Breath Prayers
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Breath Prayer is one way that we can pray. We have to breathe to survive. Our breath renews our body and supports life. The
Hebrew word for the Holy Spirit is ruach (roo-ack), which means "spirit." It also means "wind"
and "breath." Take a deep breathe, imagine the spirit of God filling your lungs, filling your body. Slowly exhale.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "Pray at all times." One way to do this is by praying a
breath prayer.
Here is one way to do a Breath Prayer (remember there is no right or wrong way to pray. Prayer is simply
talking with God):
First, think of and list as many names for God as you
can. Then ask each person to pick the name for God he or she likes the best. Imagine God is in front of you. God calls you
by name and asks, "What do you want?" Try not to name things. Instead, think of something that like "give me
a good day" or "help me not fight with my sister." Keep it short, just five or six words. Put your favorite
name for God together with your prayer. You might say, "God, give me a good day" or "Jesus, help me."
Say your prayer to yourself once or twice. Now, match your prayer to your breath. If my prayer
is, "God give me a good day," I'll pray "God give me" as I inhale and "a good day" as I exhale.
Pray your prayer again, to yourself.
You can pray your breath prayer anytime.
If you want to change your prayer, that's fine. This week, try praying your breath prayer. Because it may be new, you might
need a reminder. What would help you remember? You might want to pray your prayer every time you hear your Mom's voice, or
every time you have something to drink, or every time you hear the phone ring. Or, maybe you write "Pray" on a sticky
note and stick it to your bedroom wall.
