Breath Prayers

You may remember the story about a mom making pancakes for her two sons, ages 4 and 6. The boys begin to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw an opportunity for a little life lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, he would say, “Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait. So, the older brother turned to the younger brother and said, “OK Ryan, you be Jesus!”

Isn’t that just the way it is? On Sunday, when we’re at church and we’re inspired and all together, it’s one thing. But when we’re back out in the world, amid the pressure of work and schools, and troubled relationships, human nature takes over. It becomes much harder to embrace this beautiful way of life that God has offered us.

In her book Soul Feast, Marjory Thompson writes about an ancient practice called 

“Breath Prayer.” This is a very simple prayer of few words that can be prayed regularly throughout the day. When faced with the challenges of everyday life, it can help recenter and restore balance. In the Hebrew and Greek languages, the words breath and Spirit are the same word. If you practice this often enough, it becomes almost as second nature as breathing, inviting the Spirit to fill you with each breath. 

Here are some examples:

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.
Lord, grant me your peace.
Teach me patience, Gracious God.
Give me strength, O Christ.
Come, Lord Jesus! 

You can write your own, or use a verse of scripture in the same way. The idea is that as your prayer is repeated over time, you become more and more aware that God’s peace, strength, and presence are as near to you as your next breath. 

Let us pray: Holy God, In the midst of days that are busy and yet sometimes lonely, we ask you to meet us. Meet us in quiet moments and in stressful situations, in doctor’s offices and in school, in board rooms and workstations, in traffic, and in outings with friends. Be here with us – even now. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.