A breath prayer is exactly what it sounds like. A prayer you breathe. And as often as you become aware of your breathing, you can incorporate your own personal breath prayer.
This way of breathing is embodied, biblical and accessible. They can be used in line at the grocery store, before you send a difficult email, or in moments when you’re off-center and need a reminder of God’s presence.
Discover your own Breath Prayer
There’s a plethora of information out there on breath prayers, so this post will be kept short, and I’ll (as I often do) send you to other experts (see below).
But before that, a quick for-your-consideration list if you want to create your own personalized breath prayer:
- A favorite scripture verse that brings comfort
- A word or name for God that you connect with (is this helpful?)
- A line from a poem or song
Here are some of my personal favorites, if you don’t want to write your own. I’m using the / to indicate the inhale / exhale break.
- I am one in whom / Christ dwells and delights. (James Bryan Smith)
- Abba* / I belong to you (Brennan Manning’s, according to JBS)
- The peace of God / guards my heart. (Phil 4:7)
- Lord Jesus Christ / Have mercy on me (The Jesus Prayer)
- The Lord is my Shepherd / I have everything I need. (Psalm 23)
- Oh God / gather me now
to be with you / as you are with me. (Ted Loder) (on the longer side)
*Abba – (Aramaic) an intimate way to talk to Father God, perhaps what Jesus called his Father.