Most people are familiar with prayer for prosperity, protection, and many other topics. But a prayer for positive thinking might sound somewhat new. Positive thinking is a skill, and like any other skill, developing it requires consistent practice.
Prayer is one way to practice positive thinking.
Here’s how.
Prayer helps sharpen your focus. You might feel overwhelmed by negativity before you start praying. However, it is common to get a sense of relief and an inner assurance that all will be okay mid-way into the prayer or at the end of your prayer session.
You will likely come out of prayer feeling more energized, and because you have committed your cares to a higher power, you will feel more confident about living more positively.
What if you don’t know how to pray, let alone say a prayer for positive thinking? I’ve got you covered! In this article, I’ll share a few tips on how to pray at home and give you several examples of prayers for positive thinking.
But before all of that, here’s a quick insight into why you should include positive thinking in your prayer points.
Why Prayer for Positive Thinking Is Important
Saying a prayer for positive thinking isn’t entirely new. Paul, writing to the Ephesians, said:
“I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians, 3:16–17.
And to the Philippians, he wrote:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8
Paul recognized the need to remain rooted and grounded in love – in positivity. In keeping with that, he didn’t stop at admonishing the early Christians to think positively but also prayed to God to grant them the inner strength to do so.
Think about this for a minute. If people needed prayer for positive thinking several centuries ago, isn’t it more crucial now to pray the same prayer?
It takes several days, weeks, or even months for news to travel in the days of Paul. These days, you can watch the news live even if you are halfway across the world from where an event is happening.
While technology is a good thing, it has also contributed to widespread negativity. And our modern culture is structured in a way that we are under a lot of pressure to live up to other people’s expectations or keep up with ever-changing trends.
In other words, it is easy to become overwhelmed in today’s world. This is why it is crucial to practice positivity, and one good way to do so is by praying about it.
Tips on How to Pray at Home
Praying along with a congregation is easy for many people but doing it alone at home can be challenging for some. If that’s you, the following practical tips for personal prayer will help you develop a positive prayer habit.
1. Prioritize Prayer
Many people don’t pray as often as they would love to because they are busy with many other things that demand their attention. They are so occupied that they don’t quite get around to praying.
However, people make time for what they want and what’s most important to them. If you start seeing prayer as important, you’ll make time to pray. Don’t worry about what to say or the “correct” way to start praying. There is no single starting point of prayer, and there is no bad way to pray.
But you have to make time to pray and show up at your set time. All of that starts with prioritizing prayer.
2. Find a Quiet Room to Pray
Distractions are so common in our world today that it is accepted as the norm. This is why many people find it extremely difficult to quiet their minds, turn tune inwards, embrace stillness, and live in the moment.
One practical thing you can do to help reduce distractions during prayer is find a quiet room in your home to pray. You don’t have to designate a special prayer room (although that’s not a bad idea), but you should shut off all distractions.
If you have kids or someone else at home, let them know you need some peace and quiet to pray. Unplug the TV and shut down your computer if they are in your prayer space. Turn off your phone, silence it, or better still, don’t bring it to where you want to pray. The goal is to limit distractions as much as possible.
3. Be Present
Prayer is deliberate communication with God, which is only effective if you are fully present while praying.
As you probably already know, turning inward to switch off from all the distractions in your day requires slowing down your mind (and body) until you are aware of the inner solitude and attentive to the present moment.
Remember, prayer is a two-way communication – a dialogue between you and God and not a monolog. It is not just about doing all the talking; it is also listening for a response.
Consider setting aside about 10 to 15 minutes (or more) to pray. This should give you enough time to slow down, turn inward in silence, and pray.
4. It Is Okay to Be Vulnerable
You are human – we all are! None of us is without flaws, and that’s okay. There is no need to try to say things that you think God wants to hear from you. Just pour out your heart in prayer without editing your thoughts and feelings.
If you are feeling negative lately, ask for help to think more positively. If you’re feeling thankful, feel free to express your gratitude. But don’t try to express thanks in a bid to get into God’s good books when what you really need at the moment is strength to overcome the overwhelming negativity around you.
Examples of Prayer for Positive Thinking
The most effective prayer is one that comes from deep within. It should be an honest conversation between you and God.
However, a prayer for positive thinking might be a relatively new prayer point for you. If you are unsure how to begin (perhaps because you have never uttered a word of prayer in your life), here are some good examples to nudge you in the right direction.
Remember that these are examples to get you started. Consider crafting your own words as you get the hang of things.
- “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr (the Serenity Prayer)
- “Lord, help me let go of my fear of failure. I know Satan wants to use my fears to hold me back from living boldly for you. Forgive me for not living in faith, and help me from this moment on to live with bold confidence in you. Lord, help me not compare myself to others around me. I pray instead that I can keep my eye on you and live a life that proclaims your excellence. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.” – Rick Warren
- “When evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts assail us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide! That we may find serenity in your presence and purpose in doing your will.” – John D. Rayner
- “Dear Lord, thank you for fearfully and wonderfully creating each of us. Thank you for giving us worth in your eyes. Help us live as the one you uniquely intended us to be. Help us abide instead of strive, living peacefully and joyfully as heirs to your kingdom and co-heirs with Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – Julie Sunne
- “Holy Lord, thank you for your grace. Please help me move beyond the hurdles that trip me up and give me the strength and wisdom to look up and see the hope I run toward in Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – Gwen Smith
- “Father, I am tempted to worry about so many things. Our world is a mess! Forgive me for focusing on anything or anyone but you. Thank you for the Bible that equips and empowers me to live each day. Right now, I declare that you are my only hope. Please help me remember that you really are in control. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – Mary Southerland
- “Lord, thank you for your greatness. Thank you that when I am weak, you are strong. Lord, the Devil is scheming, and I know he desires to keep me from spending time with you. Don’t let him win! Give me a measure of your strength so that I might not give in to discouragement, deception, and doubt! Help me honor you in all my ways. In Jesus’ name, Amen.” – Debbie Przybylski
- “Father, today I ask forgiveness of all the negative and harmful words I have spoken about myself. I do not want to abuse myself in such a way again. Transform my thoughts and let me understand how marvelously you made me. Change my habits, so I use my tongue to speak hope and favor upon my life. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – Sarah Coleman
- “God, sometimes life gets me down, and I find it hard to see things to be thankful for. Open my eyes to see the gifts you’ve given me in my life. I’m going to start by thanking you for loving me enough to come to earth and die so we can live together forever. Amen.” – Wendy van Eyck
- “Father, I am so sorry for the way I complain about my circumstances. Please forgive me for my bad attitude when things don’t go my way. I want to see your hand in every part of every day – good or bad. Help me learn how to face every storm with confidence, knowing that you really are in control even though I cannot hear your voice or see your hand at work. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – Mary Southerland
- “Father, I have to thank you for looking beyond my faults and for loving me unconditionally. Forgive me when I fail to love others in the same way. Give me eyes to see the needs of the difficult people in my life and show me how to meet those needs in a way that pleases you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” – Mary Southerland
- “Lord, I want to lay before you all that weighs heavy on my heart. Reveal even the sin I am not aware of, Lord. I lay these at your feet and pray for your forgiveness on me. I believe you when you say that you wash us whiter than snow. Thank you, Lord, for your unending love for me! Help me start fresh right now to make choices that honor you. Amen.” – Rick Warren
Final Thoughts
Prayer is a powerful way to gain the strength we need to hold our heads high, regardless of what life throws at us.
Even if you are completely new to the practice of positive prayer, you can gain the confidence to live more positively, no matter what your situation suggests, by spending a few minutes each day in prayer.
And while you may be focused on communicating your desire for positive thinking, the consistent practice of prayer will ultimately improve your relationship with God.
