I think praying can bring positive attention to yourself or whatever you are focusing on with your words, this has to be beneficial! And perhaps it is what should follow a meditation in which you are clearing your thoughts and settled into a place where you can then start to control and direct them.

I have Spotify, and there are 100's of short and long guided meditations available - I'm finding these useful right now.

When I first started back in my early 20's, I was learning from books and found this useful also. Some people use a candle to keep their focus but the main point is to steadily clear your mind, accept what thoughts arrive and let them pass until there is pretty much silence up there - then, the theory is that, you can start to guide your mind and project positivity into future events.

And if you agree that positive thinking can have an effect on your future, would you ever miss a day? I'm annoyed with myself for letting so much time pass, distracted by the various forms of life and living, without taking some time for myself. Better late than never though eh!