How To See When God Is Working

One of the most important questions you and I can ask is this: Do I sense the Father at work around me?

The Bible is clear. God is always moving. Philippians reminds us, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). The real question is not whether God is working, but whether we’re tuned in enough to notice, and courageous enough to join Him.

Seeking God’s Perspective

The Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” He was essentially telling the early believers, “Don’t innovate. Imitate.”

Jesus didn’t make decisions in isolation. Over and over, He said He did only what He saw His Father doing. For us, seeking God’s perspective means choosing to see interruptions and opportunities not as inconveniences, but as invitations.

What if your daily routine became less about your to-do list and more about aligning with God’s activity? What if your conversations with coworkers, neighbors, and family were filtered through this question: Where is God in this moment, and how can I join Him?

Practicing God’s Pattern

Seeing God at work is one thing. Practicing His pattern is another. Practicing His pattern means walking it out in your everyday life.

Think of these case studies:

1. The Grocery Store Nudge

You spot someone you vaguely recognize from church. You could ignore the feeling in your gut and move on, or you could follow the nudge to stop and say hello. Maybe they’re a new family who’s been praying for connection. What feels like a small interruption could actually be God’s invitation to extend His welcome.

2. The Financial Tug

You hear about a need in your church or community. Maybe it’s a ministry project or a family struggling financially. You don’t feel like you have the margin to give. But the sense persists: God wants me to be part of this. Practicing God’s pattern could mean selling something, rearranging priorities, or sacrificing comfort to step into generosity.

3. The Call to Discipleship

You’ve been hearing about new discipleship opportunities at church. Something in you says, “I need to be part of this.”But it means changing your schedule, rearranging commitments, and possibly stepping out of your comfort zone. If you see God at work in it, why not go there? The disciples dropped their nets on the spot when Jesus called. That same invitation is extended to us.

Interruptions as Invitations

When we read the Gospels, one pattern jumps off the page: Jesus rarely saw interruptions as distractions. He saw them as ministry moments.

● A woman touches the hem of His robe. He stops, turns, and heals her.

● Friends lower a man through a roof. Jesus interrupts His teaching to forgive and heal him.

● Zacchaeus climbs a tree just to catch a glimpse. Jesus notices and says, “Come down, I must stay at your house today.”

Each “interruption” was really the Father at work. Jesus recognized it and stepped in. If He modeled this, shouldn’t we?

Where Is God Tugging at You?

Maybe God is nudging you to serve in a ministry. Maybe He’s stirring you to begin tithing or become more generous. Maybe He’s calling your family into discipleship or missions.

Or maybe, for some reading this, you’ve never sensed God’s tug before because you don’t yet know Jesus. That’s the first and most important step. Jesus is inviting you into a relationship with Him. Once you surrender, you’ll begin to notice the Father’s fingerprints all over your life.

From Perspective to Pattern

It’s one thing to say, “I think God is working here.” It’s another to step in and say, “I’m going to join Him.”

● Seeing God’s perspective changes how you view the world.

● Practicing God’s pattern changes how you live in it.

This is how we learn to hear God: by stepping off the couch, taking the nudge seriously, and walking in His direction.

The invitation is simple. Jesus says the same words to us that He said to His first disciples:v“Come, follow Me.”

The question is: will you?