How to Praise Before You Pray (Biblical Steps When You Need Breakthrough)

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Sometimes you don’t need more words.

You need alignment.

If your prayers have felt heavy, repetitive, or rushed, this is your reset:

Before you ask God for anything, praise Him.

Praise is not decoration. It is direction.
It turns your heart back toward the truth of who God is before you present what you want Him to do.

Key Scripture Anchor

Matthew 6:33 — “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

Jesus did not say, “Ask first.”
He said, seek first.

Seeking first is worship. Seeking first is surrender. Seeking first is praise.

What “Praise Before Prayer” Really Means

Praise before prayer does not mean you never ask God for anything.

It means you refuse to approach God like a stressed employee clocking in.

It means you approach Him like a child coming home remembering:

  • He is holy

  • He is faithful

  • He is present

  • He is already God before you feel anything change

Praise re-orders your soul.

Why Praise First Works (Biblically)

Praise does three things that rushed prayer cannot do:

1) Praise shifts your focus from fear to faith

Fear magnifies problems.
Praise magnifies God.

2) Praise humbles your heart

When you praise, you stop trying to control outcomes and you return to trust.

3) Praise aligns your requests with God’s will

When your heart is aligned, your asking becomes clean.
Not desperate. Not manipulative. Not performance.
Just faith.

The 5-Step “Before You Ask” Prayer Flow

Use this exact flow when you sit down to pray.

Step 1: Thanksgiving

Start by thanking God for what is already true.

Examples:

  • “Father, thank You for keeping me.”

  • “Thank You that You have never left me.”

  • “Thank You for giving me breath, wisdom, and another chance.”

Step 2: Praise

Now praise Him for His nature who He is.

Examples:

  • “You are holy.”

  • “You are faithful.”

  • “You are my Provider.”

  • “You are my Deliverer.”

  • “You are the God who sees.”

Step 3: Surrender and Alignment

This is where your flesh gets quiet.

Say it plainly:

  • “Father, I surrender my will.”

  • “Correct me where I’m off.”

  • “Align my desires with Your truth.”

  • “I choose obedience over anxiety.”

Step 4: Ask (Petition)

Now you ask without striving.

Be specific. Be honest. Be humble.

Step 5: End in Praise

Close the way you started.

Because God is still God whether the answer comes today or later.

Heart Check (Answer Honestly)

  • Am I coming to God in faith or in panic?

  • Do I want God’s will or do I just want relief?

  • Have I been treating prayer like pressure instead of presence?

Prayer: Praise Before I Ask

Father, in Jesus’ name, I return to You.

Thank You for being faithful even when I have been anxious.
Thank You for being present even when I have been distracted.
Thank You for being patient with me.

You are holy.
You are good.
You are wise.
You are powerful.
You are the God who provides, corrects, restores, and leads.

Today I surrender my will.
I surrender my fear.
I surrender my need to control outcomes.

Align my heart with Your Kingdom.
Align my mind with Your truth.
Align my desires with righteousness.

Now Father, I bring my requests to You…
And I trust You to handle what I cannot.

I will not strive.
I will not beg in unbelief.
I will not panic.

I will praise first.
I will seek first.
And I will watch You add what I need as I obey.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Declarations

  • I praise God before I present my requests.

  • I seek the Kingdom first and I trust God to add what I need.

  • My prayer life is rooted, not rushed.

  • I refuse fear-driven striving.

  • I am being aligned, corrected, and strengthened by the Holy Spirit.

Action Step (Next 24 Hours)

Set a timer for 7 minutes.

Before you ask for anything, do only this:

  • 2 minutes thanksgiving

  • 3 minutes praise

  • 2 minutes surrender

Then stop.

Come back later and ask with a clean heart.

Start Here 

If you want a structured way to build this habit for the next 30 days:

Before You Ask: 30 Days of Teaching & Praise (Vol. 1)
This devotional trains you to praise before petition, so your prayer life becomes steady, rooted, and aligned.

➡️ Shop my books on Amazon

Redeemed by Grace. Rooted in Faith. Living on Purpose.
Redeemed and Rooted
— S. A. Briddell


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