Fuel

• Tuesday, June 19, 2007 - My Breath Prayer

I read a brilliant book called Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home by Richard Foster.  Actually I've read it several times now and each time I am drawn by his conversation on the simple complexity of prayer.

 

One of my favourite suggestions he makes is to select a breath prayer for yourself that you offer up many times a day.  Something that is on your heart that can be said in one breath, so to speak.  How often do I intend to pray "if only I had more time".  This gives me the ability to pray without ceasing on one matter that will greatly impact my day, and my heart (oh, I wish you would go and read the book. I'm making this sound an awful lot like a chore...he is much more inviting about this...)

 

 

So here is my breath prayer (it is actually more like two breaths worth, but close enough).  It is Psalm 19:14.

 

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.

 

 

There is never a time when I don't need to keep that prayer on my lips.  There is never a time when my speech is so pure and pleasing that I can stop worrying about being acceptable.  I will be saying this silently, under my breath, out loud with a cry, and hopefully with my children on many occassions today. 

 

"Commenting on breath prayers, Theophane the Recluse notes, 'Thoughts continue to jostle in your head like mosquitoes. To stop this jostling you must bind the mind with one thought, or the thought of One only. An aid to this is a short prayer, which helps the mind to become simple and unified."  (pg. 130 Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home)

 

In the meantime, you really should find this book.  It is such an "open window after a fresh rain" kind of feeling.

 

 

 

 

Post A Comment!

• Thursday, June 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MrsPages at wonderfulpages.com
Okay, it's not real deep, but one of my Breath Prayers recently has been a line from an old grace - "Oh the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need..."

Small, perhaps a little trite, but most effective as I struggle to get dinner together during Arsenic Hour while the LittlePages are destroying the house and my sanity!
Permanent Link

• Thursday, June 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MrsPages at wonderfulpages.com
The cheapskate in me is so excited - the book is in our Library system. I put it on hold today!
Permanent Link

My Fire Pit

Seeking to fan our flame into fire with good fuel (God's Word) and oxygen (His Holy Spirit) in all areas of our lives.

Fire Starters

Home
View my profile
Archives
My RSS
Wonderful Pages
Onfire
Anotherblogonthefire
halfpint
Halfpint's Hubby
West London Alliance Church
Growing Families International
Desiring God
The Youth Group Question
Primarily Piano
Joy's Words
Compassion Canada
Some Weird (but really cool) Friends of Ours
skdenfeld
SmallWorld
andijeanne
JenIg
jess4him
Jessica in SE Asia
JoyUnspeakable
Carnival of Beauty

Take the 100 Acre Personality Quiz!
Entry 126 of 201
Last Page | Next Page

Visitor Map
Create your own visitor map!