After home group recently, I mentioned to my friend, DeeDee, having had some work-related stress and she asked, “Are you remembering to breathe?” (Meaning, was I paying attention to how I was breathing?) Was it unconscious short, shallow breaths of the anxious, busy, and preoccupied, or was it deliberate, deeper breathing— bringing a sense of rest? In just a couple of minutes she mentioned two alternative kinds of intentional breathing and I’ll share them here.
I was familiar with “box breathing,” where (to a count of 5 for each of four steps) one would inhale, hold, exhale, hold, and then repeat. My friend suggested just dropping that last hold and making it trinity breathing, like Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Another pattern she described as gliding breaths— like graceful ice skating: breathe in through the nostrils, and gently out through the mouth. She said you could even speak something in your mind while you did it— for example “By His stripes…” (on the inhale) “…I am healed” (on the exhale).
This reminded me of this verse: “He who speaks truth tells what is right” (Proverbs 15:17a). The literal translation of the word for speaks here is breathes: “He who breathes truth tells what is right.” In Proverbs 22, we’re encouraged to apply our minds to wisdom, to keep such words within us, ready on our lips, that our trust may be in the Lord. The literal translation of verse 22 conveys Solomon’s motive in writing: “To make you know the truth of the words of truth that you may return words of truth” (see Psalm 22:17-21). In Psalm 15:2 David encourages us to speak truth in our hearts. When I considered all these verses, they invoked an image of our inhaling and exhaling the truth.
I began to think of biblical truths I could speak in my heart combined with slow, deep breathing—the first part for the inhale, the last part during the exhale. I’ll share a few here to get you started (with Bible reference), in case you want to try this!
(Think the first phrase inhaling…the rest on exhale.)
You, O Lord, are a shield about me…my glory, and the lifter of my head. (Psalm 3:3)
If God be for me…who can be against me? (Romans 8:31)
I will trust…and not be afraid. (Isaiah 12:2)
I will sing unto the Lord…for He’s dealt bountifully with me. (Psalm 13:6)
I am strong in the Lord…and in the power of His might. (Ephesians 6:10)
Let not your heart be troubled…neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)
Sanctify me in the truth…Your Word is truth. (John17:17)
In Him we live and move…and have our being. (Acts 17:28)
Jesus is with me always…even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:20)
Great is the Lord…and greatly to be praised. (Psalm 48:1)
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving…and His courts with praise. (Psalm 100:4)
With respect to God’s promises…I don’t waver in unbelief…
I’m growing strong in faith…giving glory to God. (See Romans 4:20)
Try it while waking up or falling asleep—and anytime in between! What other truths can you start breathing?
Very helpful suggestions and verses to get me started, JB – thanks!