No one ever told me that prayer could be as natural and life-giving as breathing.
I’ve walked with Jesus for over 50 years, beginning as a high school student who eagerly opened the Bible for the first time. Over the years, though, I experienced seasons of dryness—times when reading scripture felt like a task instead of a joy. I measured my spiritual life by how consistent I was, not by how connected I felt.
That changed when I discovered the ancient practices of contemplative prayer—Lectio Divina, centering prayer, and especially breath prayer. These practices quieted my mind, opened my heart, and allowed me to experience God's presence in a more personal and powerful way.
Discovering the Power of Breath Prayer
I first encountered breath prayer during a retreat with Dallas Willard. He introduced me to The Jesus Prayer: “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.” This simple phrase, prayed in rhythm with each breath, became a doorway into deeper communion with God.
Breath prayer is not just a calming technique—it’s a sacred rhythm. By combining slow, intentional breathing with a short phrase from scripture, we anchor ourselves in God’s presence. Inhale truth. Exhale surrender. In this way, prayer becomes a continuous conversation, woven into the fabric of everyday life.
Over the last two years, I began choosing one phrase from each Psalm to pray with my breath—and the transformation has been profound. My book mentioned below is the fruit of that journey.
More Than Mindfulness—An Invitation to Encounter
Some Christians worry that practices like meditation are too closely aligned with Eastern spirituality. But Christian meditation is different: it’s not about emptying the mind, but filling it with God’s word, focusing on his presence, and aligning with his will. It’s not about detachment—it’s about communion.
Science now confirms what saints have long known: breath affects the body and soul. Deep, focused breathing can reduce anxiety, calm the nervous system, and renew our clarity. But even more importantly, it invites us to experience the Spirit of God moving within us, breath by breath.
A Simple Yet Life-Changing Practice
My recently published book, Breathing the Psalms: Praying the Psalms One Breath at a Time, offers 150 short, guided breath prayers—one for each Psalm. Each exercise helps you:
Reflect on scripture
Pray it slowly with your breath
Listen in stillness
Respond with intentional action
This is not about performance—it’s about presence. You don’t have to “get it right.” Just show up. Breathe. Listen. Let God meet you there.
Begin Today
Set aside a few quiet minutes. Read a verse. Breathe it in. Let it sink into your soul. Ask God what he’s speaking—and how you can respond. Over time, these sacred pauses can become a way of life.
My hope is that, through this simple practice, you’ll not only find peace, but also experience a daily renewal of love, clarity, and purpose. And as you’re filled, may you be moved to pour out—to love others from the overflow of what God gives you.
To give you a taste of Breathing the Psalms, this link will take you to a recording of me guiding you through the breath prayer exercise I developed from Psalm 1.
Take a few minutes to experience breath prayer right now by clicking the image below.
Take a deep breath… and let’s begin.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bill Randall and his wife Jill live in Boise, ID within minutes of their three married kids and six grandkids. Bill has an earned doctorate in spiritual formation and theology from Fuller Seminary. After a career of church planting and equipping leaders for Kingdom ministry, Bill and his wife Jill joined Novo in 2014. He launched Pioneering Initiatives in 2016 which grew to 13 teams serving in Western Europe and the States. Bill currently serves on the Novo Lead Team as the director of the Gospel Movement Teams division.