A breath prayer is a short, simple prayer you say in a single breath. It helps focus the mind, and it cultivates a deeper connection with God. Breath prayers should be easy to remember, making them ideal for quick meditative moments throughout the day.
They key advantage to breath prayers is how easy it is to incorporate them into your day. Even if you work long hours at a stressful job, spend most of your time parenting small children, or have very little time to yourself, breath prayers take just small moments of time. You’re back into tackling your responsibilities right away.
Steps for developing and using a breath prayer:
Set a goal.
Reflect for a moment on what your focus is. What do you most need right now? Do you seek peace? Comfort? Insight? This can be the foundation of your prayer.
Create your breath prayer.
Formulate a short sentence about your goal. If the main focus of your prayer is peace, for instance, you might like a prayer such as, “Gentle Savior, bring me peace.” You could also base your breath prayer on a short Bible verse such as, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing,” from Psalm 23:1.
Sync your prayer with your breath.
The idea is to divide the prayer into two parts, one for your inhale and the other for your exhale. I like to have the “inhale” part of the prayer be a name for God and the “exhale” part be a short request or faith statement.
Practice consistently.
Try to integrate your breath prayer into your regular routine. If you’re intentional about this for a few days, then it will become a habit. Try setting a few reminders on your phone when you’re getting started. Once you’ve established it as a part of your day, it will come to you naturally in times of stress.
Be mindful.
Once you’ve tried it for a few days, reflect on its impact. Have you felt more grounded and connected? Has it helped you remain calm? Have new ideas surfaced? Have you tried it at the beginning and end of your day?
Adapt your breath prayer as needed.
You might want to try a few different prayers as your needs change. I like to have a few in mind depending on how my day goes.
Using a breath prayer can be a simple yet powerful way to maintain a sense of connection and focus throughout your day.
I often struggle with my thoughts getting sidetracked. I dwell on a particular situation. Maybe I can’t stop thinking about a difficult conversation. I get caught in a spiral of unconstructive thoughts, and I need to break the cycle. The breath prayer is a great tool for me to use at times like this. I sit down, close my eyes, take a few deep breaths, and repeat a breath prayer several times. It helps me get back on track.
Examples:
In each of these examples, the “inhale” portion will be a name for God, and the “exhale” part will be a specific request or faith statement. I will coordinate the name for God with the other part of the prayer. This puts the focus on God and on God’s ability to meet the need. I like formulating breath prayers this way, but feel free to experiment to find out what works best for you.
Holy God, have mercy on me.
Inhale: “Holy God, …”
Exhale: “have mercy on me.”
This is the breath prayer I use the most often. I like it for times when I’m struggling, have fallen short, or am unsure how to pray about something.
Mighty God, I trust in you.
Inhale: “Mighty God, …”
Exhale: “I trust in you.”
This would work well for situations when I feel overwhelmed or unsure of myself. I just need to remind myself that I can trust God to carry me through. I can rely on God’s strength.
Emmanuel, I know you are near.
Inhale: “Emmanuel, …”
Exhale: “I know you are near.”
I can use this prayer when I feel alone or sad. It’s a good reminder to turn to God for a sense of fulfillment and comfort. God cares about me and has promised to be with me.
Gracious God, guide me now.
Inhale: “Gracious God, …”
Exhale: “guide me now.”
I often need wisdom and discernment. This is a great way of remembering that I can ask for help. My problems may overwhelm me, but they aren’t too big for God.
The Upper Room offers insight on the breath prayer at this link.
I love that it can be practiced anywhere and at any time, making it a versatile tool for spiritual growth. It is especially helpful during moments of stress or anxiety, providing a way to refocus on God’s presence and peace. By grounding prayer in the natural act of breathing, breath prayer becomes a way to embody prayer, making it as natural and essential as the breath itself. Over time, this practice can deepen one’s sense of God’s nearness and foster a continual awareness of God’s love and grace.
If you’re interested in contemplative prayer, you might want to read about imaginative contemplation, welcoming prayer or visio divina as well.
Let me know if you try it–what works for you?
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Fondly,
Crysti
Love this! Leaning in.
“Father God, abide in me.”
This is wonderful! I love your breath prayer, Debra!