A Mindful MomentSample

Breath is a Gift from God

We live each day only because of God’s grace. Breath demonstrates that. Each time we take a breath, we are receiving a gift from God. We cannot manufacture or control our breath. We can simply receive it as grace in each moment that we are alive.

For many people, breath can also be a pathway to God’s peace. Breathing has a rhythm to it, and it can be calming to focus on the breath without trying to control it. If you pay attention to your breathing, you might notice the following physical sensations:

• Changing temperatures under your nose
• Gentle lift and fall of your shoulders
• Belly moving in and out with the diaphragm
• Lungs in your chest contracting and expanding
• Slight pause between the in-breaths and out-breaths

These are just a few of the many sensations occurring with each breath! Whatever you notice, God’s grace and peace is offered with each breath—gifts from our Creator. Learning to notice your breathing is one way to receive God’s grace and peace!

Take a few minutes to pay attention to your breathing, noticing that you are in God’s presence. When you are finished, jot down some observations in your journal.