The Power of Prayer: Why Every Word Matters With or Without Intention

The intention (kavanah) we bring into prayer is of immeasurable importance. Without intention, prayer is like a body without a soul, and it is incomplete.

If after praying we feel embarrassed about our lack of focus, the prayer is not wasted. We still fulfill our obligation, except for three specific verses in the Shema, where intention is required, and the first three blessings of the Amidah, where focus is also mandatory.

Prayer without intention does not reach the same spiritual level as one offered with true focus, but it is never meaningless. The great sage known as the Ben Ish Chai explained that a prayer spoken without intention cannot ascend to the world of thought (the higher spiritual world of the soul), but it can still act in the worlds of spirit and emotion. He writes: "Even when a person only articulates the words of prayer without directing their thoughts, although such a prayer lacks completeness and cannot rise to the world of thought, nevertheless, it is not in vain. One still fulfills their obligation, connecting their soul with their spirit in the spiritual realm." (Rav Pealim I, 1).

Why Prayer Without Focus Still Works

Prayer works much like electricity: if you plug something into the outlet, whether or not you understand the mechanics, the power flows. Similarly, whether or not we grasp how prayer functions, it still has impact.

It can also be compared to cooking. Even if we prepare a meal absentmindedly, the food will still cook if the steps are done correctly. When we add care, thought, and even a heartfelt wish that the food nourishes our loved ones, the result is even better.

Prayer works the same way. Ideally, we pray with focus and understanding, striving for the highest level of connection. However, even when we lack intention, our prayers still rise upward and carry value.

The Value of Imperfect Prayer

Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin wrote that prayer without intention is like an offering without a soul. It is not as elevated as a living sacrifice, but it is still a meaningful gift, like a grain offering. With intention, however, prayer becomes like a continual offering before God.

The Kotzker Rebbe offered comfort, saying: “If a person sometimes prays without complete intention, they should not be distressed. For one heartfelt prayer has the power to lift all the other prayers that lacked intention.” (Emet Mi-Kotzk Titzmach, p. 30).

Encouragement from the Chofetz Chaim

A man once asked the Chofetz Chaim, “I am very busy and find it hard to focus in prayer. If so, what value does my prayer have?”

The Chofetz Chaim replied with a metaphor: Grain merchants examine a small sample of grain to see how much sand or dirt is mixed in. Normally, the cleaner the grain, the higher the price. During years of famine however, no one checks, and whatever grain is available is taken, clean or not. So too, in our generation — when so many lack devotion, God lovingly accepts our prayers however they are offered.

David Hamelech (King David) reminds us: “He turned to the prayer of the destitute and did not despise their prayer” (Tehillim 102:18). Even when prayer seems “dry” or empty, God still listens.

Special Relevance for the Last Generation

David adds: “Let this be written for the last generation” (Tehillim 102:19). This is emphasized because in the final generation, the era before redemption, people struggle more than ever to focus in prayer. We often lack the spiritual clarity of earlier generations. Yet precisely in this time, God assures us: He listens even to the prayer of the “thorn bush” (the ar’ar), which is a symbol of someone spiritually dry or distracted.

Practical Takeaway for Our Prayers Today

Even when we pray without focus — whether from fatigue, distraction, or confusion, our prayers are still heard. Knowing this should strengthen our effort to pray with more intention, not less.

Every prayer counts, every word rises, and every attempt at focus, no matter how small, brings delight to God.