Prayer of Examen
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
PSALM 139:23-24 (NIV)
● LOVE GOD
What if you looked back on your day with God?
The prayer of examen is a simple, reflective way of praying through your day. It comes from the Ignatian tradition and is usually practiced at the end of the day, taking about ten to fifteen minutes. Rather than asking us to come up with the right words, the examen invites us to look back over our day with God and notice where he was already at work.
The examen is not about self-critique or building a list of failures. It is about growing in awareness of God’s presence and leading in our lives. Over time, many people find that the practice trains them to notice God throughout the day, not just in the evening review.
THE MOVEMENTS
Five movements
To begin, set aside a few quiet minutes near the end of your day. You may want to keep a journal nearby to jot down what you notice. Two helpful questions to carry with you: Where did I feel most alive and close to God today? Where did I feel most distant from him?
The examen is often prayed in five movements.
Presence
Become aware of God’s presence with you, and ask him to help you see your day as he sees it.
Gratitude
Review the day with gratitude, naming the gifts, big and small, that you received.
Emotions
Pay attention to your emotions: what moments brought joy, peace, or life, and what moments brought frustration, anxiety, or a sense of distance from God?
Respond
Choose one moment from the day and pray from it, whether that is thanksgiving, confession, or a request for help.
Tomorrow
Look ahead to tomorrow and ask for God’s grace for what is coming.
RESOURCES
Companions for the journey
The Examen Prayer
Book by Timothy Gallagher. Ignatian wisdom for our lives today.
Reimagining the Examen
Free app from Loyola Press. Guided examen prayers for the end of your day.