For years, I have struggled with worry. From a young age, I would stress about tests that I needed to take, the papers I needed to write, and even the discussions I needed to have in my classes. I have a distinct memory from my freshman year of high school.
My friends were tired of my voicing all of my worries and gave me a limit each day of what I could worry about. Once I reached that limit, I was not allowed to talk about them anymore. Being the people pleaser and rule follower I was, I abided. When I reached my limit within the first hour of the day, I was in disbelief. It was then that I realized that this was a serious problem in my life.
A couple of years later, when I became a Christian, I wish I could say that my worrying changed. However, my struggle with worry did not subside. In fact, I struggle to this day with worry. I feel that is one of the ways the enemy sneaks into my life and tries to take my eyes off of Jesus.
Practices that Help You Center in God
As I have grown, I have learned grounding practices that help me stay centered in God’s love and to not get lost in my worries. One of those practices is breath prayer. A breath prayer is a word or phrase to repeat in a single breath with one part on the inhale and the other part on the exhale. Breath prayers have been a part of Christian practice for generations and are often centered on Scripture.
The most well-known breath prayer is called the Jesus Prayer and comes from Mark 10:47. “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.”
Breath prayers are simple to incorporate into your life because 1) you have to breathe to live, 2) no right or wrong way to do it, and 3) can be done any time, any place.
What Is Breath Prayer?
Author Kayla Craig offers this explanation in her book To Light Their Way: “Breath prayers are short meditations to help you focus your body and mind on the One who gives each breath. Breath prayer is simply an invitation to take a moment to breath and center your thoughts on the reality of the Creator, who dwells in you and among you always.”
What I have found so helpful with breath prayers is that it slows down my pace, helps me to focus on what is true, and anchors me in God’s love. I have discovered that breath prayers help me quiet my worries, calming me down when I feel overwhelmed. I often pray “Lord Jesus Christ, help me to rest in you.” Breath prayers are simple to incorporate into your life because 1) you have to breathe to live, 2) no right or wrong way to do it, and 3) can be done any time, any place.
Why Do Breath Prayers Help?
Breath prayers have also helped me with my parenting and how I model for my kids how connecting with God is important and comforting. Let me ask you a question: when a child is upset, what is one of the first things that you may say? For me, I find myself saying either “calm down” or “breathe”.
But what would it look like to model a breath prayer in that moment?
When my kids get overwhelmed with emotion and are having a hard time breathing because they are so upset, I now breathe with them and say a breath prayer. For my son, he often prays, “Jesus, help me to be calm.” What could it look like for you to model a breath prayer when helping a child cope with a hard emotion?
How to Use Breath Prayer in Community
I have uncovered that breath prayers are also simple for families to do together. Incorporating it at bedtime or at school drop-off, reciting a breath prayer together can be the way to place Jesus at the center. Over the past several months, I have been inviting others in our church community to join us in praying specific breath prayers. What has been beautiful is hearing stories of how these prayers have helped in times of uncertainty and in times of celebration. What matters the most is centering ourselves on the truth of who God is and who we are in Him.
Maybe you are like me and tend to worry, become overwhelmed with what is before you. Breath prayers have allowed me to focus on God’s promise that He is with me and helping me every step of the way. “Jesus, carry this load.”
What might your breath prayer be today? How might you be changed?
Never done a breath prayer before? Try one of these:
Give It to Jesus
Inhale: Because of Jesus,…
Exhale: I am free.
Inhale: Jesus,
Exhale: You are everything I need.
Inhale: God, You are working …
Exhale: help me to see.
Wonder Ink’s 3-year, 52-week children’s ministry curriculum offers kids space to fully find their place in God’s Big Story. Children discover they are Known by God, Loved by Jesus, and Led by the Holy Spirit.
