Take a Breath
Breathing is a Practical Tool for Anxiety (and it’s biblical)
I am sure someone in your life has given you the advice when you were over stressing about something to stop and take a breath! Or maybe your up to bat and the game is on the line your coach looks in your eyes and sees your panicked and simply commands you “BREATHE!” And it is true when we begin to panic our heart races and breathing becomes shallow and fast or we can reach the point where we are almost holding our breathe! Some have even passed out from panic because of a lack of oxygen. And if you research secular sources it is almost a universal recommended practice to suggest “breathing exercises” into your stress management program.
As a pastor and a teacher dealing with stressed-out teens all day I was curious to see what the Word had to say about breathing. I was not a bit surprised to see again that God always has something to say a matter I am curious about. I was very surprised however that the secular world was on to something with all this breathing talk and how it can help with our stress. I found out that God not only tells us to take a breath but that he then tells us what to do with that breath.
First and foremost we need to understand that breath is a gift of God. (Isaiah 42:5, Job 33:4, John 20:22) Breathing is a Godly act. God with his breath created and gave life (Gen 2:7). He is the source of all breath. He encourages us to take a deep breath and use it correctly. Breath is even connected to our salvation. Take a deep breath and confess Jesus Christ is Lord (Rom 10:9). Job in his devastating ordeal focused on his breathing and promised not to use it to slander God or say anything negative:
As long as my breath is in me,
And the breath of God in my nostrils,
My lips will not speak wickedness,
Nor my tongue utter deceit. (Job 27:3-5)
Now just taking a deep breath is a good way to be still and one practical way to contemplate God and realize he is the giver of the breath you just took (Psalms 46:10.)We can choose to use our breath. God has provided many ways to do this and make any situation better. He has said that there is power in what we say to affect our lives. (Proverbs 18:21) What are these good things we can use our breath for? Here are three ways the bible says we can use our breath towards life.
Recite scripture
People have been memorizing and reciting the 23rd Psalms to place there cares and worries down and trust God in whatever circumstances they find themselves in. It is a very powerful passage. The says that all its words are good for memorizing and reciting. (2 Tim 3:16.) So pick your favorite and make a habit out of taking a deep breath and use it to voice the word of God. Here are a couple of lists of comforting passages: List 1, List 2
Pray
Another thing we can do is use our breath to pray. I have noticed that when talking to students or friends who struggle with anxiety. I have asked if they have prayed and asked God for help. And if they say yes I ask if they pray out loud and almost without fail the answer is no. The reason I ask this is that I am noticed in my own life that when I pray even at a whisper it is more comforting and real than just praying silently. There is nothing wrong with praying in your thoughts that is an excellent practice and I do it too. But I also think we should as Jesus did and taught pray verbally. It engages our breath and I think there is something to hearing our own faith expressed that is comforting.
Sing
Regardless of how bad you are at it or how untalented you have convinced yourself you are. Singing is a gift of God. We should not deny it or reject it. God makes it clear that he is not after perfect pitch but merely a joyful noise (Psalms 98:4,100:1). So no excuses brothers and sisters let us sing praises, out loud, as if no one can hear us. Especially you men, swallow your pride and self-consciousness and fill your breath with praise for God! (Psalms 150:6)
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