Editor’s note: You’re welcome to read our Prayer in Motion Q&A with Jennifer Tucker and then continue reading today’s devotion from Prayer in Motion below. Enjoy!
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. — Psalm 19:1
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This is a classic grounding exercise that can be particularly helpful when you are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety or stress. By focusing on what you can see, feel, hear, smell, and taste right now, you anchor yourself to the present moment. This technique helps you shift your focus away from your worries and fears and brings you back to mindful awareness of your surroundings. Take a deep breath and focus on naming:
Find the Rainbow
This is another simple mindfulness exercise that helps you turn your focus toward the present moment. Look around your immediate environment and find something that is:
Look Down, Look Up
This is a simple practice of presence that can help open your eyes to what is already around you in the here and now. I first saw Emily P. Freeman share this simple technique on Instagram,1 and it immediately became one of my favorites for quickly grounding myself in moments of stress. She recommends, “Look up in gratitude and down for grounding at least once a day.” It’s such a simple thing, but just taking a moment to pause and notice can make quite a difference.
Stop wherever you are.
LOOK DOWN
Notice what’s beneath your feet.
Take a few deep breaths and simply pay attention to where you are right now.
Your feet are planted in safety. God is with you right now.
LOOK UP
Notice what’s above your head.
Take a few deep breaths and pay close attention to where you are right now.
Your body is covered in love. God is with you right now.
Bonus tip: Do like Emily does and snap a photo of what’s below and above you to have a visual reminder of these small moments in your everyday.
Glimmers
Glimmers are tiny moments of goodness, joy, or beauty. A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger. Where triggers stimulate traumatic memories or negative emotions, glimmers stimulate positive emotions and feelings of safety and comfort.
Glimmers are not usually big things, but even the smallest glimmers can be powerful tools to help you shift from stress and shutdown to feelings of calm and connection. Noticing glimmers helps ground you in the present moment and activates the para-sympathetic nervous system, which can help lower your heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol levels.28 Over time, intentionally noticing glimmers trains your brain to seek out safety instead of stress, and to see moments of goodness instead of mountains of problems.
Glimmers are gifts from our good and loving God. Our lives are surrounded by goodness and grace, if we only open our eyes to see it.
Not sure how to identify a glimmer? Consider these questions:
- What brings you moments of delight?
- What brings you feelings of hope?
- What makes you feel safe or comfortable?
- What gives you joy?
- What makes you smile?
1. Emily P. Freeman (@emilypfreeman), Instagram, March 18, 2025, https://www.instagram.com/p/DHVplCcvjMZ.
Excerpted with permission from Prayer in Motion by Jennifer Tucker, copyright Jennifer Tucker.
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Your Turn
Slow down in prayer today. Notice what’s around you with all of your senses and praise the Lord. Rest in His presence. ~ Devotionals Daily