Prayer – The Examen of Consciousness Part 2
INTRO
I find that a deep, consistent prayer life is very difficult to sustain and even engage in. God made me to be a doer, a lover of crossing off the items on my list. I’m someone who loves to achieve. When I pray about something, I’m usually already acting out my solution as I’m praying. Simply, I find it difficult to be still. During our staff chapel this week we walked through the Jesuit tradition of “The Examen of Consciousness.” While any traditions can be taken to an extreme I found the exercise helpful and thought I would explain the steps in 4 different blog posts of the next couple days. Information used from the Jesuit Society of Jesus.
Step #2: Examination. Spend A Moment Looking Over your Day With Gratitude. You can read Step 1 here.
Be concrete with this step and let special moments or events spring to mind. This is also called the step of Examination. Simply put, “Today, in what ways have you experienced God’s love and grace?” What are your intentions today? If you love coffee, remember the smell of it, the taste of good food, children laughing, a beautiful smile, a word of encouragement, a thought that came from God. A key component of this step is to take stock of what you gave and received. For those doers out there this step can be easy to skip and go straight to the action item or next steps. Force yourself to only reflect. Thank God for favors you have received and the permanent gifts in your life. Recall how He has given you strength in specific circumstances over the last day. To laugh in the midst of difficulty, for family, friends, the smile of your child’s face as you come home. As you move through the big and small details, give thanks for how He sustains you and for His presence in and through it all.
Simple Next Step: Practice only reflecting for 3-5 minutes.
I would encourage you to take only 4 minutes, perhaps even right now, and take whatever steps you need to calm your mind and spirit and reflect on the large and small favors He has given to you. Lord show me what has been happening to me and in me this day.
What Did You Think/Experience?
What were you made aware of during your 4 mins?
Did it feel like a long time?
Did God remind you of some thought or idea?
Did the exercise feel “weird?
