Living in the Presence of God: 3 Ways to Increase Your Awareness
Most mornings, I sit beside our dining room window as first light ascends from behind the eastern tree line. I sit here to get my bearings at the start of each new day. I also sit here because this practice is teaching me about living in the presence of God.
I’ve learned that when I begin the day with a few quiet moments spent seeking God’s face, I’m more attuned to his presence throughout the remainder of the day as well.
Living in the Presence of God
This morning is overcast. There are chickadees at the bird feeder; the colorful songbirds of summer are gone.
I watch the tiny birds scramble for sustenance, and my eyes are drawn to a crimson cardinal dancing across the worn boards of the deck. Some part of me envies the simplicity of the cardinal’s life. He’s not hurrying, worrying, or scrambling to accomplish anything.
Opening my Bible, the reading in front of me speaks to my heart with a precision that catches me off-guard.
Slow down. Take a deep breath. What’s the hurry?
Why wear yourself out? Just what are you after anyway?
But you say, “I can’t help it.
I’m addicted to alien gods. I can’t quit” (Jeremiah 2:25 MSG).
I know the verse was originally written to the Israelites, but I have my own alien gods begging for my attention.
They are gods like perfectionism, overachievement, image management, control, and success. They’re the gods our culture applauds, and the applause only feeds the desire to try harder, move faster, accomplish more, and keep worshiping the idols.
I know that focusing on these idols draws my attention away from God, but I find it difficult to reclaim my focus.
How to Become More Aware of God’s Presence
I’m in a season of learning about living in the presence of God.
God is always present with us; living in the presence of God is the practice of becoming more aware of his presence in our everyday moments.
Sadly, I’m often more focused on my to-do list than on God. I want to be present in a way that looks for what God is doing around me, but I find this difficult to put into practice.
I’ve been starting my days by sitting at this window because watching the birds reminds me to be present in the moment. Learning how to be present in my morning moments is teaching me how to be more present throughout the rest of the day, as well: present to my kids, my friends, and even the work that fills my days.
Much to my surprise, as I slow down and become more engaged in the moments in front of me, I have a deep sense that I am also more aware of God’s presence.
Living in the Presence of God by Slowing Down
In her book Present over Perfect, Shauna Niequist wrote these words about living fully present in our moments:
“Present is living with your feet firmly grounded in reality, pale and uncertain as it may seem. . . . Present means we understand that the here and now is sacred, sacramental, threaded through with divinity even in its plainness. Especially in its plainness.”
The first time I read Shauna’s wise words, one specific word leaped off the page: sacramental.
I realized that living in the presence of God happens when we embrace a sacramental way of living.
Let me explain. 
Embracing a Sacramental Mindset
A sacrament is a physical symbol of a spiritual reality. Most of us think of the Lord’s Supper or baptism when we think of sacraments. Most of us have never considered embracing this same mindset in all of our moments. We can be aware of God’s presence and also mindful of the physical objects in front of us.
In this way, we become aware that God’s presence is always near, even as we undertake the most routine tasks throughout our days.
Here’s what this sacramental mindset looks like for me (and it is helping me with living in the presence of God):
I am beginning to actually taste the flavors of the food I eat instead of inhaling the calories for nutrition or to fill an emotional void.
I’m slowing down, refusing to rush through my days as much as possible.
I often imagine Jesus sitting with me, and I simply enjoy his presence.
I’m also learning to talk to God and give thanks as I complete the housework that fills my days. I am beginning to give thanks for the toilets I get to swish, the floors I get to clean, and the people who make the messes in my house. I complete these tasks slowly and thoughtfully, allowing God to speak to my heart in the process.
In these moments, I thank God for the gifts of food, running water, and a warm home.
I’m letting my fingers brush the tiny cotton vestments that emerge from the dryer smelling like springtime rain-showers. I thank God for our children, and I pray for them. I create space for God to speak to my heart.
I’ve also been stopping to admire russet oak leaves as they cling to the branches like a reminder of the One who holds onto me when I lose the strength to cling to him.
Your Invitation to Become More Aware of the Lord’s Presence
Dear friend, God is always present with you.
He is simply inviting you to become more aware of his presence. Let’s summarize what we’ve learned today into three simple steps to help you as you aim to cultivate this awareness:
1. Begin your days with God.
Take even a few minutes to talk to him, thank him for being with you, and rest with him. This simple practice will help you focus on him all day long.
I encourage you to spend part of this time talking to God, part of the time quietly resting in the awareness that he is with you, and part of the time reading your Bible. The Psalms are a good place to start if you don’t know where to begin.
2. Slow down throughout your days.
Watch for God’s fingerprints around you. Leave space for being mindful and present in your days.
As much as possible, try not to rush or hurry.
3. Embrace a sacramental mindset.
Aim to connect with God as you go about the work of your days.
He is with you, and he is inviting you to become more aware of his presence. Talk to him as you would talk to a friend while you do the work of your days. Enjoy him. He smiles upon you and loves you. He also loves this time together.
A Free Devotional to Help You With Living in the Presence of God:
I’m also on a journey of getting into open skies to talk to God every day. It’s shaping me in the very best way. If this kind of shaping sounds refreshing to your soul, the invitation awaits you as well. 
If you would like to respond to this invitation, I have a free gift for you today: my free online devotional, Space for Your Soul to Stretch. Each day of this devotional will invite you to step back from your life for a few minutes and create space to encounter God beneath open skies. Click here to download it today! Be blessed as you seek God in his created world.
Calling All Parents (and Grandparents)!
As the parent of two sons and a daughter, I have a heart for helping parents develop deeper relationships with their children and with God. Our kids, ages 6, 11, and 15, share this vision. They have helped me write three family devotionals for parents or older relatives to read with the children and teens they love. You can find all three books here or read more below.
A Book for All Boy Moms (and Dads)!
God’s Warrior: Devotions for Boys Who Want to Grow in Courage and Strength helps young boys, ages 5-13, learn what it means to trust God and become strong warriors for his kingdom. Now, more than ever, our world needs men who are willing to boldly carry God’s love into the world. I wrote this boys’ devotional book with our two young sons, Aiden and Caleb, ages six and eleven! You’ll enjoy their honesty as we teach boys how to be strong warriors for the Lord. Find this life-changing devotional book here.
Mother-Daughter Devotionals by a Mom and Daughter
Girl to Girl: 60 Mother-Daughter Devotions for a Closer Relationship and Deeper Faith is written for girls ages 7-12. It includes 60 devotions with Scripture, conversation starters, and a shared journaling section for moms and daughters after each devotion. I wrote this book with the help of our daughter, Bekah, when she was eleven. Find this one-of-a-kind shared devotional here.
Heart to Heart: A Mother-Daughter Devotional With 50 Devotions for Teen Girls is for teenage girls ages 13-20. It includes 50 devotions, each with a shared journaling section to help moms and daughters connect through writing. This is a great book for moms who want to communicate about awkward topics—like dating, sexuality, peer pressure, and more—but don’t know where to start. Bekah and I will help you right here.
Find Our Family Devotionals Here
Find all three books right here. They are also free on the Kindle Unlimited plan, which you can enjoy with a free three-month trial! These books make great gifts, and you don’t need to be the parent of young children to read them. Share them with your grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or the young ones you love.
Learn Why Willpower Doesn’t Work and Experience God’s Deliverance and Healing
God wants to work in your life to accomplish what you’ve been unable to do through willpower alone. Lean Into Grace: Let God’s Grace Heal Your Heart, Refresh Your Soul, and Set You Free shares practical ways to experience God’s freedom, healing, power, and presence in your life. Find this life-changing book as a free eBook on Kindle Unlimited or for 12.99 in print right here. (If you do not have Kindle Unlimited, you can try it out with a free three-month trial!) This book will transform your life and revitalize your relationship with the Lord!
A Free Devotional to Help You Connect With God
God is a good Father, and he wants us to experience his healing, deliverance, and replenishment. Most of us have learned that we cannot heal, deliver, or refresh ourselves; we need God to do this work within us. I invite you to create space for God to transform your life by downloading a free copy of my devotional eBook, The Lean Into Grace Devotional: An 8-Day Devotional for Healing, Deliverance, and Replenishment. Find it for free here. 
