How to stop thinking while praying How to Overcome distractions in Prayer - Heavenly Father, thank You, for I have the mind of Christ. While we will do most of our prayer at home, I will be honest and say the best places of prayer for me are in churches and chapels. I have felt far away from Allah for a year or so, and I am so distracted during prayers. I keep thinking that half of my body is like "I meant to do this" while the other half is like "no you didnt" What do I do Jun 27, 2025 · But the solution isn’t to stop praying—it’s to stay close to the One who knows what we can’t yet see. Jan 23, 2025 · Explore the 5 Ways to Deal with Prayer Distractions. I keep thinking that I committed shirk. Handling distractions is a skill that all who pray must master. However, many people experience intrusive thoughts during Salah. Jul 29, 2024 · Explore OCD's impact on religious practices, focusing on repeating prayers. It highlights the dangers of neglecting prayer, which can lead to disbelief and Mar 23, 2022 · Wondering how to focus in prayer and fight the distraction that derails you? In my latest video, I share seven practical tips for fighting distraction in prayer. Aug 1, 2025 · Healing Through God's Word Do you ever feel like unwanted thoughts are swirling around like a tornado in your head? Whether you struggle with worry, mental illness, or negative thought patterns, there is hope for overcoming intrusive thoughts. Oct 21, 2021 · Tired of daydreaming while while praying the rosary? These tips will help you pray better and stay engaged. Jun 7, 2020 · Is it possible to pray too much? For some, praying too much is a sign of legalism or doctrinal misunderstandings. Feb 18, 2022 · Read 5 Ways to Use Prayer to Stop Negative Thoughts in Their Tracks and learn how to pray in ways that reveal God's power and strength. But fortunately, they can be defeated through intentional, positive prayer. Grab Aug 20, 2022 · Practical Steps Continue to pray, as Shaytan’s most significant objective is to turn you away from prayer. This concept stresses the importance of persistent effort in cultivating positive thinking while remaining detached from negative influences. How do I stop this. “Dear Pastor John, for seven long years, I’ve had hard thoughts of Christ. But there is a type of mind-wandering that is a central part of every effective prayer life. Avoidable distractions are caused by the environment in which we choose to perform our prayer: […] Mar 22, 2023 · Q Salam Aleikom. So I often think about a lot of stuff and have a lot of thoughts. Jazakum Allah khayr for your Apr 16, 2015 · A powerful prayer to help calm your mind and find peace when bad thoughts overwhelm you. From breaking the cycle of overthinking through prayer to finding peace through faith and mindfulness, we’ll explore strategies that can help you calm your overactive mind and experience greater peace of mind. I feel I am not praying and am not in khushu’ to Allah (humbly submitting to Allah). Accompanied with these thoughts are images, which I know are 100% false as the human eye can never perceive Allah. If you have trouble staying awake during your quiet times, you need this amazing tip to keep you from falling asleep while you pray. Don’t assume that silence means failure. Watch the video here. This article explores the importance of prayer in Islam, emphasizing it as a fundamental practice that must be upheld in all circumstances. But not just praying after the fact. So where do these thoughts come from? And how do we respond? The question comes in from a listener named Hayden. You pray just for the sake of praying. For example, someone who fears that thinking a blasphemous thought is sinful may practice allowing the thought to exist without praying for forgiveness immediately. What does it mean to focus on God in prayer? Focusing on God means being intentional about setting our thoughts and desires on our heavenly Father. Nov 30, 2018 · You can finish your prayer time but then you will have to go to work on your ingrained thinking habits. I try to control them and try to get my focus back to praying but it doesn’t work. Answer (Fatwa: 499/499=M/1430) Divert the mind to other things when dirty things come to your mind, do not get yourself lost in the thoughts. Aug 5, 2014 · In some ways negative thinking is protective. Discover 35 powerful prayers against bad thoughts and find peace, guided by scripture and God’s transformative power. ” Aug 22, 2014 · While I am sure there will always be some mystery to prayer, one thing that I have always struggled with is how to know if and when to stop praying for something, especially related to 1 John 5:14–17. It’s like when I start praying I am compulsively thinking of other things. Keep We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. A typical reaction to them is "Ugh! How could I have thought something so awful ?" Most of the time, we can shrug off bad thoughts, and turn our minds to other things. What if I keep thinking about them even after trying to stop? Trying to suppress thoughts is rarely effective. End quote from al-Waabil as-Sayyib (p. But, other times, they’re something darker– a fear, a worry, a temptation. Sep 30, 2021 · Read 3 Ways to Keep Your Mind from Wandering during Prayer and learn how to pray in ways that reveal God's power and strength. Praying is an important part of a Christian's daily life. Certain arms of the church have viewed contemplative prayer with some suspicion at This could be different churches or adoration chapels that we can stop-in to pray. Find a devotional prayer: Perhaps you get distracted during prayer because your prayer is not in line with any purpose. But sometimes, bad thoughts keep coming ba Lost in meandering, distracting thoughts while you pray? Here’s a simple suggestion. 2- Turn to Him and ask Him for healing and recovery from this problem. Understand the Nature of Thoughts According to Hindu philosophy, thoughts (Vrittis) are waves of the mind. Jul 9, 2023 · So, Let’s walk this road together, dear friend, step by step, prayer by prayer, scripture by scripture, until the daybreak of understanding banishes the night of doubt and bad thoughts about God. Our culture is busy and there are so many things vying for our attention. But in a world of so many distractions and things that are fighting for our attention, how do we stay focused when we pray? Apr 21, 2016 · Discover how to handle the urge to laugh during prayer and ensure your worship remains valid. Write a prayer, or read over this one, when you’re able to express your pain and thought process, then you’ll have it . Jun 27, 2014 · How to Stop Praying and Start Doing What God Wants You to Do,Whitney Hopler - Read more about spiritual life growth, Christian living, and faith. What are some simple ways to combat the wandering mind when we want to focus our attention on God in prayer? Choose times for focused prayer when you are most mentally alert. It's probably waswas but it won't go away no matter how I hard I try. What should I do? Aug 17, 2022 · With the Enemy always on the prowl and with a sinful nature inside each of us, intrusive thoughts are common. Feb 15, 2023 · And it is something that can be overcome. I can't control my thoughts, what do i do? Jun 6, 2022 · I am not advocating general mind-wandering during times of prayer. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. This hadith includes two ways on how to get rid of the shaytan while praying . An ‘intrusive thought’ is the involuntary appearance of ideas, images, flashbacks, and compulsive behaviors in a person’s mind that are unpleasant or distressing in nature. Subscribe to my channel here. Instead, actively replace negative thoughts with positive and constructive ones. While Several bad words and kufr comes in my brain while I am praying and sometimes I have to stop my salat. Do you constantly find yourself distracted during prayer and Bible study? Here are seven ways to beat the distractions so you can focus! Sometimes they are of the doubting nature, so if I get them while praying I feel like my prayer does not count as I have doubted God, so I redo my prayer. As you consider important issues, you are all-the-while connecting with God about what you are thinking about. Do this by pursuing meditation on relevant Scripture and talking with a spiritual counselor. Battle your worst thoughts and find positivity with these seven prayers. It’s recently been kinda distracting me from my prayers, while I pray I also get thoughts. 5499), others work by stopping the thought from overwhelming the individual (Forsyth & Eifert, 2016). Get the answers to the tough questions… What are intrusive thoughts? What are examples of intrusive… Feb 2, 2025 · I make the intention to pray, but sometimes bad thoughts come to my head and distract me. When things come up during your prayer time with God, you make the decision to say “no” to them and continue praying and communing with God. Aug 3, 2024 · Catholic Mom contributor, FB Smit shares her go-to tips for staying focused and intentional during your Rosary prayers. I find I don’t concentrate very well and was wondering if you have any ideas that might help me to pray more devoutly. If mornings are your best time of day, get up a bit early to meet with God. Question Summary How do I deal with unwanted thoughts and memories that distract me during my prayer? Question Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate Distractions that occur in the prayer are either avoidable or unavoidable. The obvious benefit of “public oratories” is the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Try saying a hail mary or our father and then spending 20 minutes reading the bible instead, or simply spend time with God on your mind, or thinking about different parts in the bible. It prevents us from leaping into danger. What can I do? Our negative thinking become ground for sin to grow. Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters, As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. Intrusive Aug 29, 2025 · When you do go to worship, read Quran, or pray and so forth, in the back of your mind you’re probably already thinking “oh no, these thoughts are going to come. Apr 14, 2025 · Ever sit down to pray and find yourself thinking about your to-do list, yesterday’s conversation, or what’s for dinner? You’re not alone. It might be better described as thinking in the presence of the Lord. Oct 16, 2022 · Nobody wants to deal with unwanted intrusive thoughts! This article is written specifically with Christians in mind- authored by a licensed Christian Counselor. Please advise me about what to do and how to avoid that. Aug 4, 2019 · Is God leading you to move on and stop thinking about someone in your past? Here are 3 signs to look for. Please leave prayer requests in the comments so we can pray with you if you or someone you love is struggling with prayer. The Role of Prayer Life Coaching in Overcoming Distractions If you find it challenging to stay focused or develop a consistent prayer life, consider seeking guidance from a prayer coach. For it is better to struggle with God in prayer, than to be at peace away from God. When we stop praying we become greedy, anxious, and fearful, among many other things! Here is a list of things that might happen if you stop praying. Instead, pray for their well-being briefly, then redirect your prayer to broader spiritual matters and personal growth. Mar 7, 2023 · Prayer is the ultimate stopper. Jul 29, 2024 · Explore strategies, support, and insights to overcome OCD praying and religious scrupulosity for a healthier spiritual life. Even the act of doing something else can be a prayer if we do it for God. At the same time, I'm not here today to convince you to just pray To get rid of bad thoughts about Allah, you should say, “Amantu Billahi wa Rasulihi (I believe in Allah and His Messenger). In the Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna advises Arjuna to control the mind through Abhyasa (constant practice) and Vairagya (detachment). What are you focusing on when you are in prayer? Why is it so difficult to stay focused on God in prayer? Focusing on God in prayer should be the easiest thing in the world for believers. when i am performing prayers, my thought are not under my control. Seek God's peace, clarity, and strength to overcome negativity and find serenity in your mind and heart. Recite much durood and keep on praying: رب اعوذبک من ھمزات الشیاطین و اعوذبک رب ان Apr 25, 2023 · Discover the significance of crying while praying in the Bible and how it can serve as a powerful form of communication with God. But devotional prayers can help you focus more by having a concrete purpose for praying. While everyone experiences intrusive thoughts to a degree, some suffer with them to an extent that’s unmanageable. By turning to God in prayer, we can find clarity, peace, and strength to resist these negative thoughts and replace them with His truth and love. I’m having a few problems. Apr 25, 2025 · Q Assalaam Alaikum, Alhamdu-li-Allah, I pray and fast and read the Quran. It is part of a series of articles that Discovering Prayer is publishing about different ways of thinking about prayer. FAQs Does God forgive bad thoughts about Him? Yes, He does. Thankfully, our wonderful God can Aug 21, 2025 · It involves gradually exposing yourself to feared thoughts without engaging in compulsive behaviors. They come to me even outside my prayers and are so terrible. Methods for Handling Distraction During Prayer There are many methods that you can use to stay focused while praying such as praying aloud, writing out your prayers, or using a prayer list. While praying, ignore any thoughts that may come and focus on what you are reciting. 3- Turn away completely from what the Waswas is calling you to do. This is how to stop whispers in prayer: 1- Persist in remembering Allah. In this first episode of our two-part series on developing greater focus in prayer, we’re diving deep into why we struggle with distraction and how the Holy Spirit can help us stay present with God. Distraction in prayer threatens to derail our most intimate spiritual moments, creating a chasm between our intentions and our actual experience Our journey will explore the subtle yet powerful forces that fragment Tldr; I get so insanely distracted by stupid thoughts while praying that I feel like I didn’t even truly pray seriously and I need scriptures to help me focus or how to pray better Archived post. There have been good seasons in which I have been overwhelmed with the beauty and grace of Christ, and there Apr 18, 2024 · A Prayer to Stop Wrongful Blaming Holy Lord, sometimes bad things happen in life, and instead of accepting them and trying to find You and Your grace and lessons and commands in them, I get caught up in why they happened in the first place. Thoughts can be painful and interfere with spiritual experiences. Take time to learn the meanings of all the invocations of the prayer. But when I go to pray, things come to my mind about this world like what am I gonna do after praying and things like that. But don’t confuse quiet for absence. Mar 22, 2018 · You will move on and stop thinking about this person when you start focusing more on the facts rather than your feelings, when you move on in your prayer life with God, and when you fill your mind with other things that are glorifying to God. Get yourself engaged with full attention in performing the constituents of salah; since the Satan gets hold due to negligence. This article addresses the feelings of laughter experienced during recitation and provides insights on managing these distractions, emphasizing the importance of khushooʻ (full concentration) in prayer. The problem occurs when negativity dominates our lives and affects interpersonal relationships. . It can be a certain chair, corner or room. Of course, pray little prayers during the day, but focused time with God is essential to a strong spiritual life. And don’t give up on the conversation just because the reply isn’t instant. I try, but my mind wanders in the space between the two and I have to make a conscious effort to remain on track which doesn’t always happen and I’m thinking Sep 5, 2024 · It’s often hard to pray when you’re consumed with suicidal thoughts. Aug 28, 2023 · Learn practical, emotional, and spiritual techniques to help you stop overthinking with God's help. Because of this, I feel like a fraud and I feel like none of my prayers and duaas are accepted. Surrender concerns, finding peace, and trust in divine guidance for a calm and focused mind. Over time, this retrains the brain to stop reacting with fear. I start thinking while I am praying. Sometimes they are of the doubting nature, so if I get them while praying I feel like my prayer does not count as I have doubted God, so I redo my prayer. Sep 8, 2019 · While I’m not saying it is wrong to pray and quote Scripture to overcome unwanted thoughts, you have to be careful you are not creating an OCD cycle in your life. For others, it may signal religious OCD. We are tempted to do the opposite: to stop praying and start chastising ourselves over an inability to focus or a failure to pray the “right” way. ” Try to stop thinking about that as much as possible, and keep busy with things that will distract you from it. Mind chatter anyone? You sit down to talk to God - suddenly your brain goes into overdrive. We’re asked to meditate on the mysteries and pray on each bead. Drew asks, "How do I avoid impure thoughts while I'm praying?" Father Dave suggests including this in his prayer, and asking God to help him with this temptation. Keep asking. It's not good for your mental or emotional health, and it doesn't lead you toward the loving relationship God wants with you. That is not something we can duplicate at Dec 14, 2022 · Have you ever intended to pray and suddenly became overwhelmed with several flood of thoughts creeping into your mind? Many good things your are suppose to do at that moment came rushing into your mind? Many at times while trying to pray, but your mind keeps wandering. 1. You can also combat ISTs by implementing spiritual habits to replace the old content that you’re removing. Dec 16, 2021 · Is some of your distraction in prayer caused by responsibility avoidance, idolizing your work (and thus thinking about it all the time, even during prayer), or just plain laziness? Maybe deep emotional pain prevents greater focus. So any tips on how I can stop this? Practical Steps Continue to pray, as Shaytan’s most significant objective is to turn you away from prayer. It takes a firm decision to focus on your prayer with God and win over distractions. That’s all normal, but you can take steps to make your prayer life more focused and powerful. Seeking refuge in Allah from the Shaytan's evil by pronouncing the words of seeking refuge and this is OK in this case. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you) One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question: This is regarding deviation of thought during Prayers. As Christians, we navigate all things related to mental health through the lens of His Word. Intrusive thoughts are unwanted thoughts that cause distress and they are Assalamulaikum. It can be challenging to know how to pray, what to say, or how to keep your mind from wandering when you pray. Everytime I start praying wether at home or at masjid the same thing happen. It is driving me May 6, 2021 · So here are 4 ways God will help you stop unwanted, intrusive sexual thoughts. Many people struggle with negative thinking, without even realizing it. So I have a problem that I wanna stop but idk how. I keep getting thoughts of worshipping someone else while praying. Apr 29, 2002 · Struggling with disturbing thoughts while praying can be a challenging experience, especially for those worried about their health, such as fearing they may have the HIV virus. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Recited prayer is not the only way to pray. Apr 16, 2025 · Overcoming distractions can take time, but with intentionality, you’ll begin to see growth and a deeper connection in your prayer life. Today is the day you make a decision. Here are 5 simple tips to to help you stay focued during prayer. Ask God for wisdom and His help in working through the heart issues that cause distraction. 3. Often God may not show you anything for the person or tell you why they popped into your mind – in this instance pray in tongues (your spirit language). Learn about causes, diagnosis, treatment, and coping strategies. So how do we stop negative thoughts? Negative, intrusive thoughts often leave us feeling anxious, hopeless, or fearful. Change it up for a little while and look for other ways to pray. If you struggle with negative thoughts while praying, this video is for you! Learn how to stop negative thoughts while praying as a Christian. I have distracting thoughts before I can even catch my mind wandering. Let’s face it! Many of us struggle to stay focused when we pray. Apr 12, 2024 · In this article, I will share practical tips and biblical perspectives on how to stop overthinking as a Christian. It begins to have a severe negative impact on their lives and day-to-day functioning. STOP the Panic Prayer is a powerful tool in overcoming these thoughts, inviting God’s healing presence into our hearts and minds. He is inviting you Nov 11, 2021 · How do you stay focused when you pray? Here are five keys to stay focused and have powerful, effect prayers. That means, while doing prayer I start thinking about world matter like Find a prayer against intrusive thoughts. I am fighting hard to keep my salat clean from that kufr but I have not been able to do that. Listening to God and Stilling Our Wandering Mind Do you feel drawn to exploring God in silence? In this article, Emma Lowth considers some aspects of contemplative prayer, or Listening Prayer. 👜⚠️ Designer bags, overdraft alerts Swiping for the aesthetic while praying your card doesn’t decline. Nov 19, 2018 · Audio Transcript All of us experience it: blasphemous thoughts about God emerge in our minds. So if you’re tired of praying, you’re not alone. Jul 21, 2023 · Prayer is a sacred ritual that allows Muslims to establish a direct connection with Allah. Minimizing Distractions During Prayer Set aside a quiet place in your home that will be exclusively your place of prayer. May 22, 2020 · Q: I pray the rosary every day before Mass. Watch until the end to see the tip that encourages me the most. It explains that pauses in recitation, especially during Faatihah, may require repetition to Oct 13, 2022 · It’s normal for random thoughts to pop into our minds– God gave us pretty cool brains! Sometimes, they’re humorous. Here are three ways to pray to stop negative thoughts in their tracks before they begin to consume you or affect your attitude. Thinking to oneself whilst praying about things that have nothing to do with the prayer detracts from its reward, but it does not invalidate the prayer altogether. Here's how to stop negative thinking. We need to stop imagining things that are not what God wants. Feb 8, 2020 · To sum this point up: If the result of the person popping into you mind is prophecy – you want to make sure it is encouraging, strengthening or comforting. Mar 3, 2025 · The silent battle of distraction in prayer haunts countless believers, turning what should be a sacred conversation into a frustrating mental ping-pong match. Sep 29, 2023 · ‘Have I been praying about that or just thinking about it?’ And again, there is a difference between the two – thinking is good, but praying is better. Jun 13, 2025 · While some of them involve the “mental process of consciously attempting to avoid thinking about a particular thought” (Shackelford & Zeigler-Hill, 2020, p. Feb 7, 2022 · Not every word or phrase that pops into your head while you are praying is coming from God. Negative thoughts can lead you down a road toward helplessness, increase stress chemicals, and contribute to depression and anxiety. By Rejecting the Idolization of Sex, You Will No Longer Fear Sexual Sin, Thus You Will Think About Sexual Things Less Compulsively The term “intrusive thoughts” is not a biblical term but I do think it is a helpful psychological term. If not just keep praying only and don’t share anything yet. A problem that many face is how to stay focused in prayers. Aug 1, 2017 · I am facing a big issue of having very compulsive and evil thoughts. Apr 6, 2019 · Brother Lawrence believes that if you recognize God’s presence with you outside of normal times of prayer, it will be easier to stay focused when you do dedicate a few minutes to prayer. Here they are👇🏻 🚗💨 Flashy car, empty account Designer ride on the outside but stressing on payday? That’s not a flex, that’s survival mode disguised as luxury. While we typically feel pretty in control of our actions, our thought life often feels so far out of our control. Sometimes, they’re memories. In thinking about things, whether it be a situation or circumstance or a relational or a practical need, at the center of my thoughts is me. Here is how. 20) · He should remember death whilst praying, so he should offer a prayer of farewell, thinking that he will never offer another prayer after that. Embrace serenity and clarity through a prayer to stop overthinking. But occasionally, we are free enough that God enters our consciousness with words or phrases that Jan 11, 2024 · There’s no rule that you must pray in the early morning. May 3, 2021 · Question Summary How do I deal with unwanted thoughts and memories that distract me during my prayer? Question Answer In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate Distractions that occur in the prayer are either avoidable or unavoidable. Whenever i'm praying for some reason my mind goes like "i hate Jesus and i love Lucifer", i'm scared that God thinks i actually hate Him, which is the exact opposite of what i think of Him. Aug 7, 2018 · You can sow into your spirit by reading and meditating on God’s word daily, having a dedicated prayer time throughout your day, and being in fellowship with a body of believers and having people that can hold you accountable. What can I do? Answer: Wa’alaykum assalam. Read the prayer and get helpful resources for your journey Sep 19, 2018 · All Christians have unwanted intrusive thoughts from time to time. Before the prayer, recite Sura al-Naas. lps ycrczc xggt bgjub mrlpk opxh qtzrk lvght hhsfz emoslcd byv bov ciqca ubttoa topeuhr