Pause to Consider

Jesus often used the world around him to teach valuable lessons. He would invite people to consider the sparrows or consider the fig tree or mustard seed. Jesus would point to types of people such as children or laborers in the field and then offer a lesson based on what was right in front of him.

This type of prayer is called “the prayer of consideration.” It means pausing and noticing what is before you, turning your heart and mind to God, and asking God, What are you saying to me right now?

There are several ways we can incorporate the prayer of consideration into our daily lives:

• Consider nature. As we go about our day, we are surrounded by God’s creation. When something captures our eye or attention, we can pause, notice it, and ask God to help us see what God is teaching us.
• Consider people. We encounter a variety of people throughout our day and in our homes. Each person can teach us something holy—each person is loved by God. After an encounter with another person, pause, and invite God to show you what this person is teaching you about God today.
• Consider your work. People often spend 40 to 50 hours (or more) a week at work. As we go about our workday, we have a multitude of opportunities to consider our work in prayer. We can thank God for the gift of work, the opportunity to earn money, and the chance to serve others.

The prayer of consideration is a powerful prayer tool to use as we go about our days. We simply pause, consider what is before us, and turn our hearts and minds to God.

Becky Eldredge is an Ignatian-trained spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and the author of Busy Lives & Restless Souls. Learn more at BeckyEldredge.com or on Facebook and Instagram. Portions of these devotions are adapted or excerpted from Busy Lives & Restless Souls (Loyola Press, 2017) © Becky Eldredge, used by permission.