Day 85 – Breath Prayer
Praying breath prayers – prayers that you can pray in one breath – is a valuable exercise in practicing God’s presence.
Brother Lawrence illustrated: “Formulate a few words interiorly, such as: ‘My God, I am completely yours,’ or ‘God of love, I love you with all my heart,’ or ‘Lord, fashion me according to your heart,’ or any other words love spontaneously produces.”
Simple breath prayers can express our heartfelt desires, keep our minds fixed on God, and move our wills to remain with God.
Breath prayers can be drawn from the many names and titles of God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit:
• Almighty God, Creator God, Father God, Sovereign Lord. Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD (Isaiah 11:2).
Breath prayers can be taken from a multitude of expressive lines in the Scriptures, especially the Psalms:
• Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening (1 Samuel 3:9). Here am I. Send me! (Isaiah 6:8). Your kingdom come (Luke 11:2). Jesus, have mercy on me! (Luke 18:38). Not my will, but yours be done (Luke 22:42). Come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).
• The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? (Psalm 27:1). Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Psalm 51:10). The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation (Psalm 118:14).
Breath prayers can be a word or phrase that captures your God-given desires:
• Holiness. Love. Truth. Power. Lord, I want to be holy. Help me love others. Sanctify me by your truth. Cover me with the blood of Jesus. I die to myself, Lord. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Lead and guide me today. Use me for your glory.
Just as we breathe all the time, we can live in fellowship with God all the time in a natural, rhythmic way. Repeating a breath prayer is one way you can stay with God throughout the day – a moment-by-moment companionship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
And just as we breathe out and in, we can let go and take in. Breathing out our sinful nature. Breathing in Christ’s nature. Breathing out – releasing all that is not of God. Breathing in – receiving all that God has for us.
Anchor your soul in God. Live out of the center of Christ in you. Let all you do flow from that center. Living a life of prayer can be as simple as breathing.
Action Step: Pray a simple breath prayer throughout the day.
This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave
