Some days faith feels like a full choir—lyrics you didn’t know you needed, goosebumps up your arms, a verse that lands like it had your name on it.
And then there are regular Mondays. The ones with laundry piles, traffic that won’t quit, meetings that should’ve been emails, and a sink that never empties—Thank you, kids.
I asked myself, is God there, too?
Yes. Unequivocally, yes.
Sometimes the quiet of God is easiest to hear where we least expect it—right in the middle of the mess.
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We don’t have to wait for a mountaintop, a retreat, or a perfect morning routine to meet Him. God’s presence isn’t confined to a pew or a perfectly structured prayer. He shows up in your cluttered entryway, your car at a red light, your breath after a challenging conversation, and your laugh that sneaks out when you didn’t think you had one left. If you start looking for Him, you’ll begin noticing Him—everywhere.
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1) Holiness Hiding In The Ordinary
There’s a quiet beauty to tiny, everyday rhythms—making the bed, starting the coffee, sorting the socks that mysteriously multiply. Those small movements can become little altars.
A mini story: Yesterday, I was rushing—late again—looking for car keys, all the while worried about the dirty dishes the kids didn’t put in the dishwasher. I paused, put one hand on the counter, and whispered, “God, I know You’re here.” The kitchen didn’t magically clean itself; it still took me a while to find my keys, but the next breath landed softer. My shoulders dropped. That whisper? That was prayer.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” —Psalm 145:18
Try this: Pick one repetitive task (dishes, making the bed, feeding a pet) and pair it with a one-sentence prayer for a week. Let the routine carry the prayer.
2) When Plans Shift, God Doesn’t
Spilled coffee on a new shirt. Detour that adds 15 minutes. A canceled plan you were counting on. We call it inconvenient. God sometimes calls it an invitation. An invitation to pause, protect, redirect, and grow.
“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” —Proverbs 16:9
Interruptions can be meeting places. Not punishments—pauses. If something forces a stop, ask: “Lord, what are You redirecting me toward—awareness, rest, a person I’d have missed?”
A gentle practice: When your day swerves, touch your chest for one breath and say, “Guide my next small step, God.” No drama. Just direction from God.
3) People As Messengers of Kindness
An encouraging text from a friend. A coworker’s joke that makes you laugh. A barista who remembers your name. None of that is accidental.
“Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.” —Hebrews 13:2
Often, God answers our “Are You with me?” through the faces of humans. If a kindness lands today, consider it a little postcard from heaven signed, “I see you.”
Your turn: Be that postcard for someone else. One text: “You were on my mind—sending love and courage.” You have no idea how timely that might be for that person.
4) Stillness Isn’t Silence—It’s Attention
“Be still” doesn’t require a padded room. It asks for presence.
“Be still and know that I am God.” —Psalm 46:10
Stillness can be a slow sip of tea on the porch, walking bare feet in the grass, or the decision to watch the sun set without also scrolling. Five simple minutes can change the course of a whole afternoon.
If you feel fidgety: Try a “grounding five.” Name five things you see, four you can touch, three you hear, two you smell, and one you can taste. Then breathe: “God, You’re here. I’m here.”
Try a simple signal for your brain: light a clean-burn soy candle or start a mini diffuser.
5) Grace In the Middle of The Mess
You don’t need a spotless house, a perfect attitude, or a tidy prayer journal for God to come close. He meets us where we are, not where we promise we’ll be once we “get it together.”
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” —Matthew 11:28
Read that again: come as you are. Not after you declutter your closet or finish your to-do list. He arrives with rest, not reproach.
A reframe for bad days: Instead of “I failed today,” try “Today was heavy. God sat with me through it all.”
6) Gratitude Turns the Light On
It’s hard to sense God when your gaze is glued to what’s missing. Gratitude doesn’t deny hardship; it widens the frame so we can see the gifts in the shot, too.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18
Right now: Name three small graces—warm water, rent/mortgage paid, an unexpected message that you needed. Feel how your chest loosens, even a little. That’s awareness turning up.
Keep a pocket notebook + pen where you actually live—kitchen counter, entry table.
Breath Prayers For Busy Days (pocket-sized and doable)
Use on a commute, in a line, between emails:
- Inhale: You are near. Exhale: I am held.
- Inhale: Light of God. Exhale: Guide my steps.
- Inhale: I release hurry. Exhale: I receive grace.
- Inhale: Your peace in me. Exhale: Your peace through me.
Two minutes. That’s all you need to get the edge off.
Need a verse to anchor your breath prayer? Start with these Bible Verses for Peace.
Reflection Prompts (Journal or Voice Memo)
Pick one and focus for five honest minutes:
- Where did I feel a nudge of comfort or clarity in the last 24 hours?
- What small kindness found me recently—and what did it say about God’s heart?
- Which daily task could become my “prayer cue,” and what short prayer fits it?
- Where am I resisting an interruption that might be a gift?
- What three graces keep showing up in this season?
A simple “Notice God” Challenge (Only 7 days)
Minimal time, real impact:
Day 1: Morning Whisper – Before your feet hit the floor: “God, help me notice You today.”
Day 2: Commute Cue – Every red light = one breath prayer.
Day 3: Nature Minute – Step outside and name five beautiful things you see or hear.
Day 4: People Postcard – Send one encouraging message. Short is fine.
Day 5: Scripture Nearby – Keep a verse on your lock screen or taped to your mug.
Day 6: Gratitude Trio – Write three thank-you notes before bed. No repeats.
Day 7: Evening Examen – Ask: Where did I notice God? Where did I numb out? Offer both.
Repeat any day you love. Modify what you don’t. God meets you in your life, not someone else’s routine.
When You Can’t Feel Anything At All
Some seasons are foggy. Your prayers feel thin; your Bible feels like paper. You’re not broken. You’re human.
- Borrow someone else’s words. Pray a psalm out loud (Psalm 23, 27, or 121).
- Put worship in the background while you do chores—let the truth soak without pressure.
- Ask for help. “God, I can’t feel You. Hold me anyway.” That counts.
- Let the community carry you. Send one honest text: “I’m struggling. Please pray.”
God’s presence isn’t a mood; it’s a promise. Feelings will rise again.
A Short Prayer You Can Keep
God, be near in my ordinary day.
Meet me in what repeats, in what interrupts, in what aches, and in what delights.
Sharpen my attention so I don’t miss the gifts You’re already giving.
Where I’m weary, bring rest. Where I’m hurried, bring holy pauses.
Teach me to notice—and to be a small kindness in someone else’s story.
Amen.
Gentle Ways to Stay Aware (mix & match)
- Morning check-in: Hand on heart. “Good morning, Lord.” Ten seconds.
- Doorway pause: Every time you walk through a doorway, whisper, “Walk with me.”
- Water reminder: Each sip = “Refresh me, God.”
- Alarm cue: Set a phone reminder at 2:00 p.m.: “Breathe. God is here.”
- Win jar: Jot tiny graces on scraps of paper; read them at week’s end.
These aren’t chores. They’re touchpoints—little threads that keep you tethered to presence.
Final thought
We rushed past so much holiness. But God isn’t only in the dramatic breakthrough; He’s twisted into ordinary mercies—the hug from your child, the breeze that cools your skin, the lyric that lands at the perfect moment, the stranger who holds the door when you needed it most.
Today, soften your gaze. Let your breathing slow. Let your attention widen.
Look for Him in the ordinary—because He’s already there, patient and kind, waiting to be seen.
Let gratitude steady your feet today.
~Kay~
