This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline series where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here.
Another busy day. Teaching music at the Lutheran school in the morning. Piano lessons in the afternoon. Dinner with my sweet hubby. Bible study with my small group in the evening.
I fall into bed exhausted. But before I step into dreamland, I take time to practice Examen. I close my eyes and watch a “video” replay of my day.
I thank God for the good things: a big hug from a preschooler at school, time with my husband, laughter with my awesome Bible study gals.
I ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I messed up that day–yep, I lost my patience with those antsy third-graders–forgive me. Lord.
I look for God’s presence in the ordinary moments of my day and I see Him in the unexpected warm weather in the middle of winter, in the faces of the children as they sing of God’s love, and in the words of hope in God’s Word.
I go to sleep forgiven and grateful.
The Spiritual Discipline of Examen
The practice of Examen is one of my favorite Spiritual Disciplines.
I know intellectually that God is always with me. I grab onto God’s promise:
I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)
But sometimes I forget. I get caught up in my to-do list, in the hectic activities of each day. I forget that God is always with me to love me, guide me, and cheer me on. Examen helps me be more aware of Christ in the mundane moments of every day.
You too?
To practice the Spiritual Discipline of Examen, start by finding a quiet place and asking the Spirit to guide your time of reflection. Close your eyes and review the last 24 hours. Ask yourself questions like:
- What inspired gratitude today?
- What happened that was painful, sad, or disappointing?
- What moment do I now regret and need to confess?
- What moments of my day were life-giving?
- What moments of my day were life-draining?
- When did I sense God’s nearness?
- When did my hectic pace of life crowd out a sense of God’s nearness?
- When did I give and receive love?
- When did I feel an absence of love?
- What did God teach me today?
Spend some time thanking God for His presence throughout the day and thank Him for the things that brought joy. Confess the sins the Spirit brought to mind and receive forgiveness because of Jesus’ sacrifice.
Visual Examen
Recently, I discovered a more hands-on way to practice Examen in a book titled Praying in Color: I have adapted this method for our Spiritual discipline journey.
For this practice,
- Start by downloading and printing a sheet with a geometric pattern that will guide your experience.
- In the center of the pattern, write the words of Joshua 1:5: I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
- Then, in the spaces closest to the center, write down things for which you are grateful. Did you get a hug from a preschooler? Did you see a spectacular sunset? Write down anything from the last 24 hours that brought you joy.
- Next, ask yourself a few questions about your day. In the outer ring of the pattern, write a word or two that recalls these moments:
- When did I feel closest to God?
- When did I feel distant?
- When did I mess up and sin? Where do I need to confess and receive forgiveness?
End with a time of confession and thanksgiving. If you like, color the spaces of the design while you pray. Many people find the act of coloring focuses their thoughts. (I suggest that you at least darken the spaces listing your sins so the words are no longer visible–symbolizing God’s cleansing mercy.)
God is with us. But sometimes we forget. Examen helps us appreciate the Lord’s presence in the ordinary and mundane.
Examen helps us appreciate the Lord's presence in the ordinary and mundane. Share on XNext step: Download and print the Examen pattern. For Use it to guide your Examen practice today. Here a few Scriptures to focus your time with God:
- Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Psalm 139:1-6
- Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 139:23-24
- Psalm 139:7-12, 1 Kings 8:39
- Psalm 73:23, 1 Samuel 16:7
- 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 1 Chronicles 28:9