God, I Want MoreSample

Have you ever noticed that as soon as you buy a red car, suddenly red cars are everywhere? Of course, they were always there; it’s just that we’ve adjusted our focus, so now we see them.

In the same way, God is always with us, moving in and around our lives. But often, we miss him in the ordinary and mundane.

Thankfully, as we shift our spiritual focus and ask God to “open our eyes,” we start seeing his fingerprints in places we hadn’t noticed before.

Daniel gives us a beautiful example of how building a practice of noticing God in daily life equips us for peace, resilience, and joy—even in the hardest times.

Three times a day, no matter what was happening around him, Daniel paused, turned his heart toward God, and prayed.

This wasn’t just a checkbox; it was a lifeline—a rhythm that kept his eyes open to God’s hand in every detail. Like the red car effect, because Daniel was paying attention to God, he saw him everywhere.

Then, when crises hit—whether it was the king’s command to worship a false god or facing the lions’ den—Daniel didn’t have to scramble for courage or hope. His daily practice of turning to God had already built a deep well he could draw from in difficult times.

This attentiveness trained him to notice God’s presence, especially when things got hard, preparing him for a life of peace, faith, and fulfillment, even in a world that often didn’t go his way.

Three simple steps, based in Scripture and neuroscience, help us begin noticing the God who is always there: “Please, Pause, and Praise.”

• Please – Start the day by asking, “God, please help me notice you today,” priming your mind to seek his presence, like setting a filter to focus on him.
• Pause – When something stirs your heart, pause and recognize God’s presence. This simple act strengthens new brain pathways, training you to see him more naturally.
• Praise – At the end of the day, thank God for all the ways he showed up. This gratitude reinforces the experience, creating a feedback loop that helps you notice him even more.

By adding this simple “Please, Pause, and Praise” practice each day, we can train ourselves to notice God throughout the day. Soon, we’ll find he’s closer than we ever realized—woven into each moment, waiting for us to see him.

Prayer
“Lord, help me practice seeing you through ‘Please, Pause, and Praise’ as I go through this busy day.”

Join me tomorrow as we learn how the “practice of God’s presence” has helped believers throughout the ages—and how it can help you and me.