Guided Prayer - Returning To Love

Take a sacred pause from the noise of everyday life and enter into a space where your breath becomes prayer. This guided Christian meditation invites you into the ancient spiritual practice that saints and mystics have treasured for centuries.

With gentle guidance rooted in scripture from Philippians, we'll journey together through a series of breath prayers that transform ordinary breathing into holy communion. "Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things." These words create the foundation for our contemplative experience.

The meditation incorporates the beautiful rhythm of inhaling divine love and exhaling our response—"Lord Jesus, fill me with your love" as you breathe in, and "Let me become love" as you release. This simple pattern, practiced mindfully, creates a profound shift in your spiritual awareness. We explore visualization techniques that help you perceive Christ's love as "light, soft, golden, radiant" filling your entire being and washing away fear, anxiety and bitterness.

Perhaps most transformative is the realization that through this practice, "you are becoming the answer to your own prayer." The Holy Spirit works within you, making you a vessel of the very love you seek. As you experience how "to return to love is to return to God," you'll discover that divine presence is never far away—it's as close as your next breath.

Whether you're new to contemplative prayer or have practiced it for years, this meditation offers a sacred moment to reconnect with the source of all love. Experience how the ancient words "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me" can become "a holy whisper in the chambers of your heart." Subscribe to our podcast for weekly guided meditations that help you cultivate a deeper spiritual life through the transformative power of breath prayer.

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This podcast is made possible, thanks to the generosity of our donors. If you would like to support the ongoing work of First Love Church you can donate at https://www.firstlovechurch.org/giving

In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome, beloved in Christ.
Take a deep breath in andslowly let it go Again.
Inhale deeply and release, andrelease One more gentle breath

(00:33):
filling your lungs with life,and exhale.
Here, in this moment, god isalready with you, the spirit
nearer than your own breath.
You are safe, you are held andyou are loved.

(00:53):
Hear the word of the Lord.
Whatever is true, whatever isnoble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever islovely, whatever is admirable,

(01:14):
if anything is excellent orpraiseworthy, think about such
things and again, may the wordsof my mouth and the meditation
of my heart be pleasing in yoursight.
Oh lord, my rock and myredeemer, let these words settle

(01:37):
over you like gentle rain.
With your inhale silently, pray, lord Jesus.

(02:09):
Fill me with your love.
And with your exhale, silently,pray, let me become love.
Inhale, lord Jesus.
Fill me with your love.
Exhale, let me become love.

(02:36):
Exhale, let me become love.
Continue this prayer with yourbreathing.
Allow the rhythm of the prayerand the breath weave together as

(03:12):
you breathe.
Picture the love of Christ aslight, soft, golden, radiant.
As you breathe, picture thelove of Christ as light, soft,
golden radiant filling yourchest, your heart, your whole
being.
See it expand, flowing outward,washing away harshness, fear or

(03:43):
bitterness.
Every anxious thought, everyheavy burden is lifted in the
presence of this love beloved.

(04:04):
To return to love is to returnto God, for God is love, and
this love does not condemn, butrestores, renews and makes all
things new.
Lord Jesus Christ, son of theLiving God, have mercy on me.

(04:46):
Amen.
Repeat this softly, with therhythm of your own breath, as
the saints and mystics prayedthis across the centuries.
Let it become a holy whisper inthe chambers of your heart.

(05:06):
Lord Jesus Christ, son of theLiving God, have mercy on me,
thank you now imagine thismerciful love moving beyond you

(05:56):
to your family, to yourcommunity, your family to your
community to those you strugglewith, to the weary world.

(06:20):
Beloved, you are a vessel ofholy love by the Holy Spirit.
You are becoming the answer toyour own prayer.
As you breathe, say inwardly inlove, I live in love, I move in

(06:52):
love.

Speaker 2 (06:54):
I have my being.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
Slowly return your awareness to the room, Feel your
feet upon the earth, your bodysupported, your breath, steady
and calm.
Beloved, you have prayed withyour heart.

(07:50):
You have returned to love.
Carry this blessing with you.
May the words of my mouth andthe meditation of my heart be
pleasing in your sight.

(08:11):
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer, go in peace.

Speaker 2 (08:25):
Go in love, go in God .