Finding God in Every Breath
Do you ever felt disconnected from God despite your desire to pray? Do you find yourself distracted, pre-occupied, or self-centered when it comes to your prayer life? There's a simple, ancient practice that might transform your spiritual journey, one that a humble monastery kitchen worker discovered centuries ago.
The Wisdom of Brother Lawrence
Nicolas Herman was born in eastern France in the early 1600s to peasant parents. After joining the army at 16, he experienced a profound spiritual awakening while gazing at a leafless tree on a battlefield. He knew that barren tree would soon be full of foliage, and it became for Nicolas a powerful symbol of God's ability to transform the human heart.
Later, Nicolas joined a monastery in Paris, taking the name Brother Lawrence. Despite spending most of his life working in the kitchen and repairing sandals, he developed a reputation for profound peace through what he called "practicing the presence of God."
As Brother Lawrence taught, "We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." His wisdom reminds us that "we should establish ourselves in a sense of God's Presence, by continually conversing with Him."
Awareness: The Foundation of God's Presence
Practicing the presence of God begins with awareness, recognizing that Jesus walks alongside us in every moment of every day. After all, Jesus promised, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b).
This awareness helps us fulfill Paul's instruction in 1 Thessalonians to "pray continually." But how do we cultivate this awareness in our distracted world?
Breath Prayers
Breath prayers are short, one-sentence prayers rooted in Scripture, directed to God, and used to focus our thoughts on Christ. They're typically repeated several times or for a period of time to center our minds and hearts on Jesus.
Scripture provides powerful examples of what we now call breath prayers. In Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable about a tax collector who simply prayed, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner" (Luke 18:13). Unlike the self-centered prayer of the Pharisee, this humble plea came from a self-aware heart.
Later in the same chapter, we meet Blind Bartimaeus, who repeatedly called out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" (Luke 18:38) despite others telling him to be quiet. His persistent breath prayer demonstrated his faith in the power of Jesus' name.
What Breath Prayers Are (and Aren't)
Breath prayers are not panic exclamations like shouting "OMG!" in traffic. They're not mantras meant to empty our minds, rather they are quite the opposite. Breath prayers fill our minds with awareness of Christ's presence.
When we call on the name of Jesus through these simple prayers, we're reminded that we have a place in God's family and can express our deepest needs to Him.
Ancient Wisdom for Today
In the 3rd and 4th centuries, Desert Fathers combined the breath prayers from Luke 18 into what became known as the Jesus Prayer: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner."
This remarkably simple prayer contains three essential elements:
Adoration: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God"
Supplication: "have mercy on me"
Confession: "I’m a sinner"
In essence, this one sentence contains the whole Gospel message.
How can you incorporate breath prayers into your daily life?
Start Small: Begin by setting aside a few minutes to repeat the Jesus Prayer slowly, focusing on Jesus’ presence with you.
Pray Throughout Your Day: Use natural transitions (stopping at red lights, waiting in line, walking between meetings) as reminders to pray.
Create Your Own: Develop personal breath prayers based on Scripture that speak to your current needs. Examples might include "The Lord is my shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) or "Be still and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).
Remember the Purpose: The goal isn't to recite empty words but to direct your attention to Jesus and practice awareness of his constant presence.
As Brother Lawrence reminds us, "One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think." Through the simple practice of breath prayers, we can experience God's presence in every moment, transforming even the most mundane tasks into sacred encounters with the divine.
Reflection
Where in your daily routine do you most easily forget God's presence with you?
How might your attitude change if you approached mundane tasks as if you were working directly for God?
What distractions most commonly pull your attention away from prayer and awareness of God?
Application
Today, practice using a breath prayer to maintain awareness of God's presence. Choose a simple prayer like "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" or create your own short, scripture-based prayer. Set specific times throughout your day (perhaps when you wake up, before meals, during transitions between activities, and before bed) to pause and repeat your breath prayer several times. Remember, this isn't a mantra to empty your mind, but rather a way to fill your mind with awareness of Christ's presence. Like Brother Lawrence working in the kitchen or repairing sandals, seek to transform ordinary moments into sacred encounters by acknowledging that Jesus walks alongside you.
Prayer
Dear Jesus, how desperately I need to learn to pray. Like the tax collector and Blind Bartimaeus, I come to you with simple words but a sincere heart. When I am distracted, stubborn, and self-centered, gently draw me back to awareness of your presence. Help me recognize that you are with me. Transform my ordinary moments into opportunities to commune with you. Bring my wants more in line with my needs so that I truly desire what I need most: your presence. In your name and for your sake, I pray. Amen.
