Using All 5 Senses to Deepen Your Faith and Creativity
I’ve always loved the idea that God didn’t just give us bodies to move us around this world. He gave us senses so we could experience it. See it. Taste it. Smell it. Touch it. Hear it. And if you’re anything like me, those senses end up playing a huge role in your creative and faith life.
But here’s the tricky part: most of us are so busy and overstimulated that we don’t even notice our senses anymore. We move through our days on autopilot, grabbing our phones every few minutes, jumping from task to task, and never really settling long enough to feel anything deeply.
What I’ve learned (and keep learning) is that tuning back into the five senses instantly brings you into the present moment, and that’s where faith and creativity naturally flourish. God speaks in the now. Inspiration arrives in the now. Peace waits for us in the now.
So today I want to walk you through how each sense can help you connect more deeply with God and fuel your creativity along the way. As I have slowed down to pay more attention to my sense, everything feels better – heightened, alive.
Sight: Seeing What’s Really There
When I slow down enough to actually look at something, really look at it, I start seeing details I missed for years. Shadow patterns on the table. The way paint settles on paper. The rust on a hinge. The way someone’s smile softens when they feel seen. The patterns in the clouds. The texture in the pavement.
Sight invites us to pay attention, which is the beginning of worship and creativity.
Try this: pause and notice five things you can see right where you are. Shapes, colors, textures, anything. Let the moment open up in front of you.
Hearing: Letting Quiet Speak
Most of us are surrounded by constant noise, people, notifications, the TV blaring, our own thoughts. When you turn the volume down just a little, you start hearing things that pull you back into presence.
Wind. Footsteps. Pages turning. Your own breathing. The hum of the dryer.
These sounds remind us that stillness isn’t empty. It’s full of life.
Try this: sit quietly for a minute and write down everything you hear. You’ll be shocked at how much your world holds when you give it space.
Smell: Anchoring Memory and Meaning
Scent is the sense tied most closely to memory, and it’s powerful for grounding you spiritually and creatively.
A smell can carry an emotion, a moment, a prayer, or a story.
Fresh coffee. Old books. Rain. A candle. A meal you’re savoring. A smoldering fire.
These small sensory moments invite gratitude and awareness, two things that naturally deepen your faith.
Try this: next time you smell something comforting, pause and ask, “What does this remind me of, and where do I feel God in it?”
Taste: Savoring Instead of Rushing
Taste forces us to slow down, unless we’re eating in the car or scrolling while we gulp dinner (guilty). But when you linger with taste, even for one slow bite, you return to your body and your breath.
Food becomes nourishment instead of just fuel.
And God becomes Provider instead of a checkbox in your day.
Try this: take one slow bite or sip of something you love. Notice the flavors, texture and notes. Let it be a tiny act of worship.
Touch: Creating With Your Hands
Touch is the gateway to creativity.
It’s in the paper you tear, the paint you smudge, the fabric you stitch, the dishes you wash, the hugs you give, the hands you hold.
Your hands do holy work. Every single day.
Try this: spend a few minutes touching something with intention. Your journal. Your Bible. A leaf. A warm mug. Extra pets for your beloved pet. Let your hands become a way of praying and paying attention.
Bringing It All Together
When you start engaging your senses with intention, even small pockets of your day become more meaningful. Moments slow down. Inspiration rises. Faith feels closer. Creativity feels more alive. You don’t need a retreat or a blank schedule, you just need to notice what’s already here.
It makes me feel more alive. And the more you practice paying attention, the more attention you pay and the easier it gets to be in tune.
This is the heart behind my Year of Linger journey: helping you build a life that feels slower, richer, more present, and more connected to God.
If you want to explore this deeper, through creative practice, journaling prompts, and monthly linger challenges, come join me inside of The Creative Faith Club where we will spend this year in the Year of Linger course. It’s gentle, simple, and designed to fit right into your real life.
