The Spiritual Discipline of Beholding
CARLOS WHITTAKER
Lee en español
“And the angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.’” Luke 1:19 (ESV)
I once sat in the middle of an Amish barn watching a 12-year-old boy hitch a buggy to a horse. He wasn’t in a hurry. Every motion — looping the reins, adjusting the harness, patting the horse’s neck — felt like it had purpose.
And instead of scrolling on my phone or checking a notification, I just watched — really watched.
That was the first time in years I was beholding something. Not just seeing it but staying with it — absorbing the wonder of a moment that normally would’ve passed me by. There was something sacred about it.
Behold. We don’t use that word much anymore. It feels ancient, poetic … holy. The act of beholding has become rare in our world of swiping and multitasking.
In Luke 1, when the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he didn’t say, “Notice this.” He said something far more intentional: “Behold.”
“And the angel answered him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place …’” (Luke 1:19-20, ESV).
“Behold” is a word that invites us not just to see something but to stand still in awe of it. I’ve come to believe beholding is a spiritual discipline, one we’ve forgotten.
It’s easier than ever to glance past what God is doing because we’re trained to live on the surface. We skim headlines, scroll past sunrises, and multitask through conversations. But beholding slows us down. It calls us to stay with a moment long enough to let it speak.
Beholding is how we begin to notice again — not just what’s happening around us but what God is doing within us.
When I got back home from spending seven screen-free weeks with the Amish, I didn’t want to lose that sense of sacred seeing. So I’ve started practicing beholding every morning for 60 seconds. I sip my coffee on my front porch, breathe, and ask, What do You want me to behold today, God?
Sometimes it’s the way the light hits the brick. Sometimes it’s the weariness in my wife’s eyes or the laughter of my son echoing through the kitchen. And sometimes it’s just the silence that hums with the presence of God.
I believe beholding is how we begin to fall back in love with the life God gave us — not the life we perform online but the one we’re meant to live with wonder.
Today, take one minute. Put your phone down. Really look at something. Let the world slow down. And just behold.
Father, slow me down long enough to behold the beauty You’ve placed in my path today. Open my eyes not just to see but to notice. Thank You for inviting me to be present with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
For a practical guide to rediscovering the beauty of life on the other side of screens, grab a copy of Carlos Whittaker’s book Reconnected: How 7 Screen-Free Weeks with Monks and Amish Farmers Helped Me Recover the Lost Art of Being Human.
ENGAGE
Find more from Carlos on Instagram, his website, or The Carlos Whittaker Podcast.
Enter to WIN your very own copy of Reconnected by Carlos Whittaker. To celebrate this book, Carlos’ publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by filling out the form here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and notify them via email by Monday, July 14, 2025.}
FOR DEEPER STUDY
Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law” (ESV).
Isaiah 43:19a, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (ESV).
What’s one everyday moment God might be inviting you to truly behold today? How can practicing beholding help you feel more connected to God’s presence in your daily life? Share with us in the comments!
© 2025 by Carlos Whittaker. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
