Breath Prayers from the Bible

By Bill Gaultiere © 2006, 2011

What a blessing it is to use a beloved Bible verses as a short Breath Prayer. Breathing slow and deep as you meditate on a verse of Scripture can be a special way of Abiding in Prayer that God uses to restore our souls in his peace.

A Breath Prayer rhythm is simple: Breathe in slow and deep as you whisper or think on a Bible phrase and hold your breath… Then exhale. It’s that easy.

Why Breathe a Prayer?

Why focus on your breathing? This is not an Eastern meditation approach to reach Nirvana. It’s a Christian practice that goes back to the 3rd Century. This approach to Breath Prayers is a way to be intentional about using your body to focus your mind and engage your heart on praying Scripture. You’re training yourself to be with Jesus and become more like him.

Using Breath Prayers have helped many people I counsel or mentor to draw closer to the Lord Jesus Christ and thereby to overcome worry, fear, low self-esteem, compulsive behavior, or anger. This simple practice can make for a delightful time of meditating on Scripture and then throughout the day you can use your Bible phrase as a little arrow prayer that you shoot up as often as you can remember, which helps you to learn to follow Paul’s teaching to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

To meditate deeply on Scripture is to “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). We take God’s Word from our mind down, down, down into our heart so that our will is formed by it. Breath Prayer meditations on Scripture help us to become as the branch that abides in the Christ-Vine to bear fruit naturally (John 15:1-7).

Breath Prayer Rhythms

For Breath Prayer I find a particular breathing pattern that fits the Bible verse and aids in meditation. To help you follow along I put ellipses after the part of the prayer that you whisper or think as you breathe in.

There are three basic patterns:

1. Breathe in a Bible phrase..
2. Breathe in half of a Bible phrase… Breathe out the other half.
3. Wait to breathe as you meditate on the first part of a Bible phrase / Breathe in the second part… / Breathe out the third part.

Experiment

Try it. That’s the way you’ll understand the value of Breath Prayers.

At first it might feel awkward, as it takes practice for slow, deep breathing to become natural and beneficial. It also takes practice using the Breath Prayer rhythms below before their meanings become deeply associated with your breathing pattern such that they live in your unconscious mind and don’t require much thought.

Rely on the Spirit of Christ to assist you, helping you to find the Bible phrase you most need to pray and to get into a good rhythm with it. He may lead you to develop your own Breath Prayer that will have special meaning for you.

Favorite Breath Prayers from the Bible

Here are some of the Breath Prayers from the Bible that have been most helpful to people. Each includes a suggested breathing rhythm for you to try. (All verses are NIV 1984 unless indicated otherwise.)

Listen to God

“Speak Lord, for your servant hears…” (1 Samuel 3:9 & 10, NKJV).

Try it this way: Ask God a question. Then breathe your longing to hear God’s words… Breathe out stress and hurry.

Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd… I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1, KJV).

Try it this way: Breathe in to entrust yourself to Jesus… Breathe out to let go of wanting _______.

Submit to Father God

“Father… into your hands I commit my spirit” (Psalm 31:5 & Luke 23:46).

Try it this way: Breathe in the Father’s love… Breathe out to stop tying to control or worry about the outcome of ________.

Cease Striving

“Know that Jesus is Lord… Cease striving” (Based on Psalm 46:10, NASB).

Try it this way: Breathe in to seek the Lord Jesus… Breathe out to cease striving about _______.

Rest in Christ

“In Christ alone my soul finds rest… Selah” (Based on Psalm 62:1, 5).

Try it this way: Breathe in the peace of Christ… Breathe out your stress.

Center on Jesus

“Jesus, be the center…” (Based on Matthew 17:6-8, MSG, and Matthew 21:9, NLT).

Try it this way: Breathe in to focus on Jesus… Breathe out distractions.

Abba Prayer

“Abba, I belong to you…” (Brennan Manning’s prayer based on Romans 8:15).

Try it this way: Breathe in your longing for Abba… Breathe out to rest in his arms.

Trust the Spirit’s Guidance

“Live by the Spirit… Keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Try it this way: As you’re walking, breathe in to trust the Spirit of Christ… Breathe out to follow his lead.

Humble yourself in Intercession

“In Christ’s humility… Consider others better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).

Try it this way: Breathe in Christ’s love… Breathe out his love for ________.

More Breath Prayers from Soul Shepherding

In “Breath Prayers“ I provide the Biblical basis for this ancient Christian practice and I offer further guidance on a variety of ways to use Breath Prayers. For instance, I discuss ways to apply your prayer to overcome specific problems or to intercede for other people.

“Breath Prayers from the Psalms” includes helpful little prayers using verses from the Bible’s prayerbook.

“Breath Prayers with Jesus” are Christ-centered prayers from the Gospels and Letters of the New Testament.

“Advent Breath Prayers” features a Scripture prayer of the heart from each of the character in the nativity.

Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ SoulShepherding.org