Noticing God in the Moments You Already Have

Please welcome my writing friend, Cathy Baker. Cathy and I met at Blue Ridge Christian Writers Conference over 10 years ago. She’s a sweet reflection of Christ and brings a unique voice to the writing world. Cathy encourages us in noticing God.

As a child, I often noticed my grandparents pulling out their Bibles to read and pray in the morning. When I became a Christ-follower at twenty-seven years old, I naturally followed their pattern, setting aside time to pray and read Scripture before the day began, and I still do this today. 

Through the years, the Lord began opening my eyes to see more opportunities for prayer as I went about my day—like praying for a single mom struggling to quiet her child in the grocery line, for the homeless holding signs as I passed by, or for the people in need when I heard sirens.

When our general prayers become more specific, we discover greater opportunities of noticing God in our moments and lives. -Cathy Baker Share on X

Noticing God

One particular night, however, reshaped my understanding of prayer in a deeper way. During a church small group, the mom hosting us shared that her son was struggling with depression and was heading down a dangerous path. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, I suggested we go to his room and pray for specific concerns. More than a dozen people took turns praying for his salvation, for freedom from unhealthy habits, for wisdom in choosing healthy friendships, and so much more.

Today, he loves Jesus and is a successful chiropractor with a beautiful family. I believe God graciously responded to those prayers, just as He promises in Mark 11:24:

“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Read More…

You’re Seen and Known and Loved by God

God sees you, He knows what you’ve been through, and He loves you so completely. But we don’t have to chase God’s presence or love, we find it where we are. God sees every tear you shed and every wound you bear. And He knows and understands. Because you are seen and known and loved by God.

And this truth became more clear and comforting to me during my husband’s heart journey. Even though I often felt alone and unseen, God’s presence bathed me in peace and understanding.

Six weeks and a day at hospitals far away from home threatened to make my heart question God’s love for me. But there in the midst of all the uncertainty; God saw me, He understood what I was going through, and He loved me so perfectly.

So when we reflect on Psalm 139, the passage reminds us of God’s presence in all our moments—good and hard— from our first breath through today.

God sees you, He knows what you've been through, and He loves you so completely. Share on X

Seen and Known

1. God Knows You Completely and Intimately

“O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139:1-4 (ESV)

God has “searched” and “known” us. This isn’t surface-level awareness—He understands our thoughts, motives, fears, and even the things we haven’t said out loud yet. Fully known, yet not rejected.

2. You Are Never Outside His Presence

Read More…

All to Jesus I Surrender: 5 Key Bible Verses

God is more interested in our surrender than our sufficiency. Why? Because He desires we surrender all to Jesus.

Ever since I gave my heart and life to Christ at sixteen, I’ve heard about surrender in the Christian life. And I remember singing a familiar hymn to surrender all to Jesus even before my salvation. 

The lyrics and melody play in my mind often. 

Surrendering everything about our lives is an important aspect of our faith journey. And it’s key to our spiritual maturity. 

But how do we surrender “all” to Jesus? 

Jesus modeled surrender in a life completely surrendered to the heavenly Father.

So let’s look at Scriptures that point us to the surrendered life.

Surrender All to Jesus

(1.) “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” Matthew 16:24 (ESV)

We surrender control. We deny going our own way—the right to live for ourselves. Because following Jesus with full surrender and faithfully living as a believer is not even about me.

Instead, it’s “all” about the One who said, “Follow Me.”

(2.) “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

Surrender is trusting in Christ and acknowledging His wisdom and lordship. Jesus wants our surrender, not our sufficiency. 

Where are we trying to be self-sufficient and relying on our own ability?

To surrender all means we fully surrender to who Jesus is and as Lord over our lives.

I surrender all to Jesus means trusting in Christ and acknowledging His wisdom and lordship. We fully surrender to who Jesus is and as Lord over our lives. Share on X

Living Sacrifice

Read More…