Life is noisy. Your mind is full. Your emotions are heavy. And sometimes, when you want to pray, you don’t even know where to start. That’s where the Set Aside Prayer comes in a simple, honest daily prayer where you ask God to help you lay aside your own thoughts, fears, assumptions, and plans, so you can clearly hear His voice.
This isn’t a long, complicated religious ritual. It’s a heart posture:
“Lord, help me set aside everything that blocks me from You.”
In this article, you’ll learn what the Set Aside Prayer is, how to pray it daily, why it’s powerful, and Bible verses to stand on as you pray. By the end, you’ll have a simple but deep prayer you can use every day to surrender your worries and hear God more clearly.
What Is the Set Aside Prayer?
The Set Aside Prayer is a simple prayer where you intentionally ask God to help you set aside:
Your own understanding
Your fears and anxiety
Your pride and self-will
Your assumptions about people, situations, or even about God
Any spiritual blindness or confusion
So you can receive:
It’s basically saying, “Lord, I want to see things Your way, not my way.”
This kind of prayer is powerful because it pulls down the walls we build in our hearts. It invites God to come and rearrange our thinking and guide us into truth.
The Set Aside Prayer (You Can Pray This Daily)
You can personalize it, but here is a simple version you can use every day:
Heavenly Father,
Today I come before You just as I am.
I ask that You help me set aside everything that I think I know about myself,
about others, about my situation, and about You.Lord, I lay down my worries, fears, pride, anger, and confusion.
I surrender my own understanding and my desire to control everything.Please remove every blind spot in my heart.
Open my eyes to see Your truth.
Open my ears to hear Your voice clearly.Fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Teach me, guide me, correct me, and lead me in Your will.I trust that Your plans for me are good,
and I choose to rest in Your love and wisdom today.In Jesus’ Name I pray,
Amen.
You can pray this in the morning before you start your day, when you feel overwhelmed, or whenever your mind feels cluttered.
How to Use the Set Aside Prayer in Your Daily Life
Pray It Slowly and Honestly
Don’t rush the words. Say them with intention. When you say, “I lay down my worries,” think about the actual worries and silently hand them over to God.
You can pause and mention specific things:
“Lord, I set aside my fear of losing this job.”
“I set aside my anger toward this person.”
“I set aside my anxiety about the future.”
Combine It with Scripture
The Set Aside Prayer becomes even more powerful when you pray it with God’s Word. For example:
When you say, “I surrender my own understanding,” remember:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
When you say, “Open my eyes to see Your truth,” remember:
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” – Psalm 119:18
Use It Before Making Decisions
When you have a major choice to make, pray the Set Aside Prayer first:
“Lord, I set aside my own opinion, my fear of people, and my desire to impress anyone. Help me hear what You are saying and obey You.”
This helps you avoid emotional decisions and instead move with God’s wisdom and peace.
Pray It When You’re Offended or Hurt
When someone hurts you, your flesh wants to react. But you can say:
“Lord, help me set aside my anger, assumptions, and desire to defend myself. Show me what You want me to learn and how You want me to respond.”
This kind of prayer protects your heart from bitterness and keeps you spiritually sensitive.
Make It a Habit, Not a One-Time Prayer
The Set Aside Prayer works best when it becomes a daily habit. The more you pray it, the more you notice:
Less anxiety
More peace
More clarity
More sensitivity to God’s leading
You’re training your heart to say: “Lord, Your way, not mine.”
Why the Set Aside Prayer Is So Powerful
It Deals with Pride Quietly
Pride doesn’t always look loud; sometimes it looks like:
“I know what’s best.”
“Nobody understands me.”
“I don’t need help.”
When you pray, “Lord, I set aside what I think I know,” you are humbling yourself before God. And what does the Bible say?
“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” – James 4:6
Humility attracts grace. The Set Aside Prayer positions your heart to receive grace.
It Clears Mental and Spiritual Clutter
Your mind can be full of:
Overthinking
Worry
Past trauma
Negative voices
Self-condemnation
The Set Aside Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to clean the inner room of your heart. When the clutter goes, God’s voice becomes clearer.
It Shifts Your Focus from Self to God
Instead of being trapped in your feelings and thoughts, you turn your attention to:
God’s character
God’s faithfulness
God’s wisdom
God’s love
This shift alone brings peace. The Bible says:
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” – Isaiah 26:3
The Set Aside Prayer helps you fix your mind back on God.
Bible Verses to Support the Set Aside Prayer
Here are some scriptures you can meditate on and include in your prayer time:
Proverbs 3:5–6 (Trust, Not Your Own Understanding)
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
You can pray:
“Lord, I set aside my own understanding and choose to trust You.”
Psalm 139:23–24 (Search My Heart)
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
You can pray:
“Lord, show me my blind spots and lead me in Your way.”
James 1:5 (Ask for Wisdom)
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
You can pray:
“Lord, I set aside my confusion. Please give me Your wisdom.”
Psalm 46:10 (Be Still)
“Be still, and know that I am God…”
You can pray:
“Lord, calm my mind and help me be still in Your presence.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 (Take Thoughts Captive)
“…we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”
You can pray:
“Lord, I set aside every negative and lying thought. Help me bring my mind under the obedience of Christ.”
When Should You Pray the Set Aside Prayer?
You can pray it anytime, but here are some powerful moments:
In the morning – to surrender your day before it starts
Before reading the Bible – to set aside your assumptions and receive revelation
Before making big decisions – to avoid emotional or fear-based choices
When you feel overwhelmed – to hand over your worries to God
When you feel spiritually dry – to ask God for fresh fire and clarity
You don’t need a perfect mood; you just need an honest heart.
How to Personalize the Set Aside Prayer
You can make this prayer your own. Here are some lines you can add or adjust:
“Lord, I set aside my fear of failure.”
“I set aside my desire to be in control.”
“I set aside the lies I’ve believed about myself.”
“I set aside what people have said about me that doesn’t align with Your Word.”
“I set aside the guilt and shame of my past.”
The more specific you are, the deeper the healing and surrender.
Prayer Points for Set Aside Prayer
You can use these prayer points during your quiet time. Turn each one into a heartfelt conversation with God:
Lord, help me set aside my own understanding.
“Father, I lay down my own opinions, assumptions, and conclusions. Help me see things the way You see them.”
Lord, I set aside fear and anxiety.
“God, I surrender every fear about my future, my family, my finances, and my health. Fill my heart with Your peace.”
Lord, remove pride and self-will from my heart.
“Heavenly Father, break every hidden pride in me. Help me stop insisting on my own way and yield to Your will.”
Lord, open my spiritual eyes and ears.
“Holy Spirit, remove every veil from my mind. Help me recognize Your voice, Your nudges, and Your warnings clearly.”
Lord, help me forgive and release others.
“Father, I set aside bitterness, offense, and resentment. Give me the grace to forgive those who have hurt me.”
Lord, I set aside every lie I’ve believed about myself.
“God, expose negative beliefs and self-hatred in my heart. Help me accept and believe what You say about me.”
Lord, teach me to trust Your timing.
“Father, I set aside impatience and frustration. Help me wait on You and rest in Your perfect timing.”
Lord, guide my decisions today.
“Holy Spirit, I set aside confusion and double-mindedness. Give me wisdom and clarity in every decision I make.”
Lord, cleanse my heart from hidden sins.
“Search me, O God, and reveal anything in me that doesn’t please You. Give me the courage to repent and change.”
Lord, let Your will override my will.
“Father, not my will, but Yours be done in my life, my relationships, my work, and my future.”
You can turn these into a daily list, or pick 2–3 each day as the Spirit leads.
FAQs About the Set Aside Prayer
What is the purpose of the Set Aside Prayer?
The purpose of the Set Aside Prayer is to help you let go of your own understanding, emotions, and assumptions so you can clearly hear and follow God’s will. It’s a daily act of surrender that positions your heart to receive God’s wisdom, peace, and direction.
Is the Set Aside Prayer in the Bible?
The exact phrase “Set Aside Prayer” is not in the Bible, but the principle behind it is very biblical. Scriptures like Proverbs 3:5–6 (not leaning on your own understanding), Psalm 139:23–24 (asking God to search your heart), and James 1:5 (asking for wisdom) all support this kind of prayer of surrender and humility.
How often should I pray the Set Aside Prayer?
You can pray it daily, especially in the morning before you start your day. You can also pray it:
Before reading the Bible
Before making important decisions
When you feel overwhelmed, anxious, or confused
There is no strict rule—what matters is sincerity, not routine.
Can I change the words of the Set Aside Prayer?
Yes, absolutely. The Set Aside Prayer is not a rigid formula; it’s a heart cry. You are encouraged to personalize it by adding your own struggles, fears, and situations. God is more interested in your honesty than in perfect wording.
Will praying the Set Aside Prayer instantly solve my problems?
Not always. This prayer is less about instantly fixing situations and more about transforming your heart and aligning your mind with God’s will. Over time, you’ll notice more peace, clarity, and spiritual growth—even if your circumstances don’t change immediately.
What if I don’t “feel” anything when I pray it?
Feelings are not always a sign of God’s presence. Sometimes you will feel peace, sometimes you won’t feel anything—but God still hears you. Keep praying in faith, trusting His Word, not your emotions. The transformation often happens quietly and gradually.
Can new believers pray the Set Aside Prayer?
Yes. In fact, it’s a powerful starting point for new believers because it teaches them from the beginning to depend on God, not themselves. It’s simple, honest, and easy to understand.
Assignment: Try the Set Aside Prayer for 7 Days
If this teaching has blessed you, don’t just read and move on—practice it.
Here’s a simple challenge for you:
For the next 7 days, pray the Set Aside Prayer once every morning.
Each day:
Find a quiet place, even if it’s just a few minutes.
Pray the Set Aside Prayer slowly and sincerely.
Add 2–3 of the prayer points that match what you’re going through.
Read at least one of the scriptures mentioned in this article.
Write down anything God shows you, any peace you feel, or any decisions He gives you clarity on.
After 7 days, look back and see:
Has your mind become calmer?
Are you more sensitive to God’s leading?
Do you feel less driven by fear and more led by peace?
If this Set Aside Prayer has helped you, share it with a friend or family member who is feeling overwhelmed, confused, or spiritually dry. You never know whose life God will touch through your simple act of sharing.
Final Encouragement
You don’t have to carry everything in your head and heart alone. The Set Aside Prayer is not about being super spiritual; it’s about being real with God:
“Lord, I’m tired of doing this my way. Help me set it all aside and see through Your eyes.”
As you pray this daily, expect:
Fresh peace
Clearer spiritual hearing
Deeper humility
Stronger trust in God’s plan
God is not confused about your life. He isn’t overwhelmed by what overwhelms you. When you set aside your worries and open your heart, you give Him room to speak, lead, and heal.