Breath Prayer

“Breath Prayer reminds us that each breath we are given is God’s gift and that God’s Spirit is nearer to us than our own breath.”  - Adele Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us

The Breath Prayer is broken up into two parts.

            Inhale:  Speaking the name of God, calling on Him

            Exhale:  breathing out a God given desire

What it is

1.      A repetitive one sentence prayer.

2.      A tool, a prayer to constantly remain with God and be present with Him. 

3.      A way to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:16-18)

4.      A prayer that is not just intellectual (head) or emotional (heart) but involves the physical (body).

5.      A defiant act against hurriedness.  A way to fight a world that is screaming at you to accomplish, produce, and constantly DO.

What it is NOT

1.      Magical instant connection with him, you have to practice

2.      God Himself, it is a tool in order to engage Him.

Examples (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook)

1.      Breathe in “Abba,” breathe out “I belong to you.”

2.      Breathe in “Healer,” breathe out “Speak the word and I shall be healed.”

3.      Breathe in “Shepherd,” breathe out “Bring home my lost son.”

4.      Breathe in “Holy One,” breathe out “Keep me true.”

5.      Breathe in “Lord,” breathe out “here I am.”

6.      Breathe in “Jesus, Son of David” breathe out “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”

7.      Breathe in “Breath of life,” breathe out “Breathe on me.”

Practice (Spiritual Disciplines Handbook)

Get comfortable and breathe deeply.  Intentionally place yourself before God.  In rhythm with your breathing, gratefully inhale the breath of life.  Exhale remembering that Jesus gave His last breath for love of you.  Gently and thankfully repeat, “Breath of life, breathe on me.”

Now write your own...and practice repeating it over and over until it becomes a part of your normal routine.