Deep BreathSample

You Can Do Hard Things

Welcome to Deep Breath. This is a daily devotional designed to help you get your day going with a dose of God's Word.

In this Reading Plan, you will be led through some guided breath prayers to start your day off right.

Breath prayers are short, one sentence prayers that are rooted in Scripture and are designed to align God's Word with the rhythm of your breathing. You pray the first half of the verse while you're inhaling, and the second half is prayed while exhaling. And you repeat that at least three times.

This is a way for you to meditate on God's Word. It's a way of actively taking His Word into your soul to start your morning, and then reflecting on it throughout the day.

This is not some new-age practice or mindless meditation. Breath prayers are actually an ancient tool. They've been used by Christians for thousands of years to focus our mind on Christ and fill our hearts with God's Word. So you're not emptying your mind, you're actually filling it with God's promises in His truth.

If you struggle with anxiety, stress, fear, distraction, or maybe you have a racing mind, these short, simple prayers will help you relax your body, renew your mind, and restore your soul.

Let's start by practicing our breathing together before we get into God's Word. I want you to sit up straight if you're able, and take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth. Deep breath in. Deep breath out.

Now, you pair your deep breathing with the Bible. Every day, you'll read a verse or two of Scripture and meditate on it throughout your day.

This first one is a promise from God that comes in Philippians 4:13. The apostle Paul writes this:

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Let's read it out loud, but let's take it nice and slow.

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength."

Are you facing a stressful situation at your work? Is an important relationship on the rocks? Is there a difficult conversation you’re dreading? With Christ you can do this. God can give you the strength that you need to do whatever hard thing you need to do.

Isn't it actually refreshing to admit that there are some things in life that are simply too hard to face in your own strength? That's when we can rely on this promise that real strength—the strength that prevails—doesn't come from within yourself, but from Jesus. And His Holy Spirit can give you strength to do something hard today.

So let's ask God to give you strength right now with a breath prayer based on Philippians 4:13. Are you ready? Wherever you are, relax your body. Quiet your mind. Settle your soul.

Take a deep breath in and say:

"I can do all things."

Exhale and say:

"Through Christ who strengthens me."

Again, inhale.

"I can do all things."

Exhale:

"Through Christ who strengthens me."

One more time. Breathe deep.

"I can do all things."

"Through Christ who strengthens me."

What a powerful promise to start today! And remember, you can take that prayer with you throughout the day. You can practice it while you're having your coffee. You can practice it in the car, at work, or at the gym.

May you breathe deep and know today that God will give you the strength to do hard things. God's got this.

PRAYER:

Father, thank you. We thank you for Jesus. Thank you right now for your supernatural strength that you are flooding into the bodies of everyone reading these words. You are the strength that prevails and so today, we come into union with you Jesus. We take hold of your glorious strength.

Jesus, I confess that even though I feel weak, you are strong enough. So fill me with your resurrection power today. We ask for your strength to accomplish everything you've laid before us.

In Jesus name. Amen.