Breath as Prayer: Christmas! |
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They say it's “the most wonderful time of the year,” but it sure can sometimes feel more like the most stressful time of the year. For all its wonder and joy, the holiday season can be the most anxiety-ridden season of the year. Unrealistic expectations, overwhelming demands, overflowing calendars, and increased social obligations can lead to all kinds of increased stress and anxiety. - If you struggle with anxiety through the holidays, you’re not alone.
The pressure to try to do everything, to plan the “perfect” Christmas and implement all the traditions, not to mention traveling to visit family, meeting year-end deadlines at work, the financial burdens of shopping for everyone on your list, along with all the cooking and cleaning and wrapping and decorating…. whew! Just typing out that list is raising my anxiety already! But what would happen if we let go of all the to-do's and the lists and the expectations this Christmas? -
What if we chose to enter this season with only one goal: to rest in the presence of God and let His peace fill our hearts?
After all, this is the season of Advent. It’s a time of anticipation, a season of expectant waiting for the coming of our Savior. Advent invites us to slow down and believe that there's more to Christmas than the loud noise of the holidays, more than the hustle and bustle of the crowds, more than the pressure to produce and perform and perfect. - Advent is a season of hope, peace, love, and joy.
The truth is, there's nothing you have to buy, nothing you have to do to make this a good Christmas. Christmas is already good because our good God has already given us the greatest gift the world has ever known: Jesus.
So how can we intentionally seek peace this Christmas? How can we ease the anxiety and the stress and the pressure that so often fills these days and instead learn to simply rest and wait in Christ, and breathe in His love and goodness through the season?
Plan ahead for peace. Pull out a calendar and be proactive. List all the things you know you will have to do: events to attend, shopping, baking, travel, etc. Identify what brings you joy and what brings you stress. If possible, eliminate things that bring you unnecessary anxiety. At the same time, be intentional about planning things you know will bring you peace and joy. Be sure to leave plenty of white space in your days. Plan for rest, for time outside, for prayer and quiet time with God.
Set good boundaries with realistic expectations. Know your limitations. You don’t have to do all the things. Let yourself off the hook and learn to say no. If you can’t say no, plan time around the stressful things for some self-compassion and down time. Simplify. Don’t spend money you don’t have. You can’t buy peace with a carload of gifts and a wallet full of debt. Slow down the pace. Take a deep breath. This season is not an emergency. There is no race to Christmas day.
Give yourself grace. Anxiety and depression can be especially hard at the holidays. Be gentle with yourself. It’s ok if you’re not feeling in the “holiday spirit.” There can be pressure at the holidays to be happy and social, but it’s really ok if you’re not. You may be walking through deep hurt or loss this season. Be kind to yourself and gentle with the feelings you are processing. Remember: Jesus entered this world in the middle of the mess and muck of a lowly stable to meet you right where you are, in the middle of whatever hard things you’re going through. He came to be your Savior, and He invites you to give Him your burdens and let Him give you rest.
Take time to breathe and pray. Want a practical and powerful tool to help ease your anxiety while drawing your heart closer to Christ? I invite you to try the centuries-old Christian practice called breath prayer: a simple but deeply meaningful spiritual practice that combines deep breathing with prayers of meditation on God’s Word. |
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Anxiety doesn’t have to be your enemy this Christmas. |
Anxiety doesn’t have to be your enemy this Christmas. |
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Made of just two lines from a verse of Scripture, breath prayers are prayed to the rhythm of your breath. You inhale slowly and deeply as you pray the first line of the prayer, then exhale slowly and fully as you pray the second line, repeating the prayer as many times as you’d like.
The slow, deep breathing is scientifically shown to help calm the physical symptoms of anxiety, while prayer turns your mind toward Christ and the truth in His Word.
I’ve personally found breath prayer to be an amazing tool to not only help manage my anxiety but also to strengthen my faith. It has helped me change the way I respond to feelings of anxiety. Instead of spiraling into overwhelm and panic, when I begin to feel anxious, I simply slow down for a few minutes and take time to breathe and pray a short breath prayer. As I do this, I can feel my anxiety begin to ease and my soul finds renewed strength as I focus on a truth that is greater than the overwhelming feelings of my anxiety.
You can give it a try with this simple prayer from 1 Peter 5:7:
Inhale: I give You my worries and cares, Exhale: for You care about me.
Repeat this prayer a few times, breathing slowly to the rhythm of God’s Word. - Anxiety doesn’t have to be your enemy this Christmas.
There may be hard and stressful days, but you don’t have to spiral out of control when anxiety builds. You can change the way you respond to your anxiety and use it as an opportunity to slow down and turn your heart toward Christ. When you do this regularly, you may just find that you are able to experience a deep and abiding peace as your soul draws closer to the One who split the veil between heaven and earth to be wrapped in infant skin so He could be near you and rescue you and give you real hope and true peace.
So, when you begin to feel overwhelmed or stressed this Christmas, simply slow down, breathe deep, and try praying a breath prayer. Better yet, try beginning every day with a few quiet minutes of breath prayer. Before the stress piles on, invite Christ to meet you right where you are as you turn your mind toward the truth in His Word and give your worries to Him.
He is Immanuel.
God is WITH us. You can breathe deep this Christmas season and know:
You are safe and held and loved. You don’t have to worry. You don’t have to stress.
Jesus is here. |
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Whether you feel like it’s “the most wonderful time of the year” or the most stressful time of the year, slow down… Breathe deep. Rest in the presence of God. When anxiety hunts you down, inhale: I give You my worries and cares, and exhale: for You care about me. ~ Devotionals Daily |
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Free Christmas Anxiety Toolkit |
This FREE 35-page Christmas Anxiety Toolkit (a companion to Breath as Prayer) is beautifully designed and full of printable resources to help us find more peaceful moments and focus on what matters most in the days leading up to Christmas. |
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Settle your worries and breathe in and out with the Holy Spirit |
Breath as Prayer: Calm Your Anxiety, Focus Your Mind, and Renew Your Soul |
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+ FREE shipping on $20+ with code SHIP20 |
+ FREE shipping on $20+ with code SHIP20 |
Find hope amid anxiety through the spiritual practice of breath prayer in this beautifully illustrated and practical guide to connecting body, mind, and spirit during times of stress.
Breath as Prayer will lead you through the practice and the proven health benefits of Christian breath prayer: intentional prayers centered around Scripture that focus our minds on Christ as we calm our bodies through breathing. Breath as Prayer offers: -
More than 80 breath prayers focused on Scripture, along with brief meditations
- Gorgeous original full-color illustrations
- A quick-start how-to guide to refer to as needed
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Guidance on how to implement a breath prayer practice
- The science behind breath work and prayer and why it works
- An invitation to reflect on the effect of breath prayers on your body
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FREE bonus gifts: receive an anxiety toolkit, prayer cards, printables, and beautiful lock screens-- delivered to your email after purchase from FaithGateway! |
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Look at these freebies that come with every purchase of Breath as Prayer |
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PRINTABLE INHALE/EXHALE POCKET PRAYERS |
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INSPIRATIONAL LOCK SCREENS |
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What Our Readers Are Saying |
"So simple. Conscious, rhythmic breathing brings calming physical results. Rhythmic quoting of scripture brings peace and calm to the heart, mind and soul. I picked up successfully right away and it works. It works for more than anxiety." — Sharon H. |
"This book is incredible! As a therapist I am teaching clients breathing techniques for calming and grounding. As a women of faith combining breath with God’s word is meditative and life changing!" — Vicki H.
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"Absolutely beautiful in design and content! This book would be the perfect gift for anyone who struggles with anxiety, is going through a stressful situation or season, or is just learning Biblical meditation. As a bedside book, it offers tranquility and serenity while exalting the Lord. I love it!" — Karen N. |
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God created our bodies, minds, and spirits to be intimately connected with one another. Purpose-filled breathing is one of the most effective, calming ways to integrate all aspects of who we are, especially during times of intense stress. Breath as Prayer invites you to the crossroads of Christian contemplative practice, Scripture, psychology, and science to deepen your faith, bring peace to your body, and discover a new reliance on Christ.
Breathe deeply, lean into God's Word, and discover why every breath can be an invitation to pray.
Plus, FREE bonus gifts! Receive an anxiety toolkit, prayer cards, printables, and beautiful lock screens delivered to your email after purchase from FaithGateway! |
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Trade Your Cares for Calm |
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Millions of people have had their lives impacted by the encouraging words of Sarah Young in the bestselling, 365-day devotional, Jesus Calling®. The Jesus Calling App is the mobile version of the time-tested classic, packed with digital features that make it a must-have for your devotional time. |
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this devotion with someone who needs it today |
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