This season of Lent I have been intentionally slowing down and listening to God. The use of breath prayers has helped me in this practice.
Breath prayers are short prayers said in one breath. Simple, repetitive and surprisingly ancient. The breath prayer generally involves quietly repeating a chosen phrase for several minutes, allowing the prayer to take on the shape of one’s breathing so that the words accompany every breath.
Examples of common breath prayers are “In you, Lord, I put my trust,” “Help me understand your ways, Lord,” “Lord I am yours,” “ I am, God’s Beloved,” and “My Lord and my God.” The idea is to pick a meaningful phrase and repeat it until it becomes a part of your being.
Perhaps the most famous breath prayer is the Jesus Prayer. This prayer goes like this: “Lord Jesus Christ” (while breathing in), “have mercy on me, a sinner” (while breathing out). This is done repeatedly until all is stilled within your heart.
I am rereading the classic, The Way of a Pilgrim, that tells the story about the Jesus Prayer. The title alone intrigues me since WAY is my word of the year and the practice of breath prayers have been so beneficial for me.
Breath prayers can be helpful when you just don’t know what to pray, like in times of spiritual dryness or difficulties. This prayer expresses dependence and trust in God that often produces a calm and a sense of nearness to the Lord.
Breath prayer becomes our lifeline – like oxygen at the top of the mountain – where day-to-day living is rough, where we gasp for lifegiving air, the spirit of life. Soon prayer permeates our every moment. God’s presence bathes our body and spirit reminding us he is with us.
If you want to learn more, I wrote a book about breath prayers called Whispers – Being With God in Breath Prayers. I relooked at this book this month and noticed it is ten years old in March. Happy Birthday Whispers!
God is the air – surrounding us, sustaining us, within us. God is life. Breath prayers help me remember this amazing God so close, so nurturing, so loving. This is a wonderful practice to enhance your Lenten journey.
How are you praying this Lenten season?
Thank you for introducing me to breath prayers Jean–about ten years ago! God gave me one as we waited for my husband’s liver transplant in 2018: “I am trusting You/ my loving, sovereign Savior.” It still comes to mind when anxiety starts to build.
I love love breath prayers and they have been vital for me this Lenten seasons. Isn’t it amazing how God will send us just the right one – like the one you shared – for the right time and how it remains with us as a gift from God!