Breath Prayers

Brother Larry, is a play on the name of Brother Lawrence, (Nicolas Herman,) who was a "humble kitchen worker and sandal fixer of France in the 1600’s. Nicolas Herman, his given name, became “Brother Lawrence” when he became a Carmelite monk. Supposedly," he fell head over heels in love with God and let that transfuse and transform everything he did." Brother Lawrence is even quoted as saying, “I turn my little omelette in the pan for love of God.” (Quotes from - E. Glenn Hinson Spiritual Preparation for Christian Leadership, by E. Glenn Hinson, pp. 45-46, Copyright © 1999)

Even though he has been dead for many years Brother Lawrence's books are suddenly becoming popular, especially one called Practicing the Presence of God. This is no surprise as some Christian "leaders, " like Rick Warren, have written their own books, advocating something called Breathe Prayers and they use Brother Lawrence as an example, because he practiced such things.  These modern authors somehow believe men like Brother Lawrence were somehow more "in the know" about the things of God than we are today. This, in light of the fact that w e have the same basic scriptures then, and now is a little strange..

Brother Lawrence’s writings from “early Christianity" are used to support the concept in the minds of today's "modern Christians" that whatever the early Christians did is what we should be doing. The premise is that "early Christians," like Brother Larry, had a better concept of Christianity, one that is an example for us of what a Christian’s spiritual life should model today. The promoters of such things seem to forget that we are not all Carmelite monks and that God persevered his word, sent it forth to be proclaimed then through the prophets and then through the Son, preserved all of that too, through the Bible; and this, to direct us in doing what pleases him. Nowhere in the Bible do we see Breath Prayers as something we are to practice, even if Brother Lawrence thought it was cool.


Breath Prayers, we are told, are "simple, repetitive chanting of a word or little saying" said to God as a form of prayer. We are told that they are means by which a person can not only clear the mind but also draw closer to God. But, one has to wonder,"If God is in you, if Jesus Christ is Lord, if He "is God" as the Christian believes, and if this ."Christ dwells in your heart by faith," how far away, exactly, is "God?"

The observant Christian will notice that these “breath prayers” are not much different from a mantra of a yogi doing meditation to draw himself into a altered semi conscious state. The observant Christians makes note, Jesus did say something about vain repetitions of prayer....

So, why then do these book writing "Christians" give this advice?  Why do "Christians" take this kind of advice and put into practice this idea of repeating little prayers to God throughout the day, learning about a spirituality that would teach them this, and more.

One does not need any special technique like “breath prayers” to draw closer to God.  What ones needs is a humble heart, like a child, and a desire to please God by remaining obedient to his word.  We love God because he first loved us… AND we trust that he is always near, after all, He says he will never leave us nor forsake us.

Using “breath prayers,” or rather, vainly repeating chantings that we select because they are the things we want to hear, flies in the face of what the scripture does say.  Using these teachings to practice breath prayers, using the Carmelite monk, Brother Lawrence as our example instead of Jesus Christ, is a deception.  Besides stumbling people from hearing and obeying God, such salesmanship of these unbiblical ideas are perpetrated by people who want to draw disciples after themselves, who maybe find it financially profitable to sell books and thus make merchandise of men who buy their books and tell their friends, and who are somehow, spiritually deceived, because as such they demonstrate that they do not believe the truth, the simply truth that real prayer is simply talking to a God who care and who hears. 

True worshippers simply worship in Spirit and in Truth.

Jesus is the the Truth.