How God-aware are you?
I got busy cleaning an overcrowded workroom last week. A couple of hours slipped by as I sorted through piles of miscellaneous items, organized tools into their proper place, cleaned in the back corners under the workbench, and carried armloads of junk to the garbage. When I finished, I was happy with the final result—a clean room! But as I walked away I was harpooned by the realization that I hadn’t thought about God one time during that cleanup.
This is not good. I don’t like it when this happens because I know from experience that when one stays God-aware, life goes much smoother and much happier. Plus, when a God-awareness is lost, it allows unhealthy suggestions to sneak into the backdoor of consciousness and take up residence. It’s much easier to keep the rascals out in the first place, than have to wrestle them out later.
Mortal mind argues that it’s impossible to stay God-aware during the day because there are so many other things to do and think about. But honestly, if God is all, and God is all good, what else could possibly be more important to think about?
God is in the details.
I could easily have expressed gratitude to God during that cleanup for the ability to sort intelligently. I could easily have given gratitude to God for the strength to sweep the floor and carry garbage out of the room.
It would have been very easy to stay aware of how God was enabling the cleanup to be successful. And truthfully, it was because of God’s gifts to me that I was able to do the work. And I knew that unconsciously. It’s ingrained into my way of thinking. But I was disappointed with myself that I got so caught up into the material task of the moment that God got consciously left outside the door.
Does this ever happen to you? Do you get so caught up into your own little world of “Do this and do that,” that you forget about God? It’s not necessary.
God gets the credit for all the good things that happen in our life. And the more aware and grateful we are for what God is giving us, the more we see. So, we have major incentive to stay God-aware no matter what job we’re doing. Events will go smoother. Relationships will be happier. We stay healthier.
Stay God-aware and end every task in a better spiritual place than you began.
“O God, we give glory to you all day long and constantly praise your name.” Psalm 44:8,NLT
Ah, but you must have been aware, or else you wouldn’t have been doing such a
great job!
This does happen to me, way too often. The inner dialog begins while I’m distracted being busy, the rascals have a field day! Thank you for pointing out that we must not let our guard down, ever. God is in the small things too, like cleaning out a room, something that doesn’t seem very “God like” and yet along with everything else, it is! Your message today is going to help me stay focused on where my thought needs to be at ALL times!
Very good advice. Before I read this, I thought “how can we pray unceasingly?” After I read Evan’s blog, I realized how easy thinking of God was.
I loved this article..I frequently get caught up with little things and feel overwhelmed and distant from God. This is a wonderful reminder that God is in all the details and we need to be calm.
I have always found when I get into a flow like you explained, that it was because I was so in harmony with inspired action that I became actively one with God. If God is omni-action then in our good deeds and daily activities if we flow with grace and harmony through the day it is like we are living our prayers instead of just thinking them. So what you explained sounded like you living your prayers and expressing them in all the good qualities that were needed to clean your work space. Any thoughts on this Evan?
Hi Monique,
Yep, you are right! I was expressing God in many ways. Living ideals of cleanliness and order. But I had quite a determined “need to get this job done” too during the work, and could have eased off a bit on that, and let God take the lead more in my thinking rather than perhaps too much human will in control that didn’t need to be there.
Hope that helps.
I thought that God w as in the picture all the time you were working. You were expressing many qualities that are God-like. I always feel so good when I clean out a closet, or go to recycle something, it makes you feel more organized, free of clutter, balanced, structured. I tend to see God more in the activity refreshing not only my mind but the space. God fills all space. There is no spot where God is not. I would just say “thank You, God… great job!”
This is so important, Evan…I think this is something that is very common to all of us, and even though (as some of the commenters noted) God IS always with us, the point is, WE need to acknowledge that, otherwise we can slip into a “do-it-yourself” mindset without even realizing it. Thanks for this.
Great reminder, Evan! We have been painting trim on our house in a last minute rush before the rains come. Many opportunities for gratitude for a week of sunshine, (rare for here), for the energy to climb up and down the ladder and the dexterity to make it look as nice as possible, etc. Of course, this lesson applies to all our endeavors…
“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:6
Many thanks for the daily Spiritview!
Thank you, Evan, for the wake up call as I face my day. Acknowledging and thanking God minute by minute would erase the niggling concerns (Susan’s “rascals” was wonderful) that gnaw at spiritual thinking. This descriptive story put me at full alert—even while fixing “stuff” we can find the lessons in the activity—gratitude for even having “stuff.” Thanks to that wonderful story, I go forth today—-far more equipped to walk, drive, do errands with confidence and gratitude for God’s care. THANK YOU for Spiritview.
This is a beautiful example of being completely free of thinking thoughts ABOUT God, and replacing them being so completely at One with Him, all thoughts cease. The more often we are able to let go of believing we are humans thinking about God, the more open we are with BEing His Expression.
Thank you!
Barbara Budan, you hit the mark. Thanks to you and Evan.
Thanks, Evan, for this reminder to keep my thoughts on God at all times, being grateful for the ability to accomplish each task, and recognizing Love’s ever-presence with me. WOW! so easy to just go about the mechanical day and not really think about how the universe really works!!
I love these daily inspirations!!
Thank you Barbara Budan. You said so well what I was trying to say. We are not mortals thinking about God. We are at one with God, Principle!
It is very easy to become distracted in our daily lives. I will be more alert as we are all in God’s Kingdom and we need to begin our efforts after acknowledging God’s Presence. Thanks Evan as that brings us where we need ti be.
Ahh, Evan, yes, we want to “stay close” to God every moment. And you listened, because you went and did a good thing, thoroughly, cheerfully, two qualities of God; so your actions were “near” Him! And you went on your way when you were done. Then you redeemed your activity by actively giving glory to God for expressing obediently His qualities minutes before. Thank you for your example
Thank you!!! When our children were young I was told to clean a closet or a drawer by my Christian Science Practitioner when they acted ill and you did not leave God out of thought at that time, so it was always an uplifting and healing day. It did get may thought toward order and health rather than illness. Grateful for the reminder.
Thank-you Evan for the reminder. Isn’t it wonderful to know God is omnipresent! Glory be to God, our best our ever friend.
EXCELLENT comment Evan! I need to do this ALOT more…and I always seem to think of it AFTER the event…this is a good “heads up”
What wonderful ideas/reminders/prods for a God-filled experience rather than a chore-filled day. I am looking forward to it. Thanks everyone!