10 New Breath Prayers
10 New Breath Prayers
May you find ways to breathe prayer through your own life, finding God’s breath in your own breath.
Hi friends,
Today, I wanted to share a few new breath prayers that I’ve been working through over the past month or two.
Breath prayer remains an integral part of my own spiritual practice
because it hits on something to do with embodiment and quiet that I sorely need in my life.I’ve found that this form of prayer is a real low barrier for those of us who sometimes feel a bit weird about prayer or have lost the old pathways of prayer. Sometimes this is the only way I can pray for broad stretches of time. It connects prayer between my body and my soul well - and deep breaths are never a bad thing for any of us.
So today, I have some new breath prayers I’ve been writing for my own self over these past couple of months to share with you. You’ll see some of the recent themes from the Field Notes missives, I imagine, since I usually am writing to you from the centre of whatever is going on in my life and mind and heart any given week, but there are a few others that are still a bit too close to the bone to really share the why/what/how behind them just yet also here below.
I hope that one or two of these prayers serve you but if not, please do take a look through your own life or time in scripture like the Psalms, perhaps a song that is speaking to you right now or a poem or a conversation with a friend, anything. Your own breath prayers have roots in your right-now life. But let’s begin now.
First, How to Practice Breath Prayers
Breath Prayer is an ancient form of prayer and it is easily adaptable. Simply choose one or two lines to meditate on and inhale and then exhale through them.
A Centring Practice to Begin
You can pray a breath prayer literally anywhere without any special rituals or whatever but I’ve found that I like to find a quiet corner for a few minutes and I usually start by lighting a candle.
Then just quietly become aware of your body. Sit in a way that is comfortable for you, a position that will allow you to take a deep breath in and out. Close your eyes.
Imagine a room or a place where you feel safe, your own sanctuary: it can be a real place or one that exists in your imagination. Imagine yourself in that sanctuary. Imagine the way the air smells and the way the light feels.
Breathe slowly and deeply while holding that place in your mind for a few moments, until you have all the details of it gathered around your soul.
You’ll enter into your time of prayer or meditation from within that sanctuary.
The most common or historic form of breath prayer is known as The Jesus Prayer.
So, with that as an example, here’s how it works:
Inhale. Fill your whole self with breath.
Feel the air in your lungs. And then pray:
“Lord Jesus Christ, son of God,”
Exhale slowly and fully.
“Have mercy on me, a sinner.”
And simply repeat this practice. Start with ten good breaths in and out, with the words being spoken aloud or quietly held in your mind, it’s up to you.
Now let’s begin.
10 New Breath Prayers
Inhale: God with us. Exhale: Still, always.
Inhale: Friend of my soul, Exhale: come rest with me
Inhale: Give me an imagination for healing, Exhale: You are the Creator and Sustainer of our restoration.
Inhale: I choose love over fear, Exhale: God, you are steady in every struggle.
Inhale: We are invited to participate in the healing of the world, Exhale: Give me courage to say yes to your good pathway.
Inhale: I release my worry and what-ifs, Exhale: and I welcome Your prevailing peace and holy possibilities.
Inhale: I receive hope in the middle of despair, Exhale: and the good peace of God while right in the eye of a storm.
Inhale: May I know You, Jesus, Exhale: In ordinary love and quiet faithfulness.
Inhale: I release my need for control, Exhale: I trust Your goodness and purpose will prevail.
Inhale: You never withhold Your love from me, Exhale: Help me to receive Your love with open hands.
Within that sanctuary, begin to breathe through one of those prayers you’ve chosen as we discussed above.
And then:
When you are finished, imagine yourself slowly leaving that sanctuary.
Transition slowly from prayer to rising.
May you find ways to breathe prayer through your own life, finding God’s breath in your own breath.
Love S.
YOUR TURN: If you have your own Breath Prayer you want to offer up to others as a gift, please just click through to the comments and share with us.
And in case you missed these recent Field Notes:
Relentless nuance, finding community, parenting failures, and other answers to your questions: Ask Me Anything (for everyone)
In my defence, I had fun: Our family holiday to Florida plus the shows, podcasts, and more of the Good Things (for subscribers)
Pansies: We're all a patchwork quilt of love and story (for subscribers)
Do you want to be well?: We want love and peace with meat on the bones. (for everyone)
I never read more than when I have other things to do: My favourite recent read plus all the books I finished lately and Kindle deals for you (for subscribers)
Evolving Faith News! (for everyone)
The Field Notes Greatest Hits
Breath Prayers for Anxious Times: A centering practice for us in these unusual days
I guess that was it: On letting yourself notice when the story is changing
Love this in particular: On pandemics, baths, and the practice of the presence of God
I've known revival: Or, This is probably not actually about Asbury
Penny in the Air: In celebration of Pride Month, here is my own story of becoming LGBTQ+ affirming
I first shared about breath prayer with you all way back in the early days of the pandemic in March 2020 with Breath Prayers for Anxious Times. Some of that also found it’s way into my collaborative book, A Rhythm of Prayer about a year later.
Breath prayers are one of my most treasured spiritual practices.
My go-to is:
"The place I am (sitting/standing/laying)
Is holy ground"
Thank you for some new options ♥️
Love these. I frequently go to “Be” “Loved” and sit with it until it organically shifts from a reminder to let myself “Be Loved” into the affirmation of being “Beloved”