Prayer in Unity
Affirmative Prayer in Action
Prayer changes everything – because it changes us!
An essential part of our identity as a spiritual entity, prayer is how we know, feel, and experience our Oneness, our Divinity. Sometimes, newcomers to Unity are surprised that we don’t pray to ask God for favors or specific results, which leads many to ask, Why do we pray?
The answer is simple. We pray to lift our awareness to the presence of God within and all around us. At Unity San Francisco, we begin and end all of our Services, classes, and meetings with prayer and in gratitude. We don’t pray to change or affect God – rather, we pray to change ourselves, to shift our awareness away from the busyness, noise, and concerns of our day-to-day lives, and rest in the awareness of God that is perfect peace.
Through regular, consistent prayer practice, we are able to live this peace in our daily lives, knowing that no matter what situations we encounter, we are peaceful in the face of turmoil or conflict, confident instead of doubtful, loving in the presence of hatred or intolerance, and prosperous even when circumstances suggest lack or impermanence.


Affirmative Prayer
Affirmative Prayer, Unity’s unique approach to prayer, is a powerful tool – not to cajole, beseech, or impress a God of our understanding, but to change our perception of a situation and any false beliefs or limiting ideas we may hold about it or ourselves.
Imagine a clear jug to which is added a mixture of different colored dyes until the bottom of the jug contains a dark, murky mixture. Then, imagine pouring pure, clear water into the jug. As the pure, clean water is added to the vessel, it dilutes the murky mixture. The more clear water is added to the jug, the clearer the mixture becomes – until it has no more tint from the dye.
Affirmative Prayer works in very much the same way; it acts like the clearing agent before being poured into the jug to dilute the mixture of anxious, fearful, and counterproductive feelings that are swirling in our consciousness. At its heart, Affirmative Prayer aligns us with our divinity, opens us to possibilities and new ways of being, and supercharges our spiritual growth.
Prayer Chaplains
Through the power of Affirmative Prayer, we anchor, embrace, and embody Divine Truth for ourselves, Unity San Francisco, and the world.
Unity San Francisco Prayer Chaplain Mission Statement
Unity San Francisco’s Prayer Chaplains have made a commitment to living a life of Affirmative Prayer in service to a world that works for everyone.
- Prayer Chaplains support your spiritual journey.
- Prayer Chaplains hold sacred space.
- Prayer Chaplains listen compassionately.
For more information about the Prayer Chaplains and their role at Unity San Francisco, or if you are interested in becoming one yourself, please feel free to contact the Prayer Chaplains at prayer@unitysf.com. You may also submit a Prayer Request by using the buttons below. We look forward to praying with you!
