Prayer of the Heart

This practice is printed in 50 Ways to Pray: Practices from Many Traditions and Times. Used with permission of the author. Learn more about Teresa A. Blythe on her website.

Deep within each of us is a prayer phrase longing to be expressed, what some have named the Prayer of the Heart. It consists of two simple phrases - one said inhalation and one said on exhalation. Early Christians used to pray, “Come, Lord Jesus,” in this fashion. That was their deep longing, for Jesus to return and be among them in physical reality.

We will spend time in this exercise finding those prayers that are as close to us as our very breath. The beauty of this prayer is the way it stays with you all day, all week, or even for a life-time if you allow it.

Intention
To discover and pray our own Prayer of the Heart.

The Exercise

  • Begin seated in a comfortable position. Make sure your body weight is distributed in such a way that you feel stable. Take about five deep, slow breaths and allow the tension of the day to flow out with each exhalation. After five deliberate breaths, turn your attention away from counting and allow your breath to find its natural pace.

  • What is your deepest and truest longing for life with God at this moment? If you find that your longing feels “tacky” or too worldly, try suspending judgment and instead looking at what’s at the base of that desire. When you check in with your deepest and truest self, what is it that you seek from God?

  • Give that longing a short phrase. For example, if your deep desire is inner freedom, then your phrase would be “freedom” or “inner freedom.” Make sure your phrase is not too long.

  • What is your favorite name for God? How do you image the Creator? Choose whatever name seems to fit best for you. Some examples include: Jesus, Wisdom, Father, Mother, or Mystery. Be as creative as you want to be. But again, keep the name rather short.

  • Combine your name for God with your longing. For example, if my phrase is “freedom” and the name I choose for God is Christ, my prayer of the heart might be “Freedom, in Christ.” Spend a few moments coming up with your two-part prayer.

  • Begin to say - either aloud or silently - your phrase. You may inhale the name for God and exhale on the desire or vice versa. Spend several minutes breathing this prayer. Make it your own. Allow God to inhabit this prayer.

  • After several minutes of repeating this prayer, sink into contemplative silence. Allow the love of God to fill you and surround you.

  • If you want to be sure to remember this phrase to pray it throughout the day, write it down. You might want to place it on the back of a business card and put it in your wallet or pocket. Place it on a sicky note next to your computer, or on the door of your refrigerator.

Tip
The moment we start to notice our breath, we invariably begin to control it. The goal in any breathing meditation is to inhale and exhale naturally, without trying to control our body’s natural pace. The point of taking five deliberate breaths is to consciously slow down. Once you move on to the phrases, let your body set the pace for the breath.