Prayer of Examen* Noticing God in all of life.
“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”
Ps.139:23-24
Practice: daily, 10-15 minutes
Prayer Prompts:
Silence & Gratitude
Become aware of God’s presence. You are always and everywhere with God. Acts 17:28.
Recall particular good things you’ve experienced since your last Examen. Jam. 1:17
Search
God knows your heart. Ask God to reveal things in your heart and life that are hurtful to yourself or others,
knowing there is no condemnation in God’s love. Ps.139:23, Rom.8:1
Review & Awareness
Ask: Where have the interactions, circumstances of my life been taking me?
Away from God, to God?
When do I notice the love of God?
How did I respond to God?
What challenged me?
When did I say yes to God?
Resisted God?
Talk with Jesus
Honestly converse about what you notice. Attend to these things in prayer:
ask for forgiveness, counsel, guidance, give thanks, know that you are loved, accepted, forgiven in Christ.
Abiding
Acknowledge your need of God’s abiding presence to live a God-honoring life Jn.15:5;
an ever deepening internalization of God’s love for you Eph 3:17-19;
aithfulness to you Heb 13:5; power within you Eph 3:16.
Close: The Lord’s Prayer.
*Prayer of Examen, St. Ignatius of Loyola adapted by Larry Warner.