Tag Archives: Bette Dickinson

What are Breath Prayers?

I’m not sure when I first heard of breath prayers. I’ve known and prayed brief fragment or phrase prayers, short prayers that fit with our rhythm of breathing.

Breath prayers, as I understand them, are ones we can repeat through a sequence of long, deep breaths. These really impacted me last December as I prayed and journalled through Bette Dickinson’s Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder. It’s a beautiful book and I highly recommend it

Here in mid-July, I’m praying through another delightful little book called Breath as Prayer, by Jennifer Tucker. This one’s targeted specifically at combining the calming benefits of deep, regular breathing exercises with the soul-nourishing truths of Scripture. The book’s subtitle is “Calm your anxiety, focus your mind, and renew your soul.”

Instead of my trying to explain the concept, let me point you to Jennifer Tucker’s much clearer introduction: “What Are Breath Prayers?” And while you’re on her site, have a look through the resources (including freebies) and information on mental health. If the idea of these short prayers intrigues you, a banner at the top of her site offers a free 5-day “Breath Prayer Challenge.” It’s like a taster of what’s in the book, delivered daily as an email, and I valued the experience.

Speaking of resources, let me also point you to Bette Dickinson’s site, where you’ll find more soul-enriching resources: bettedickinson.com. I’ve been enjoying her monthly author newsletter as she reveals the next book-and-art project that’s on her heart.


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Review: Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder, by Bette Dickinson

Making Room in Advent: 25 Devotions for a Season of Wonder, by Bette Dickinson (IVP, 2022)

Meditative artwork, Scripture, and a brief devotional followed by reflective questions and short “breath prayers” to repeat through the day make this book a special part of Advent—or at least December 1-25, since the season of Advent usually begins in November.

The Bible verses come from Luke 1 and 2, highlighting the key figures: Zechariah, Elizabeth, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, Simeon, and Anna.

Making Room in Advent became a favourite part of each day for me, bringing quiet, calm, and pages of journalled response. I missed the benefit of the brief daily prayers by not taking time to write them down and keep them in view to include in my day.

The art in this book is lovely, restful, and thought-provoking. A paper copy of the book would be ideal, although I found reading the ebook on a tablet gave me a large enough view of each image. I don’t know how effective it would be on a smartphone.

Highly recommended for anyone desiring a meaningful collection of devotionals leading up to Christmas—although it could benefit readers any time of the year.

Bette Dickinson is a prophetic artist, a writer, and a speaker. To learn more about her, visit bettedickinson.com.

[Review copy from my personal library.]

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