Today’s Reflection
Explore your breath as a form of prayer today. Connect with the breath in your body by finding a comfortable posture (seated or reclined) and take full, deep breaths filling your diaphragm, then exhale completely. Place one hand on your heart and your other hand on your belly.
As you breathe in, expand your belly and say to yourself: Creator
As you breathe out, deflate your belly and say to yourself: give me hope
Repeat this prayer for five to ten minutes.
—Whitney R. Simpson, Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Advent Devotional for the Whole Self (Upper Room Books, 2022)
Today’s Question
How does your body feel after you pray a breath prayer for several minutes? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.
—Psalm 150:6 (NIV)
Prayer for the Week
Creator God, thank you for creating my whole self. Help me
to continue to slow down and hope, be mindful and present,
and use my body to draw closer to you on the journey this
Advent. Make me a wise one who seeks you always. Amen.
Prayer by Whitney R. Simpson
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Are you enjoying this week’s reflections? It’s not too late to join us for Fully Human, Fully Divine: An Embodied Advent Online Experience. In this season, we are challenged to live in the “right here, right now” as we await the birth of Christ—the embodiment of God’s presence. Register today here.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
2 Comments
I always feel calmer after I breathe deeply. It is relaxing and centering.
I need deep breathing as h has taken a turn. Yesterday was a bad day as he continues to attempt to thwart my management of our funds. He refuses to sell his car despite the state revoking his license. I told him fine but no nore money will be spent on it. This means no more inspections, insurance, registration etc. Yesterday he sent a letter to our insurance company requesting insurance cards. I had to call them and explain the situation and ask them to disregard the letter. We have been with them for decades so they understood and agreed. Last night he had hallucinations. He told Megan there was snow in his room up to his chest. When I woke up this morning I found him sitting in the hallway because he said he couldn’t get his bed to work. Things are getting interesting to say the least.
I have never been consistent with breathing exercises. I feel like when I concentrate on my breathing, I am not concentrating on stilling my mind and focusing on Him. Perhaps I should try anew.
A relaxing morning – taking care of a few things for tomorrow’s cancer support group. Each guest gets a book as a gift and I was asked to gift wrap 8 of them. I am not the best wrapper, but tried to take my time and be careful. I also made pumpkin bread, as the holiday luncheon follows the meeting. It should be a good morning. My tennis friend and I are going to a hope and remembrance service in the afternoon. So – I took care of schoolwork and house chores also today – as tomorrow is fully booked.
Went to my god son’s basketball game and they got their first win. Their point guard, my god son’s best friend, hurt his ankle in the final seconds. He was carried off the court – so that is a concern. I am waiting to hear how he is doing – my friend said she would text me.
Well – with the upheaval in college football last night and today – the Buckeyes look like they will sneak in the back door to the playoffs.
Dad called me while at the game – his cousin passed last night. This is the cousin who dad and I went to visit a few months after mom died. He was in Las Vegas, but moved back here about a year ago. Unfortunately, dad did not get to see him since returning a few weeks ago. He was 91. He was like a big brother to my dad and was often living with dad and his siblings when they were growing up.
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