“Wherever you are, be all there.”

That phrase was spoken often in my household growing up. It’s a quote attributed to Jim Elliot, and whether or not he intended it as a mantra, it captures something deeply true about the way he lived. It’s also a reminder that feels increasingly difficult to follow today.

Being present is something most of us talk about, and yet something most of us are really, really bad at practicing.

The War on Our Attention

Since Elliot’s time, being present has become significantly harder. We live in an attention economy that profits from distraction. It’s estimated that the average person sees somewhere between 4,000 and 10,000 ads per day. The average American also spends about five hours a day on their phone. That adds up to roughly 76 days per year.

Seventy-six days.

Think of all that could happen in seventy-six days. Relationships could deepen. Healing could begin. Prayers could be prayed. Meals could be shared. Laughter could be exchanged. Grief could be honored. Growth could take root.

And yet, our attention is constantly being pulled in every direction. Texts. Emails. Notifications. Social media. Trends. The next “it” thing. We’re often looking backward, replaying and critiquing what’s already happened. Or we’re looking forward, planning, anticipating, worrying about what’s next (guilty). Or we’re looking down at a glowing screen in our hands.

Which raises an important question:
If we’re always looking back, forward, or down, when are we actually here?

What Does It Mean to Be Present?

Being present doesn’t mean clearing your mind completely or ignoring responsibility. It means bringing your full, undivided attention to the moment God has placed you in. It means being awake to what’s happening right now, within you, around you, and between you and God.

Dallas Willard once described hurry as “the great enemy of spiritual life.” Similarly, John Mark Comer often reminds us that love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness cannot be rushed. Presence is the soil where the fruit of the Spirit grows.

Scripture echoes this wisdom. Psalm 46:10 invites us, “Be still, and know that I am God.” Jesus Himself modeled a life of attentiveness. He withdrew to quiet places, noticed the overlooked, welcomed interruptions, and was fully with the people in front of Him.

When we’re not present, we often miss what God is trying to teach us or where the Holy Spirit is trying to lead us.

Slowing Down to Hear God

I’ve noticed this in my own life. When I’m rushing from one thing to the next, mentally living three steps ahead, it’s incredibly hard to hear the Lord. My prayers feel hurried. My reactions feel sharp. My attention feels fragmented.

But when I slow down, when I stop and simply be, something shifts. I notice gentle nudges from the Spirit more often. I experience more peace. More patience. More clarity. The fruit that flows from my life feels less forced and more natural.

God is always present with us. The question is whether we are present enough to notice.

Presence and Relationships

We were built for relationships. From the very beginning, God said it was not good for us to be alone. But relationships require presence. Not proximity. Not multitasking. Presence.

Healthy, life-giving relationships are formed by being with one another. By listening without half an eye on a phone. By making space for silence. By showing up emotionally, not just physically.

Sitting next to someone while scrolling Instagram is not the same as being with them. Presence communicates value. It says, “You matter. This moment matters.” In a distracted world, that kind of attention is a rare and powerful gift.

An Invitation

So if you’re reading this right now, here’s a simple invitation.

Put the phone down.
Take a breath.
Notice where you are.

Notice what God might be doing in you, around you, and through the people in front of you.

Wherever you are, be all there.

Sometimes the most meaningful gift we can offer, to God and to one another, is simply the gift of presence.