ALong the coast Northern Queensland
I have had several requests for this prayer recently. I use it in the introduction to my GodSpace workshops and wrote it last year when I was in a time of really needing to center down myself. It really helps me to relax and focus on God.
I suggest that people sit with their hands in their laps palm up while they say the first line and take a deep breath then turn palms down and breathe out as they say the second line. The lines in bold can be recited by the whole group if you like. Enjoy
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your cares and concerns
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your doubts and despairs
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your fears and frustrations
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being
Breathe in the breath of God
Breathe out your tensions and turmoil
Breathe in the love of God
Breathe out your haste and hurry
Breathe in the life of God
Breathe out your work and worry
We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation,
We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs
We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fibre of our being
Filed under: life, Personal, Prayer, Prayer and inspiration, Worship & liturgy | Tagged: breathing prayer, centering prayer, life, relaxing |
Godspace 
this is amazing.
[…] A Breathing Prayer – So simple. […]
this is a lovely prayer – thanks. i have added it as a worship trick on my blog – hope this is ok?! have also added your blog to the list of blogs i link to. peace
Jonny, I don’t mind at all. I always enjoy it when others find my prayers useful and want to pass them on to others as well. Many blessings on all you do to help us in worship. I have learned so much from following your work over the years
I’m planning to use this prayer for our alternative worship tomorrow night. Thanks!
Blessed Lent!
Thanks for letting me know Sivin. I would be interested to hear how it goes
Peace Christine,
This is a beautiful prayer, and it sounds very much like the zikr (remembrance) ceremony of Sufi Muslim groups, which also focus on the breath as one of the primary (and often unnoticed) gifts of God.
God willing, I’ll be stopping by again.
Abdur Rahman
thanks christine. on a similar note, a friend of mine once told me that he liked to focus by inhaling “grace” and exhaling “peace.” i was just reminded of that today as we studied paul’s greetings.
this prayer also brought to mind a recent nouwen excerpt: “God wants to be as close to us as our breath. God wants to breathe in us, so that all we say, think, and do is completely inspired by God.”
pneuma!
[…] in the life and love of God and breathing out all that hinders. here’s the prayer, it’s from christine sine, who has some wonderful prayers on her site. give it a try over the course of this week. and may […]
[…] A Breathing Prayer – So simple. […]
[…] on the truth that all we have comes from God, participants spent time in silence while using this breath prayer. “Now and forever…” This prayer station focused on God’s […]
[…] of thoughts and multitasking and the power of the breath, here’s a breathing prayer from Christine Sine’s Godspace site (see also Jonny Baker’s site in the UK). She uses it in groups and alone. ”I […]
[…] Easy Pose “Breathe in the breath of God Breathe out your cares and concerns Breathe in the love of God Breathe out your doubts and despairs Breathe in the life of God Breathe out your fears and frustrations We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation, We sit in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs, We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fiber of our being. Breathe in the breath of God Breathe out your tensions and turmoil Breathe in the love of God Breathe out your haste and hurry Breath in the life of God Breathe out your work and worry We sit quietly before the One who gives life and love to all creation, We sit quietly in awe of the One who formed us in our mother’s wombs, We sit at peace surrounded by the One who fills every fiber of our being.” (written by Christine Sine) […]
Just did this with my three year old daughter. Did not last long but she thoroughly entered in and was eager to do the breathing bits.
Thank you for this.
Lovely. I think we need to teach young kids to enter into prayer in as many ways as possible
[…] Christine Sine Share and […]
[…] let me finish with the original breathing prayer I wrote which I know has been widely used in worship and meditation. it is also my favourite so I […]
[…] We all breathe. Not to breathe is to die. There are many writings about the emotional, physical and spiritual benefits of paying attention to our breathing. Within the Christian faith, there are long traditions of reflective prayers that seek to match the rhythms of our breathing. Read about a contemporary breathing prayer here. […]
[…] used A Breathing Prayer by Christine Sine (h/t Jonny Baker) printed out 18 times, each printout having a different line in […]