Advent Breath Prayers

The Great Dark settled onto the Pacific Northwest in mid-November, permitting the reprieve of sunlight for what seems like only a few hours each day. I'm being dramatic, but having spent so many years in the southwest it's a bit unnerving to step outside my office at 5pm and remember that I missed the day's allowance of sun. The bright streetlights illuminating the cars only accentuate the darkness beyond their reach. On these evenings, I drive home and strap on an LED lighted vest, hang a green glow ring around my dog's neck, and hit the sidewalk with quick steps and foggy breaths.

While I fight the darkness this time of year, others fight depression, disappointment, grief, or chaos. Regardless of what your winter season looks like, we can all benefit from a two-minute practice that centers us on Jesus through the use of breath prayers. I realize advent is technically the weeks leading up to Christmas (starting this year on November 30), but since this is my December post I'm making a full month calendar. Print this or save it in an accessible place to use each morning and night.

How to practice deep breathing:

Inhale for 4 seconds, allowing air into the deepest part of your belly (if your chest moves, that’s fine, but try to put the air deeper into your belly with each breath). Hold for 4 seconds, then exhale slowly (for about 8 seconds) through pursed lips, pushing every last bit of air from the belly.

Repeat for 8 full breath cycles (inhale-hold-exhale).

These breath prayers are reworded from Scripture. Use the button below for a printable PDF of this chart, and enjoy an advent centered on remembering the birth of Jesus.

Advent Breath Prayer PDF.pdf

Download PDF • 127KB

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December 1 (Jeremiah 23:5) Inhale “The days are coming” Hold Exhale “for David’s descendant”	December 2 (Jeremiah 23:5) Inhale “The days are coming” Hold Exhale “for a wise King”	December 3 (Jeremiah 23:5) Inhale “A King is coming” Hold Exhale “who is just and right”
December 4 (Jeremiah 23:6) Inhale “he will be called” Hold Exhale “Our Righteous Savior”	December 5 (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “For to us” Hold Exhale “A child is born”	December 6  (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “For to us” Hold Exhale “A son is given”
December 7 (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “the government” Hold Exhale “is on his shoulders”	December 8 (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “He will be called” Hold Exhale “Wonderful Counselor”	December 9 (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “He will be called” Hold Exhale “Mighty God”
December 10 (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “He will be called” Hold Exhale “Everlasting Father”	December 11 (Isaiah 9:6) Inhale “He will be called” Hold Exhale “Prince of Peace”	December 12 (Isaiah 60:1) Inhale “Arise, shine” Hold Exhale “For your light has come”
December 13 (Isaiah 7:14) Inhale “The Virgin will conceive” Hold Exhale “And give birth to a son”	December 14 (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23) Inhale “Immanuel” Hold Exhale “God with us”	December 15 (Micah 5:2) Inhale “The savior will come” Hold Exhale “From Bethlehem”
December 16 (Isaiah 40:3) Inhale “The voice calls out” Hold Exhale “make way for the LORD”	December 17 (Isaiah 42:1) Inhale “He will be” Hold Exhale “the chosen one”	December 18 (Isaiah 42:1) Inhale “He will have” Hold Exhale “God’s Spirit on him”

December 19 (Isaiah 42:1) Inhale “He will bring” Hold Exhale “Justice to the nations”	December 20 (Luke 1:69) Inhale “God has raised” Hold Exhale “A horn of salvation”	December 21 (Matthew 1:20) Inhale “God’s son is conceived” Hold Exhale “of the Holy Spirit”
December 22 (Luke 1:46) Inhale “Mary’s soul” Hold Exhale “glorifies the LORD”	December 23 (Luke 1:47) Inhale “my spirit rejoices” Hold Exhale “in God my Savior”	December 24 (Luke 1:49) Inhale “The Mighty One” Hold Exhale “has done great things”
December 25 (Luke 2:11) Inhale “In the town of David” Hold Exhale “A savior is born”	December 26 (Luke 2:7) Inhale “The Savior of the world” Hold Exhale “Was placed in a manger”	December 27 (Luke 2:14) Inhale “Sing with angels” Hold Exhale “Glory to God!”
December 28 (Luke 2:21) Inhale “He was named” Hold Exhale “Jesus. Jesus.”	December 29 (Luke 2:10) Inhale “The good news of Jesus” Hold Exhale “Causes great joy”	December 30 (Matthew 1:21) Inhale “He will save us” Hold Exhale “From our sins”
December 31  (Matthew 1:20-21) Inhale “The Virgin’s son” Hold Exhale “Becomes the savior”