IMPORTANT: Daily Declaration Kavanah Hashem's Names

Say this right when you get up (after the Modeh Ani after washing hands three times alternatively) before any other prayers

Source of The Daily Declaration in Halacha 13 (page 13) footnote 293 in recording starting 4:00m- 5:30m

Halacha recording

293. Stipulating a Provision

Some Aaronim suggested that a person stipulate before he begins his prayers, "I hereby wish it to be considered that each time I will pronounce God's Name I mean that He is ... even if I fail to actually think of those things at that time."

The source for this strategy is the prayer book Tefilla leDavid, edited by Harav Avraham David of Butchatch. It is mentioned as well in the Ajike Yam (Vol. II, Unit Penine Yam) and in the Shulhan Hatahor (6:1). Harav Avraham Yehoshua Heschel of Apta, cited in Ta'ame Haminhagim (#29), suggested that this is the reason for reciting the hymn of Adon Olam, since it incorporates all the concepts that we are to think about when pronouncing God's Names.

Harav Shelomo Zalman Auerbach (Halikhot Shelomo, Tefilla page 2) said that in our times very few people are capable of actually concentrating on these meanings each time they pronounce God's Name and therefore they may rely on this stipulation.

The Yalkut Yosef (Vol. I, page 265) states that everyone must make an extreme effort to concentrate properly throughout his prayers each time he pronounces the Name, but it is possible that one may rely on the stipulation suggested by Rav Auerbach. The responsa Uemdat Avraham stated that one must make the utmost effort to concentrate properly each time one pronounces the Name. It is admittedly difficult, but the reward will be commensurate with that difficulty.

Regarding the Shema and the Amida, the Yalkut Yosef ruled that one must not rely on this stipulation; rather, one must concentrate on the meaning of God's Names when pronouncing them in these sections of our prayers. If someone failed to do this, we can rely on the ruling of the Igrot Moshe, Harav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, and Maran the Rishon Letziyon (all cited in the previous footnote) that as long as one is aware that this term is God's Name, he fulfills the mitzvah.