Spiritual exercise: Breath prayer
Is it sometimes difficult to know what words to pray? Have you ever felt like prayer is hard? If so, here’s a simple prayer practice you may like to try this year.
“Breathing is an unconscious thing. And breath prayer reminds us that just as we can’t live on one breath of air, we can’t live on one breath of God.”—by Adele Calhoun
Acts 17:38 “In Him we live and move and have our being”
Learning from the Christian spiritual leaders of the past has been helpful, healing, and a deepening of my relationship and life with God. This prayer practice is also known as “prayer of the heart.” I offer you this “simple one-sentence prayer that begins with a biblical name of God that is meaningful to you…connect the prayer to your breathing and return to it throughout the day until it becomes a soul reflex.” —Adele Calhoun
“Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone.”—Brother Lawrence
Here is some guidance from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us:
Invitation. Find a quiet and comfortable place to be still with God. Begin with a few deep breaths, slowly breathing in and out.
Begin “pondering the nearness of God” giving yourself time to be still in this moment.
“Deeply breathe in, repeating any name of God that is dear to you (for example, choose one):
“Abba,” then breathe out “I belong to you.” In the exhale, speak aloud this deep desire of your heart, give voice to your desired nearness of God.
breathe in “Healer” then breathe out “speak the word and I shall be healed”
breathe in “Shepherd” breath out “I have all that I need”
Or you may wish to use the familiar Jesus Prayer—
breathe in ”Lord Jesus Christ” then breathe out “have mercy on me”
Some wording and quotations have been taken from Adele Calhoun’s book Spiritual Disciplines Handbook: Practices That Transform Us
