23 Breath Prayers to Teach Your Teens

Now that summer is here, it’s time to take a break from the rush of the school year—the warm weather ushers in longer days with a much-needed slower pace. While most teens still have plenty of ways to fill their days, there is something about summer that gives us a chance to catch our breath.

This is the perfect time to teach your teens some spiritual tools to help them when life gets crazy! They probably already know how important it is to read their Bible and spend time in prayer. But those kinds of spiritual disciplines can sometimes feel overwhelming to teenagers.

The solution? Breath Prayers derived from Scripture.

If you’re not familiar with breath prayers, the concept is simple. The goal is to focus your heart and mind on the Lord without requiring an extended amount of time. It can be done anywhere at any time without anyone else even noticing and can be repeated throughout the day as often as needed. The prayer is usually broken up into two parts. The first part is repeated as you inhale and the second part as you exhale, allowing you to slow down and truly meditate as you pray.

This is a powerful discipline to teach our teens as it requires minimal time but produces tremendous impact! So here are 23 Breath Prayers to teach your teens.

Fear/Anxiety:

Verse: Psalm 56:3

(Inhale) When I am afraid… (Exhale) I will trust in You.

Verse: 1 Peter 5:7

(Inhale) Lord, I cast all my anxiety on You… (Exhale) Because You care for me.

Verse: 2 Timothy 1:7

(Inhale) You did not give us a spirit of fear… (Exhale) But of power, of love, and of self-control.

Verse: Psalm 46:1

(Inhale) God, You are my refuge and strength… (Exhale) An ever-present help in trouble.

Faith:

Verse: Romans 12:2

(Inhale) Lord, don’t let me conform to the ways of the world… (Exhale) But transform me by renewing my mind.

Verse: Isaiah 55:9

(Inhale) As the heavens are higher than the earth… (Exhale) So are Your ways higher than my ways.

Verse: Mark 9:24

(Inhale) Lord, I do believe… (Exhale) Help me overcome my unbelief!

Verse: Psalm 25:4-5

(Inhale) Show me your ways, Lord, teach me Your paths… (Exhale) My hope is in You all day long.

Integrity:

Verse: Matthew 5:44

(Inhale) Lord, help me love my enemies… (Exhale) I pray for those who persecute me.

Verse: Psalm 25:21

(Inhale) May integrity and uprightness protect me… (Exhale) because my hope is in You.

Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:12

(Inhale) Everything is permissible for me… (Exhale) But not everything is beneficial.

Verse: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

(Inhale) I am not my own; I was bought at a price… (Exhale). I will honor God with my body.

Verse: Ephesians 4:29

(Inhale) Lord, don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth… (Exhale) But only what is helpful for building others up.

God’s Word:

Verse: Psalm 119:10

(Inhale) I seek You, Lord, with all my heart… (Exhale) Don’t let me stray from Your commands.

Verse: Psalm 119:18

(Inhale) Open my eyes that I may see… (Exhale) Wonderful things in Your Law.

Strength & rest:

Verse: Matthew 11:28

(Inhale) Lord, I come to You, weary and burdened… (Exhale) You will give me rest.

Verse: 1 Corinthians 10:13

(Inhale) You will not let me be tempted beyond what I can bear… (Exhale) You will always provide a way out.

Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9

(Inhale) Your grace is sufficient for me… (Exhale) For Your power is made perfect in weakness.

Verse: Psalm 105:4

(Inhale) Look to the Lord and His strength… (Exhale) Seek His face always.

Comfort:

Verse: Psalm 34:18

(Inhale) Lord, you are close to the brokenhearted… (Exhale) You save those who are crushed in spirit.

Verse: Psalm 103:8

(Inhale) The Lord is compassionate and gracious… (Exhale) Slow to anger, abounding in love.

Verse: James 4:8

(Inhale) Come near to God… (Exhale) And He will come near to you.

Gratitude:

Verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

(Inhale) Be joyful always, pray continually… (Exhale) Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Have your teen select one or two of these prayers that resonate with them and put them somewhere they will see them often. They might even want to make it their screensaver on their phone! Then, have them pray it a few times a day—perhaps at meals and bedtime or each time they see it. They could also set an alarm every hour as a reminder to pray. There are no rules!

The goal is simply to repeat it often enough that they memorize it, creating a habit of focusing on the Lord throughout their day and enabling them to call these verses to mind in times of need.

We want to teach our teens that spiritual disciplines don’t have to feel overwhelming! Starting with one or two breath prayers and then adding more as the summer goes along is a perfect way to develop spiritual growth at a slower pace.