An Awareness of God

Reflecting on Calm Moments for Anxious Days and Section 6 of Tame Your Thoughts to reframe prayer as presence

“Sunlit forest clearing with a wooden bench surrounded by tall trees and morning mist. Golden light filters through the leaves, casting soft rays across dew-covered grass. Text overlay reads ‘An Awareness of God.’”

🌿 My Gentle Reflection

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
COLOSSIANS 4:2

So, yesterday was just a normal day. You know, hanging out laundry. I was sorting through sheets and towels, the usual stuff that feels like a chore. But my head was all over the place. I hadn’t journaled yet, and I felt like I hadn’t really connected with God. No candle, no special quiet time, just feeling behind and a little lost. I was just not feeling very spiritual which made me feel disconnected.

But then, I sort of stopped. I was holding a soft towel, and I just whispered, Thanks for this moment, God. You’re here with me.

Seriously, that was it. The stress just faded away.

It made me realize, prayer isn’t some big performance. It’s not a checklist. It’s just about being present and tuning in.

I was reading something by Max Lucado where he talked about the early Christians. They were always praying, like it was a constant thing. At first, that seemed impossible to me! Now, I kind of get it. It’s about being aware. I can say a quick thank you while folding laundry, acknowledge God’s presence while washing dishes, or just take a deep breath and relax while waiting in line.

It’s comforting to know that God wants to hear from me which can just be a whisper.

Even when I don’t have the perfect words.

Sometimes, even a sigh is enough.

✨ My Scripture of Hope

“We do not know how to pray as we should. But the Spirit himself speaks to God for us, even begs God for us with deep feelings that words cannot explain.”
ROMANS 8:26 NCV

🕊️ My Anxious Thoughts to Release

Prayer has to be this perfect, put-together thing.

If I skip praying, I’m a failure.

God listens best when I’m in a super quiet, peaceful place.

🌸 God’s Promise to Me

God always hears me.

Even when life is a total mess.

Even when I can’t find the right words to say.

🙏 My Prayer

God, thank You for meeting me where I am every single day. Thanks for hearing my sighs, my moments of just being quiet, and even my crazy thoughts. Help me stay connected to You throughout the day. Not just when things are calm, but all the time. You’re always close. You’re listening. You’re loving. Amen

🧠 Gentle Tools for Taming My Thoughts

Inspired by Section 6 of Tame Your Thoughts, I used three mindset tools to reframe prayer from pressure to presence.

1. 🛡️ Practice Picky Thinking

Journal Entry:
I thought, “I haven’t prayed enough today.”
I paused.

  • Is this true? No, God is with me all the time
  • Is this kind? No, it makes me feel guilty.
  • Is this from God? No, He offers support and doesn’t make me feel bad.

I replaced it with: God hears me with every breath. It felt so much better.

2. 👽 Identify UFOs

Journal Entry:
Same moment, same ache.

  • Untruth: God is disappointed in me.
  • False Narrative: I’m just not spiritual enough; I will never be.
  • Overreaction: I have to fix my prayer life RIGHT NOW.
    I named it a UFO and gently released it. Recognizing them as untrue helped a lot. I shifted to thinking: God is with me. He hears me. It felt like a hug.

3. 🌱 Uproot and Replant

Journal Entry:
This feeling brought back an old, familiar thought: I’m always too distracted to really connect with God.

I decided to challenge that thought.

  • Is this true? No, God knows I’m not perfect and can handle my scattered brain.
  • Is this kind? Nope, not at all.
  • Is this from God? Definitely not, He offers peace.

I decided to pull up that negative thought and replant it with a truth: God is with me. Even here. Even now. And that felt really good.

📘 Books That Helped Me Heal