5 steps to see where God’s been and where he’s leading
Remember that childhood lesson drilled into us by every caring adult in our lives? Stop. Look left. Look right. Look left again. Then cross the street. It seemed so basic then, right? A simple safety rule for navigating busy streets.
But what if this simple practice holds wisdom for navigating our spiritual lives today?
The principle behind “look both ways” isn’t really about fear; it’s about awareness. It assumes you’re going somewhere. No one teaches a child to look both ways so they can stay frozen on the sidewalk forever. The instruction prepares them to move forward wisely, having taken stock of where they’ve been and what’s coming.
As Christ-followers, we’re meant to be people who notice, who reflect, who recognize God’s movement in our lives and respond. But in our age of constant scrolling, pinging notifications, and perpetual hurry, we often rush from one moment to the next without truly seeing any of them.
The Gift of Reflection
There’s an ancient Christian practice called the Daily Examen, which is a form of prayerful reflection that invites us to review each day with intention. What makes the Examen different from other spiritual disciplines is its deliberate slowness. In a culture addicted to speed, it asks us to take a leisurely walk through the past 24 hours before stepping into the next day.
The Examen operates on a beautiful assumption: if God is truly present in all things, then no moment is too insignificant for his presence. Every conversation, frustration, unexpected joy, or mundane task becomes a place where we might encounter him.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who popularized this practice in the 16th century, considered the Examen such a gift that he encouraged his fellow Jesuits to practice it twice daily. He believed it strengthened our ability to recognize God’s voice and movement in real time.
How to Practice the Examen
Here’s a simple framework you can adapt to your own rhythm:
BECOME PRESENT – Begin by acknowledging God’s presence with you right now. Take a few deep breaths. Ground yourself physically. Feel your feet on the floor, your body in the chair. Release the mental clutter and approach this time with openness. Even if your day felt scattered, trust God to bring clarity as you look back.
REPLAY WITH GRATITUDE – Walk through your day slowly, starting with gratitude. What brought you joy? What surprised you? Notice both the obvious gifts (a meaningful conversation, good news) and the easily overlooked ones (your morning coffee, a stranger’s smile, the way afternoon light fell across your desk). Let one moment emerge as particularly significant.
EXAMINE YOUR HEART – Pay attention to your emotional landscape. Ignatius believed our emotions often reveal where God is speaking to us. What did you feel today? Where did you experience peace? Frustration? Delight? Anxiety? Without shame or judgment, simply notice. Is there an invitation hidden in those feelings? Someone you need to reach out to? Something you need to make right? A concern you need to release?
PRAY FROM ONE MOMENT – Select one scene from your day, whether something vivid, wonderful, or difficult. Turn it over in your mind and heart. Talk to God about it honestly. Let your prayer take whatever form feels true: thanksgiving, confession, crying out for help, interceding for someone else.
LOOK AHEAD – Now turn toward tomorrow. How do you feel about what’s coming? Are there adjustments you sense God inviting you to make? New awareness you want to carry forward? Specific grace you’ll need?
Moving Forward
The beauty of this practice is how it trains us to see our whole lives, the messy, mundane, miraculous whole, as the place where we meet Jesus. Not just in designated “spiritual” moments, but in traffic jams and text messages, work deadlines and dinner conversations.
As you practice looking both ways: backward with gratitude, forward with intentionality, you’ll discover the truth of Hebrews 13:8 in living color: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” The God who was present in this morning’s unexpected phone call is the same God who will meet you in tomorrow’s uncertainty.
This isn’t about achieving spiritual perfection. It’s about cultivating awareness. It’s about learning to cross the street of your life with your eyes open.
Want to try this practice together? I’m committing to 30 days of the Daily Examen and would love company on the journey. Email me and let’s encourage each other along the way.
