Bible verse to inspire stress relief, food freedom, health & wellness
Rejoice Always, Pray Continually
Example Breath Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.
When Trying to Do More, Where Is There Time for More Prayer?
The Bible reminds us that we should be rejoicing always and praying continually, but when you are striving to do more and to serve others how do you make this happen? In the hustle and bustle of modern life, it’s too easy to feel disconnected or feel guilty for not making enough time for prayer. Breath prayer is a way to quickly and easily connect with God. It is also a great micro break to stop the spin of racing thoughts and negativity. Like any meditation or breathwork technique, it triggers a relaxation response that helps to break tension and the stress response.
What Is Breath Prayer?
Admittedly, breath prayer can be a bit controversial. Some Christians think breath prayer is too close to Eastern meditation techniques. Others believe breath prayer has been around at least since 3rd century as part of Christian practices. It’s on the premise that not everything Jesus taught the apostles and his disciples is included in the Bible (John 20:30) and it took time for practices to be in common enough use and be in literature that survived. This becomes a personal choice for you!
Learning the breath prayer usually starts with Mark 10:47. Pause and create a quiet space for yourself without distractions for a moment. Inhale as you think or say “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God” and as you exhale think or say “have mercy on me.”
It can be used with any of your favorite Bible verses. Something you can easily memorize or personalize.
Prayer and Journal
How do you feel currently about the amount of time you spend dedicated to your faith?
How can having more time rejoicing and praying help energize re-invigorate you more?
Try breath prayer for a day, how does that tactic feel for you? Is this something you are comfortable incorporating into your routines and survival tactics?
What Bible verse for stress, overwhelm, anxiety or worry would work for you to help maintain a connection with God and to help you maintain a positive growth mindset? As an example:
Personalized version of Psalm 94:19: Inhale (I throw all my anxiety onto God) HOLD Exhale (because He cares about me)
RELATED: Tense? Stuck? Breathe Deep! Breathe in Spirit of God
My hope for you...
Personally, in the years when I was not a Christian, I experimented with a lot of meditation practices. Breathwork and meditation have been cornerstones for my personal stress management practices. I am very comfortable with affirmations, mantras, breath prayer or any form of meditation that is based on love, relationship with God and being filled with Holy Spirit. I know the internal shift that has occurred with taking a Christian approach as I use these tools versus seeking Emptiness or Universal connection. (This may be useful if you are curious about the distinctions.)
If you are not comfortable with breath prayer, it is okay. We are all different. Is there something else that you can do to get yourself a micro-break with prayer or Bible verses?
I hope that these words (or what you experience through doing this as a practical and journaling exercise) can serve to inspire and energize changes your life to rekieve stress and improve work-life harmony. God is with you through it all and loves you, even if you are feeling alone and separated from Him by the situations and circumstances in your life. Clearing exhaustion and the physical and mental stress that contributes to this feeling of distance, allows you to thrive and flourish.
If you are feeling a significant disruption of thoughts, moods, behaviors, or ability to relate to others and it is consistently impacting multiple areas of your life, I encourage you to seek treatment or intervention. There are resources and Christian counselors that can help.
Sometimes it takes more than just a decision and a post it note to implement a regular practice like breath prayer. Here's a free guide to building faith-driven tiny habits that stick to help you get started. Seconds at a time breath prayer reduces stress while improving overall physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
