“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.” — Genesis 2:7

We spend our days as though our life were self-generated — as though we were the source of our own strength, our own next moment. Then the body reminds us: we cannot hold a single breath for very long before we must, helplessly, receive the next one. Dependence is not a spiritual failure to overcome; it is the design. God did not make us self-sufficient. He made us breathers.

Below are fifty breath prayers, free for you to keep — one for nearly anything you might be carrying today. Slow down to the pace of a single breath, and let them meet you where you are.

How to Pray on the Breath

Each prayer has two lines. Inhale the first line slowly; exhale the second. Pray the same prayer for several minutes, or until it has done its quiet work. Find the heading that matches what you’re carrying, and let a breath meet you there.

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When You Are Anxious

• Inhale: The Lord is near — Exhale: I release my anxious thoughts. (Philippians 4:5–6)
• Inhale: You keep me in perfect peace — Exhale: my mind is stayed on You. (Isaiah 26:3)
• Inhale: I cast all my cares on You — Exhale: because You care for me. (1 Peter 5:7)
• Inhale: Your peace surpasses understanding — Exhale: it guards my heart and mind. (Philippians 4:7)
• Inhale: In peace I will lie down — Exhale: You alone keep me safe. (Psalm 4:8)

When You Need to Trust

• Inhale: I trust in You with all my heart — Exhale: I lean not on my own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
• Inhale: When I am afraid — Exhale: I put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:3)
• Inhale: Into Your hands — Exhale: I commit my spirit. (Psalm 31:5)
• Inhale: Not my will — Exhale: but Yours be done. (Luke 22:42)
• Inhale: You are my hiding place — Exhale: You keep me from trouble. (Psalm 32:7)

When You Are Weary

• Inhale: Come to Me, all who are weary — Exhale: and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
• Inhale: My soul finds rest — Exhale: in God alone. (Psalm 62:1)
• Inhale: I take Your yoke upon me — Exhale: for Your burden is light. (Matthew 11:29–30)
• Inhale: In returning and rest — Exhale: I am saved. (Isaiah 30:15)
• Inhale: You give Your beloved sleep — Exhale: I lay down my striving. (Psalm 127:2)

When You Forget Who You Are

• Inhale: I am fearfully — Exhale: and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)
• Inhale: You have called me by name — Exhale: I am Yours. (Isaiah 43:1)
• Inhale: You have loved me — Exhale: with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3)
• Inhale: Nothing can separate me — Exhale: from Your love. (Romans 8:38–39)
• Inhale: You rejoice over me — Exhale: with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

When You Feel Weak

• Inhale: The joy of the Lord — Exhale: is my strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)
• Inhale: I can do all things — Exhale: through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
• Inhale: Your grace is sufficient — Exhale: Your power is perfect in my weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
• Inhale: I wait on You, Lord — Exhale: You renew my strength. (Isaiah 40:31)
• Inhale: Do not fear, for I am with you — Exhale: I will not be dismayed. (Isaiah 41:10)

When You Have Fallen

• Inhale: Create in me a clean heart — Exhale: renew a right spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)
• Inhale: There is now no condemnation — Exhale: for I am in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
• Inhale: I confess my sins to You — Exhale: You are faithful to forgive. (1 John 1:9)
• Inhale: Your mercies are new — Exhale: every morning. (Lamentations 3:22–23)
• Inhale: You began a good work in me — Exhale: You will bring it to completion. (Philippians 1:6)

When You Need Direction

• Inhale: Your word is a lamp to my feet — Exhale: and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
• Inhale: Show me Your ways, O Lord — Exhale: teach me Your paths. (Psalm 25:4)
• Inhale: In all my ways I acknowledge You — Exhale: You make my paths straight. (Proverbs 3:6)
• Inhale: When I lack wisdom, I ask — Exhale: and You give generously. (James 1:5)
• Inhale: Your sheep hear Your voice — Exhale: and I will follow You. (John 10:27)

When Your Heart Is Full

• Inhale: Bless the Lord, O my soul — Exhale: I will not forget Your goodness. (Psalm 103:2)
• Inhale: This is the day You have made — Exhale: I will rejoice and be glad. (Psalm 118:24)
• Inhale: Your steadfast love — Exhale: endures forever. (Psalm 136:1)
• Inhale: Let everything that has breath — Exhale: praise the Lord. (Psalm 150:6)
• Inhale: I taste and see — Exhale: that You are good. (Psalm 34:8)

When You Are Waiting

• Inhale: You know the plans You have for me — Exhale: plans for hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)
• Inhale: Why are you downcast, O my soul? — Exhale: I will hope in God. (Psalm 42:11)
• Inhale: Weeping may last the night — Exhale: but joy comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5)
• Inhale: You are making — Exhale: all things new. (Revelation 21:5)
• Inhale: God of hope, fill me — Exhale: with all joy and peace. (Romans 15:13)

When God Feels Far

• Inhale: Where can I go from Your Spirit? — Exhale: You are always here. (Psalm 139:7)
• Inhale: I draw near to You — Exhale: and You draw near to me. (James 4:8)
• Inhale: In Your presence — Exhale: is fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11)
• Inhale: I abide in You — Exhale: and You in me. (John 15:4)
• Inhale: Emmanuel — Exhale: God with us. (Matthew 1:23)

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Fifty breaths for fifty moments — that whatever you carry, you never have to hold it longer than a single breath before handing it to God.

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