03/11/2025
Sometimes, life can feel like too much—restlessness, rushing, and restrictive. In those moments, it’s hard to catch your breath.
I had asthma when I was young, and one of my sons is navigating a similar journey. When it’s hard to breathe, we’re taught to breathe deeper. To slow each inhale and further extend the exhale with intentional breaths, often inhaling medication at the same time. I’ve heard similar breathing techniques to calm anxiety, which is why the concept of breath prayer felt natural to me when I first came across it.
Breath prayer is a spiritual practice that has been part of Christian tradition for centuries.
It combines the rhythm of your breathing with short intentional prayers, helping you connect with God with your whole self. This practice is wonderfully simple: you repeat two short phrases, one with each inhale and exhale, allowing your prayer to become as natural as breathing.
I’ve come to treasure the way these prayers slow my heart, focus my attention, and remind me of God’s constant presence. So on each day of this plan, I’ll share a new breath prayer with you.
Genesis 2:7 NASB1995Then the Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.
Job 33:4 NASB1995The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Psalms 33:6 NASB1995By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 NASB1995pray without ceasing;
Breath itself is beautifully tied to God. In Genesis, we see God speak the world into existence. Speech, after all, is breath and sound put together. Then, God forms humanity from the dust of the earth, His own exhale giving us life. Let every inhale and exhale remind you of your dependence on Him.
Even God’s name, Yahweh, connects to breath. Many theologians note how our inhaling and exhaling seem to echo the syllables of His name—Yah (inhale) and Weh (exhale).
Take a few quiet breaths and see if it sounds that way to you. Can you hear how His name resonates in the rhythm of your breath?
Breathing is both a reminder to pray without ceasing and also a simple practice of it whenever you notice your breath whispering God’s name. What better way to calm our hearts than to quiet ourselves and breathe, letting our souls align with the God who gave us life?
As you go through your day today, I invite you to practice mindful breathing.
Let your breath become a prayer as you whisper His name.
As we end today’s reading, let’s pray together.
You don’t need elaborate words or perfect focus. Pause for a moment and notice your breath. This seemingly small act—drawing air in and out—is because God has given you life.
As you breathe, reflect on the truth that you are calling on God with each inhale and exhale.
Whisper His name out loud or say it internally as you breathe:
Inhale: YahExhale: Weh
Yahweh.
If words feel too much, just focus on your breathing, knowing that even the rhythm of your breath calls out to Him.
Do this a few times, letting each breath grow slower and deeper. Let this simple one-word prayer remind you of God’s closeness. With each inhale, invite Him closer. With each exhale, release your burdens into His care.
God is near, as close as your next breath, delighting in your presence and your desire to connect with Him.
Tomorrow we’ll explore how His mercy meets us in our greatest needs, and in the most tender ways.
