This morning I rolled out of bed, put on clean-ish clothes, and went through my morning ritual of making my pour-over coffee. I fed my almost-2-year-old daughter her breakfast, checked email, and as an afterthought, turned my awareness to God. It was like a silent, "Hey there, God." An acknowledgement of his presence with me, a welcoming him into the ordinary-ness of my day.

On mornings like this, when life seems so normal and routine, I am thankful that God is present in the ordinary. I am thankful that God isn't only in the flashy and extraordinary. Because if that were true, my mostly ordinary life would seem to be missing the mark. So I am grateful. But I also recognize that I want more of this. I want to know and encounter more of God in my actual life. So I invite God in. I ask him to help me see him and hear him in the ordinary.

After I pray this, my daughter asks for a snack. So we toast some bread, and take our morning snack outside on the porch. We sit together for a while, my daughter is thrilled by the passing airplanes and garbage trucks. Then she turns to me, "Mama, kiss?" She plants a sloppy toddler kiss on my face. And in this moment, I sense God delighting in the moment with us.

I wonder how our lives would change if we became more aware of God's presence? How might we react to the interruptions? How would we treat the people we unexpectedly encounter? How would we experience our errands and household chores?

I am learning how to welcome God into my ordinary. I invite you to do the same.

ACTION & PRACTICE

Take a moment to simply be with God. Turn your awareness to his presence with you. Invite him to reveal himself right now. Ask him to help you see and hear him in the ordinary today.

How aware of God are you in your daily life? How do you encounter God in the ordinary? Please share in the comments.

Can I tell you a secret? I think we have that sort of rapport, don't we? Here's my secret: sometimes I feel lost and scared. In the last few weeks I have felt those things acutely. 

And yet I hear the whispers of Jesus saying to me, "Do not be afraid, for I am with you." I want so much to trust in Jesus' promise that he is with me, and that fear does not have a hold on me. So I am trying to hold onto Jesus. I am trying to receive his presence with me in my lostness. And I am trying to let him guide me.

Here are the three things I am doing to hold to Jesus:

1. Love God and love people

These are the anchors of the faith life with Jesus. Love God and love people. When I am exhausted or confused, the simplicity of these commands help me to stay the course with Jesus. In loving God and loving people, we can be sure that we are staying yoked to him.

2. Ask God for help

I find it necessary to be asking for God's help on a daily basis these days. So I ask him questions, like, "How do you want me to spend my day today?" and "What do you want me to know right now?" The questions are simple and immediate. When I am lost, I am more desperate for a live, real-time conversation with God. Creating Listening Space is so important as we lean into God.

3. Self-care
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When we get caught up in stress, good antidotes are slowing down and paying attention to the basic needs of our body, soul, and mind. Without the practice of good self-care, we may find ourselves on the verge of burnout. So I am practicing self-care. Here's a simple list of 20 Self-Care Activities For Your Health and Well-Being.

Jesus is with us. He is mighty. He calms the storms and will not forsake us. Let us hold to those truths today.

What do you do when you feel a little lost? Please share in the comments. 

If you enjoyed this post, check out these related posts:

10 Practical Ideas For Your Spiritual Growth
How to Create Space to Listen to the Voice of God
6 Simple Questions For Self-Reflection