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Prayer as Breathing (article)

LavenderC
LavenderC
Prayer as Breathing

 

What we think about prayer has a lot to say about what we think about God

 

by Mike Devries

 



Pray continually.
1 Thessalonians 5:17


What we think about prayer has a lot to say about what we think about God.


For some, prayer is mainly an exercise in bringing our "list" before God, cluing Him into our needs (as if He somehow was not in tune with them in the first place). For others, prayer is our divine check-in with our Creator, informing Him of the day's goings on. While still others see prayer as a moment of holy reverence, filled with "thee" and "thou" and a whole host of other words we would never use in "regular" discussion with our friends.


But what if prayer was so much more?


More than our lists.


More than talking over our day.


More than addressing some far-off deity.


What if prayer were more like breathing? Just as breathing is pretty essential to our physical well-being, so is prayer to our soul. From very early on, our spiritual ancestors knew there was a connection between prayer and breathing. This is why prayer is likened to our breathing in so many writings. They knew that breathing is essential to our lives. It is something that provides life and vitality, and without it, we wouldn't live but for a few moments. Breathing is something we do almost unconsciously.

What if prayer were like that? I think this is essentially what Paul is getting at when he tells the followers of Jesus in Thessalonica to "pray continually." I doubt that he was telling them to walk around continually with their heads bowed and eyes closed. Rather, I think he was inviting them to see prayer as a connection, as a way of living and breathing, a way of being connected to and communing with the Creator.



 


Breathing is equal parts exhaling and inhaling. You can't inhale without exhaling. Likewise, you cannot exhale very long before inhaling.


I wonder if prayer is like that - equal parts exhaling and inhaling. The Scriptures are filled with people who exhaled, people who, from the depths of their souls, spoke words of honesty to God. Frustration. Doubt. Anxiety. Anger. Joy. Sorrow. Pain. Disappointment. Hope. Fear. Dreams. Brokenness. Just take some time to read through Psalms and you'll see these kinds of emotions and many more. Historically, the people of God knew one thing for certain: God is big enough for our emotions, good or bad. He knows about them anyway, so why not tell Him honestly?


 

The Scriptures are also filled with people who inhaled, people who sought for the Creator God to fill them with His presence, His goodness, with peace and wholeness. They sought God to fill their beings with His, to allow His Spirit to dwell with theirs. By inhaling, they were seeking to have their lives be more in rhythm with the way and life of God.


Take a few minutes today to breathe, really breathe. Allow yourself to inhale and exhale, to pray to God your Creator.


What do you need to exhale to God? What do you need to inhale?


Read More: Exodus 32:10-14; Psalm 106:19-23; Jeremiah 20:7; Matthew 6:9-11


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More about prayer from 

AI Overview




While the Bible doesn't explicitly state "prayer is like breathing," the concept of prayer as a constant, necessary spiritual practice, akin to breathing, is often drawn from passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing". 
 




Here's a deeper look at the idea of prayer as spiritual breathing:









    • 1 Thessalonians 5:17 as a Foundation:

      The verse "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is often interpreted as a call to maintain a constant, ongoing relationship with God through prayer, similar to how we continuously breathe to sustain physical life. 
       










    • Spiritual Breathing as a Metaphor:

      The idea of "spiritual breathing" suggests that prayer is not just a periodic activity but a vital, ongoing process that nourishes our spiritual lives. 
       














  • Examples of Prayer as Breathing:










  • Lamentations 3:55-56: Jeremiah's words, "I called upon Your name, O Jehovah, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice; do not hide Your ear at my breathing, at my cry," are seen by some as equating calling on God with breathing. 
     


  • Breath Prayers: Some Christians practice "breath prayers," where they use the rhythm of their breath to pray simple phrases or scripture verses, creating a constant flow of prayer throughout the day. 
     










  • The Importance of Prayer:

    Prayer is seen as a way to connect with God, seek his guidance, and express gratitude, just as breathing is essential for physical life. 
     














  • Examples of people who see prayer as breathing:










  • Ryle: "Prayer is to faith what breath is to life" 
     


  • Charles Spurgeon: "Prayer is breathing in the very air of Heaven; and praise is breathing it out again.” 
     


  • St. Teresa of Avila: "Prayer is being on terms of friendship with God frequently conversing in secret with Him who, we know, loves us.” 







LavenderC
LavenderC
Reposting the AI Overview to hopefully eliminate the wide spaces in between the sentences.


AI Overview

While the Bible doesn't explicitly state "prayer is like breathing," the concept of prayer as a constant, necessary spiritual practice, akin to breathing, is often drawn from passages like 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing".

Here's a deeper look at the idea of prayer as spiritual breathing:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 as a Foundation:

The verse "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is often interpreted as a call to maintain a constant, ongoing relationship with God through prayer, similar to how we continuously breathe to sustain physical life.

Spiritual Breathing as a Metaphor:

The idea of "spiritual breathing" suggests that prayer is not just a periodic activity but a vital, ongoing process that nourishes our spiritual lives.

Examples of Prayer as Breathing:

Lamentations 3:55-56: Jeremiah's words, "I called upon Your name, O Jehovah, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice; do not hide Your ear at my breathing, at my cry," are seen by some as equating calling on God with breathing.

Breath Prayers: Some Christians practice "breath prayers," where they use the rhythm of their breath to pray simple phrases or scripture verses, creating a constant flow of prayer throughout the day.

The Importance of Prayer:

Prayer is seen as a way to connect with God, seek his guidance, and express gratitude, just as breathing is essential for physical life.

Examples of people who see prayer as breathing:

Ryle: "Prayer is to faith what breath is to life"

Charles Spurgeon: "Prayer is breathing in the very air of Heaven; and praise is breathing it out again.”

St. Teresa of Avila: "Prayer is being on terms of friendship with God frequently conversing in secret with Him who, we know, loves us.”
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