Breathwork: Believe & Breathe

We explore the power of breath as a spiritual practice, connecting the story of Mary's visit to Elizabeth with a guided breathing meditation focused on inhaling and exhaling God's goodness. Your breath is a powerful tool for grounding, centering, and connecting with God. Let's breathe together and explore God's gift of peace. For more on the theme, Believe and Breath, see page 58 of With God in Every Breath.

Transcript

Welcome and Community Invitation

Speaker 1 0:01

Hi, I'm Whitney and you're listening to Exploring Peace Meditations. Did you know that people like you listen, pray and meditate with me from all over the world? So to keep this possible, to keep this space reaching ears near and far, I'd love to invite you to connect at exploringpeacecom slash community, whether you listen, share or support. I'm grateful for you and making this podcast possible, this podcast possible. So today I invite you into a little bit45, and then we'll purposefully breathe. We'll breathe in and out God's Word as we meditate on what we may hear. As I read, I invite you to notice your breath just as it is. Place a hand on your belly and a hand on your heart. Listen to these words and notice your breath.

Guided Breathing Meditation

Speaker 1 1:35

Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's's house and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit and sang out exuberantly You're so blessed among women and the babe in your womb also blessed. And why am I so blessed that the mother of my Lord visits me? The moment the sound of your greeting entered my ears, the babe in my womb skipped like a lamb for sheer joy. Blessed woman who believed what God said. Believed every word would come true. Luke, chapter 1, verses 39 through 45. Elizabeth recognizes and affirms that Jesus is her Savior, even before His birth. Hearing Mary's greeting takes her breath away. She is so passionate and excited that what God has promised her and her cousin is coming to fruition. Friends, may we believe and live into what God tells us to be good and true for us today. To be good and true for us today, I'd like for us to believe and breathe together.

Speaker 1 3:31

On your next inhale, breathe in through your nose, expand your entire being. As you inhale, your body should open up, expand as the breath enters your body and as you exhale, that breath leaves the body. The body deflates, the belly draws in. Just notice for your next few breaths as you inhale, do you breathe in, expand, welcome the goodness of God into your being. And as you exhale, can you share that goodness? Can you release it? Let it leave your body Inhale. Can you share that goodness? Can you release it? Let it leave your body? Begin to practice for the next few breaths, simply taking up space on the inhale. Inhale and notice the expansion of your chest and belly as you breathe in and then notice the deflation of your, of your body as you breathe. You may wish to lay on your belly on the floor. This might feel silly or awkward, but give it a try now or later, and as you inhale, you'll notice your belly pressing into the earth. Therefore, your back, your core and your entire being will begin to expand. For your breath work.

Prayer and Closing

Speaker 1 5:42

Today. Simply practice breathing in God's goodness and allowing your full body to expand, your diaphragm to open up, to get bigger, to inflate, so to speak, and as you exhale, feel that body, draw back in, deflate, take up space on the inhale and welcome the goodness of God. On your next inhale, say to yourself I am breathing in God's goodness, I am breathing in God's goodness, I am breathing in God's goodness. On your next exhale, say to yourself I am breathing out God's goodness, I am breathing out God's goodness. Now connect these two statements Silently on your inhale I am breathing in God's goodness. Expand that body as you breathe in, make space for the goodness of God, make space for the goodness of God and then exhale that goodness, saying to yourself I am breathing out God's goodness. Share it with the world. Exhale, inhale, inhale. I am breathing in God's goodness Exhale I am breathing.

Community Resources and Farewell

Speaker 1 8:22

That God is near your breath is a powerful tool. It's a tool that can help you ground yourself, center yourself and draw closer to the one who gives you breath, creator, god, we give thanks. We give thanks for your goodness. Help us believe and see all that you're doing in our lives and know that you are as close as our breath. Help us breathe in and out your goodness. Today, in your holy name, we pray Amen. Thank you, my friends, for exploring the gift of God's peace with me. You can find me and my books at WhitneyRSimpsoncom. You can be part of the community of the podcast at ExploringPeacecom slash community. Until next time, keep breathing and may God's peace be with you.