Breath Prayer: New Life

Feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or unsure? One of the simplest, most practical ways we can connect with God and ourselves anytime, anywhere is Breath Prayer. 

Take a few minutes to practice this gentle breath prayer that invites renewal. Short cues help your body settle as we move from reflection to silence to closing prayer and practical next steps.

For more on the theme New Life, see page 103 of With God in Every Breath by Whitney R. Simpson.

Transcript

Reflecting On New Life

Settling The Body And Breath

Naming God On The Inhale

Exhaling Give Me New Life

Guided Quiet And Closing Prayer

Resources And Ways To Connect

SPEAKER_00 0:02

Hi, I'm Whitney, and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. One of the most simple and practical practices that we can do anytime, anywhere, to connect with God and ourselves is breath prayer. Breath prayer is one of my favorites, and it comes quite naturally to me sometimes when I feel overwhelmed, afraid, anxious. I use my breath to center, to draw close to God, to find hope, to recognize something good around me. And so today, I invite you to breathe with me as we welcome new life. Ponder that for just a moment. What do you think of when you hear the words new life? Maybe it's a newborn baby or buds appearing on a tree in the spring. Flowers starting to sprout from the ground. New life. Take a moment before we begin and recognize that God wants to offer you new life today. As you settle into wherever you are, allow your eyes to fall closed. Allow your body to be in a posture in which you can breathe fully and deeply. And simply begin to connect with your breath. Feel the breath enter your nose. Feel the breath leave your nose. Feel the breath expand your chest and belly. Feel the breath leave your body as your belly and chest deflate. Now take a moment and ponder a name for God that feels right for you today. It might simply be God, Creator, Jesus, Spirit, Holy One. As you settle upon your name for God, begin to inhale that name. Just silently receiving the name as you breathe in this breath from God. Repeat this practice, inhaling your name of God. As you get more and more comfortable with your inhale, you might notice your breaths becoming fuller and deeper. You might notice your body settling into the shape you're in. Maybe your hands relax. Maybe your shoulders drop from your ears. For hope, for a new beginning, for a fresh start. I'm going to offer you the words on the exhale of give me new life. Give me new life. With your next exhale, offer those words to your God. Give me new life. We'll begin to connect, inhaling the name of God, exhaling, give me new life. Allow your breath prayer to flow, inhaling your name of God, exhaling your longing for new life, for hope, for a fresh start. The words may stay the same, they may shift and change. In the next few moments of quiet, inhale your name of God. Exhale, give me new life, and we have to do it. Because of you. Thank you for the gift of Jesus, for the promises this season offers us. Help us see you, notice you, and recognize new life in and around us this day. In your holy name we pray. Amen. Thank you for exploring the gift of God's peace with me. For more on this theme, see my latest book with God in every breath. You can find all of my books at whitney rsimpson.com. You can find more podcast prayers just like these at exploringpeace.com. I'd love to connect with you beyond the podcast. You can find me at both of those websites and online at Whitney R. Simpson. Until next time, may God's peace be with you.