ve had the chance to see how praying in the moment makes a difference.
I’m learning that “Can I pray with you now?” is a more purposeful response than a promise to pray later.
Pray in the moment. Be bold and brave and don’t wait until later. Pray now and minister a blessing in the midst of the need. Put your hand on a shoulder, trusting God to give you the words to pray as you let your heart speak.  Words that make a spiritual difference as the Holy Spirit helps us to pray (Romans 8:26).
Responsive hearts open channels for God to work through prayer.  We don’t have to offer to pray in the moment of every need we encounter. But what can God do when our hearts are ready to respond when He whispers, “Why don’t you pray now?”
About Ginger
Author of Holy in the Moment, Ginger Harrington is an award-winning blogger and inspiring speaker for retreats and conferences throughout the US. She writes inspirational encouragement at GingerHarrington.com and PlantingRoots.net, and has provided content for Roma Downey and Mark Burnett’s LightWorkers.com, Guideposts, and (in)courage. Connect with Ginger on Facebook and Instagram.
About Holy in the Moment
Enjoying life (zoe) in Christ comes in the choices we make moment-by-moment. Ginger Harrington invites women to discover how intentional choices made in the moment can become holy habits. With a refreshing perspective, she shows that holiness isn’t a rigid standard to keep but a gift to receive through a vital relationship with God, who makes us whole.
Holy in the Moment explores the practical power of choices to grow in holiness without the pressure of perfectionism. Through gentle encouragement, biblical insights, and applicable ideas, learn to discern feelings and overcome distractions and shame, adapt God’s equation for obedience, live a praying life, discover methods for practicing holiness in parenting and the importance of rest, embrace biblical love and forgiveness, and understand how work becomes holy.
Re-energize faith with simple choices to love God, embrace truth, and enjoy every moment of life with practical ways to be holy by choosing to trust God, rely on his wisdom, and live from his resources.
*prayer photo by Hannah Busing / LightStock.com
Sarah, thanks so much for sharing this post on your wonderful website. I love the graphics you created that enhance the message in a very special way. Such a pleasure to work with you!