Quite a lot, actually.
Prayer is our conversation with God. It’s how we build our relationship with Him—through speaking, listening, and simply being in His presence.
When we look at the Bible, we see that breath has been connected to life from the very beginning.
In Genesis 2:7, we’re told that “the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.”
As a breathwork coach, I can’t help but notice that the breath came through the nose! (There are many reasons why nasal breathing is beneficial—but that’s probably a blog post for another day.)
Breath is also described as a gift from God in Acts 17:25:
“…he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.”
Every breath we take is a gift.
Every Breath Is an Opportunity to Pray
Psalm 150:6 says:
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
If every breath is a gift from God, and everything that has breath is invited to praise Him, then it makes sense that Christians have practised breath prayers for centuries.
A breath prayer is simply a short prayer or verse that is gently repeated in rhythm with your breathing.
For example:
Inhale: The Lord is my Shepherd.
Exhale: I shall not want.
Or:
Inhale: Be still…
Exhale: …and know that I am God.
Breath prayers are not about emptying your mind. Instead, they help fill your mind with the truth of Scripture while gently calming your body.
Why Breath Prayer Can Be So Helpful
Life is busy.
Our minds race. We worry. We become overwhelmed.
Pairing Scripture with slow, intentional breathing can help anchor your attention on God rather than on your circumstances. It gives your body permission to slow down while your heart remembers what is true.
For many people, breath prayer becomes a simple way of returning to God’s presence throughout the day—whether during a stressful meeting, while sitting in the school pick-up queue, or before falling asleep.
Christian Breathwork: Making Space to Listen
Breathwork isn’t only about reducing stress or improving wellbeing, although those can be wonderful benefits.
Intentional breathing can also help create moments of stillness. In a world full of noise and distractions, slowing our breathing can help us become more aware of God’s presence.
After all, prayer is a conversation.
Sometimes we speak.
Sometimes we listen.
Creating space to be still allows room for God to speak to our hearts in ways that are often difficult to hear in the busyness of everyday life.
Could Your Next Breath Be a Prayer?
The next time you notice your breathing, pause for a moment.
Take a slow breath in.
Take a slow breath out.
Offer a simple prayer.
Every breath is a gift from God.
Perhaps your next one could be a prayer.