š³ļø Near: Lord, hear our prayer.
Words for restless hearts in anxious times.
Itās hard not to feel overwhelmed. Every headline seems to press on our hearts a little more, making it harder and harder to breathe. When despair begins to bubble up within me, a simple truth keeps surfacing: God is near, even when itās hard to believe, even when it feels like everything is too far gone to get better.
In his book Into the Silent Land, Martin Laird writes, āThe fact that most of us experience throughout most of our lives a sense of absence or distance from God is the great illusionā¦ it is the human condition.ā
When life feels chaotic and overwhelming, weāre prone to believe that God is distant. But that distance is an illusion created by our restless minds and heavy hearts.
A few years back, Mitali Perkins wrote a stunning YA book that has an equally poetic title: You Bring the Distant Near. This turn of phrase is translated from an old Bengali song and itās one I turn over again and again in my heart.
What brings the distant near in your life?
Maybe itās the crunch of crisp leaves underfoot, the stars that glitter in the clear sky of an autumn night. Maybe itās a teen who rests his head on your shoulder, the baby who falls asleep with her tiny hand grasping your finger.
Bringing the distant nearā¦isnāt that what the Spirit of God does? After all, God is nearer than our breath, whispering us into the reality that the Kingdom of God is not only around us but within in.
Science tells us that breathing is more than just a way to get oxygenāit has the power to regulate our emotions and center our minds. Each breath influences how our brains process emotions, creating pathways to clarity and calm in moments that feel anything but peaceful.
Thereās something powerful about connecting our breathing to prayer, merging the science of our bodies with the sacred rhythm of drawing near to God.
When life is loud and overwhelming, and we see more fractures than restoration, itās easy to doubt Godās presence in our lives. Iāll be honest: When I look around and see the hate and vitriol that is often not just being platformed but heralded, I start to wonder if God is really as near as Scripture promises.
Near & Steadfast Love
Laird reminds us that āour unknowing goes deeper into God than our knowing goes,ā and itās in this place of uncertainty, in trusting the presence that sustains us even when things feel beyond our grasp, that we can rest in God's near and steadfast love.
Breath prayer becomes a gentle reminder that while we may not have all the answers, we are never alone as we might feel. Even when God feels hidden or far off, each inhale can bring us to a deep knowing and awareness that God really is here, nowāImmanuel, God with us.
This week, as you practice breathing in Godās presence in times of deep division and anxiety, lean into this truth: You might not be escape the worldās noise ā and we must never forget that we are called to, like Jesus, enter into suffering and become agents of restoration and renewal ā but you can find moments of calm within it, drenched in the never-ending mercy of a God who is as near as the breath in your lungs.
For When You Need to Remember Whoās in Control
This breath prayer is from page 185 of my book To Light Their Way.
INHALE: All has been created through You.
EXHALE: All has been created for You.
Breathe in; breathe out. As you center on this breath prayer, let it help you reflect on the love of God in you and among you, and let your body rest in our Creator God, who through Christ created all things visible and invisible, all things seen and unseen. This breath prayer is from Colossians 1:16.
A Prayer for Voting
November 5 is Election Day in the U.S. Chances are, youāve been bombarded by ads, signs, commercials, texts, phone calls, and mailers using all manner of slick politicking and even fear tactics to tell you who to vote for (and who not to).
Itās overwhelming.
As parents, we get to cultivate in our children a value for curiosity and love for our neighbor, and this can look like talking with our kids about voting & politics.
As you cast your ballot, take a breath and, if it brings peace, borrow this prayer.
It we vote, may we cast our ballots to honor Your image, O Lord, in our neighbors, loving them as ourselves.
Lord, hear our prayer.
If we vote, may we cast our ballots for those who lead in ways of love, joy, peace, and patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Lord, hear our prayer.
If we vote, may we cast our ballots believing Jesus showed us a way where the first are last and the poor are blessed, the vulnerable are protected and the children are welcome.
Lord, hear our prayer.
If we vote, may we cast our ballots and teach our children how we live out the values of Your Kingdom in our hearts, in our homes, in our choices, in our communities, in what we say and what we do, in what we cultivate, and what we sow long after the Election Day is over.
Lord, hear our prayer.
If we vote, may we cast our ballots believing that You are a God of justice and peace, of truth and righteousness, of mercy and grace, of hope and healing.
Lord, hear our prayer.
November Reading Guide
This November 2024 reading guide is designed to faithfully accompany you (and your family) through a season of accessible reflection, gratitude, and preparation. Each weekās Every Season Sacred (hardover, just $11 right now!!) reading features a reflection, Scripture, breath prayer, short family liturgies, and a bunch of connection questions.
This reading guide can be used in several ways to meet you wherever you are in the everyday routines of your home:
Digitally: Save the guide on your phone or tablet for easy access. Set a reminder on your phone to help you remember to read a tiny bit each day or week. Choose a day of the week to share a couple of the conversation questions with your kids or pick a dedicated time/place where youāll pray one of the short prayers together.
Printed: Consider printing the guide and displaying it in a dedicated spaceāmaybe at the dinner table or on a family bulletin boardāwhere it can serve as a grounding point for family discussions. If you prefer carrying a physical reminder, you could print to keep in a journal, planner, or even your bag, providing gentle prompts for prayer and reflection as you go through your day.
Suggested Reading
A Prayer for When Your Child Sees Something Scary on the News
page 88 of To Light Their Way
A Prayer for the Overwhelmed
page 194 of To Light Their Way
Speaking of book titles, as I was writing this I came across a book called Closer Than Your Next Breath. I know nothing about the writer or the content of this book, but I do have to say, itās a fantastic book title!
Breath Prayers for the Week
In times of overwhelm, the simplicity of breath prayer can draw us back to Godās steady presence. This week, weāre sharing a breath prayer for each weekdayāMonday through Friday. I hope they each center you in a specific truth, no matter what your day holds. These prayers are short enough to repeat anytime: on a walk, while washing dishes, or even in those few moments before you fall asleep.
For those moments when you need something constant, weāre also including a weekly breath prayer, designed to ground you through whatever the days may bring.
(Keep reading to download the graphic for your phone wallpaper or lockscreen.)
May these simple prayers remind you of Godās nearness and provide an exhale for your spirit.
Breath Prayers for Monday - Friday
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Liturgies for Parents to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.