The examen prayer (Latin for “examination”) is meant to be practiced at the end of each day, looking back and discerning God’s activity with an aim to grow in deeper awareness for the next day. By practicing this regularly we’re able to more quickly see God in the ordinary, live in a posture of godward gratitude, and regularly experience His presence.
This prayer can be broken down in five steps:
1. Recognize God’s presence
Hebrews 10:19-21 reminds us that, through Jesus, we have confidence to draw near to Him. In prayer, we actively step into the presence of God not in intimidation or guilt but in relational communication. He delights in spending time with you. Take some time to slow your mind down, let your body relax, and as you step into His presence, ask God to give you clarity and understanding as you review your day.
2. Recall God’s goodness
Walk through your day from morning to evening and, as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “give thanks in all circumstances.” What did you do today? Who did you talk to? Even in the small things, give thanks - what brought delight to you today? Even if you find it difficult to give thanks, Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us the Lord’s “mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning.” In light of that, ask the Lord to give you insight on how you can express gratitude in all your circumstances.
3. Review the day
When were you most aware of Jesus’ presence? What did you do today out of reliance on the Spirit? What was that like? How did that happen? Express thankfulness for those moments and ask God to give you more opportunities to experience His presence.
When were you least aware of Jesus’ presence? What did you do today out of your own power and strength? What was that like? How did that happen? Scripture reminds us that He is with you always (Matt 2:23, 28:20). Ask God into those moments.
4. Repent
What sin(s) do you need to confess to God?
What are you struggling to trust God with? How can you give God control of it?
Has the Holy Spirit been prompting you to do anything that you’ve been resisting? What step(s) do you need to take to walk in obedience?
5. Resolve
Ask God to give you Spirit-filled guidance and power to be more aware of His presence tomorrow. You may even consider writing down specific next steps as a reminder.
Like other practices, this will be challenging at first. Stick with it. Eventually, this will get easier as you commit to this practice regularly.
Which of these steps is the most challenging for you? Why?
What do you need to do to incorporate this practice into your life?