The Examen Effort

Pauses

Dawn: arise and delight in him

In Christ

I am renewed.

I embrace Your mercies for this day,

and with creation I arise and delight in You.

I trust in Your grace to sustain me

and Your truth to guide me;

I walk by faith, not by sight.

I am filled with joy,

knowing I am Yours and You are mine.

I live as a child of light.

May Your face shine on me

and may Your blessings fall on me,

that the world may be covered

with signs of Your love.

2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Lamentations 3:22,23, Psalm 19:1-4, John 1:14b, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 12:9, John 16:13, Song of Songs 2:16, Ephesians 5:8, Numbers 6:24-26, Matthew 5:44,45

Mid-morning: work is sacred

In Christ

my work -

the stuff of earth,

vocation,

relationship,

and community -

is sacred.

I work fearlessly and lovingly

with all my heart

for You,

knowing I have a Master in Heaven.

1 Thessalonians 4:11,12, Colossians 3:17 & 23, Proverbs 31:13,17, Ecclesiastes 5:18-20, Acts 2:42-47, 1 John 4:18,19; Nehemiah 6:6-9, Colossians 4:1

noon: get some refreshment

In Christ

I have all I need for life and godliness.

I put on love and rest

because Your grace is sufficient for me.

I use my freedom to serve humbly

and watch to love my neighbor.

I refresh myself

with You, the Lover of my soul.

You are my Lord of Peace.

2 Peter 1:3, Colossians 3:14, 1 John 4:7, 2 Corinthians 12:9-12, Galatians 5:13,14, Luke 10:27-37, Song of Songs 2:10,13; 2 Thessalonians 3:16

end of the workday: transition

In Christ

I bring You glory

by finishing the work

You gave me to do

with perseverance, purity, and love.

I run the race set out for me

and fight the good fight of faith.

I remember You as

the One who gives me my abilities.

John 17:4, John 4:34, Ephesians 2:10, James 1:4, Ephesians 5:1-4; Hebrews 12:1, 2 Timothy 4:7, Deuteronomy 8:17,18 and 6:

examen: open up to the Spirit

In Christ

I boldly rest in God’s forgiveness,

affection, restoration, and instruction.

In Christ, I am free.

I make the Scriptures my home

and my soul ages like fine wine

with the lessons of the day.

I have the wisdom and riches of God in Christ.

1 John 1:9, Psalm 32:1-5; Psalm 130; Psalm 103:1-18; Song of Songs 4:7, Revelation 1:5,6; Psalm 19:12,13;

Psalm 52:8, Jeremiah 17:8; Galatians 5:13, 2 Timothy 3:14-16; 1 Corinthians 1:24

Bedtime: prayer

In Christ

I create space for prayer.

I pray intentionally,

intercede thankfully,

and listen earnestly.

I release my anxieties into Your care.

I fix my thoughts on You, Jesus,

and all that is lovely and true.

Matthew 14:22-33; Luke 5:16, Psalm 139:23,24; Psalm 20; Philippians 4:6,7; Hebrews 1:2, Hebrews 3:1, 1 Peter 5:7, Hebrews 12:2, Philippians 4:8

in the night: intercession

In Christ

I hold hands with trust and surrender,*

lean into the still, quiet darkness,

and grow wise.

I pray for those in grim, fearful, godless places

in the world,

asking You for Your heart to be with them,

Your hand to rescue them,

Your face to shine upon them,

and Your hope to be in them,

for You are the God who sees.

I hold firmly to the faith I profess.

Psalm 63:6-8; Psalm 86:5,15; Psalm 22; Numbers 6:24,25; Psalm 144:5,7; John 10:28, Revelation 1:16, Romans 5:3-5; Hebrews 4:13, Genesis 16:13, Jeremiah 23:24, Hebrews 4:14 and 10:23

*phrase worded by Macrina Weidekehr

Examen Details

how to begin

Day Sketch: What did you do today? Sketch it out briefly.

Clarity and Review: Pray for clarity, then with the Holy Spirit, review your day from His point of view.

Thankfuls (“consolations”): For what are you thankful? When did you experience God’s grace and goodness?

Questions: Ask one or two of the questions below. Listen attentively. What is He saying to you? A good question acts like a key. It unlocks the door to hidden treasures of thought, spirit, and heart. These are the questions God has given me to ask as I do the Examen. I do 1 each evening. You have freedom to add your own questions or just keep it simple with "thankfuls" and listening.

Confession: Confess any failures, realizations about yourself and God, new understandings. Where did you fail or fracture (“desolations”)? On the positive side, what can you declare about your heavenly Father?

Longings, Lessons, Looking Forward, Resolutions: What do you hope for, what do you long for? What are you looking forward to? Are there key lessons you learned today that drew you closer to the Trinity, or resolutions for tomorrow? Record them and be at peace.

the questions

Pick one or two daily during the Examen to help you listen.

Holy Spirit will You reveal to me …

Did I treasure You today? What competed for my affection?

When was I present with You? When did I miss You? Another way to ask: When did I move toward You today, and when did I move away from You? Or this: When was I alive and free in You? When was I bound up & tight?

Did my heart and life align with Yours?

Did I live in Your steady peace? Why … why not?

Where did my mind settle during my mindless or repetitive tasks?

Who did I love well? Who did I not?

Was I where You wanted me to be?

Who were my trusted voices? Did I listen well?

Was anyone or anything too important?

What did today teach me about You?

What or who made me feel exhausted or irritable? What was happening at a deeper level?

In what circumstance did I have to “die”?

What life do I see from this death?

“Spotlight moments” of grace & glory (Psalm 84:11), of break-through,

and of humiliation?

Did I order my life in such a way that I did what You wanted me to do?

What did I do? How did that affect us?

Father, I invite You to change my thinking.

Father, I invite You into this place of __________

(unrest, celebration, not knowing, joy, sorrow, anger, waiting, etc.).

Father, what do You have to say to me about _________?

You made me aware of __________.

Where did I invest myself? Did my time, energy, & resources

reflect the treasure of my heart?

What is really going on here?

Should something more or different be happening in this relationship? Does anything need repair? Why is there distance or delight?

Why am I drawn to _____? Why am I avoiding _____?

What are You shaking up or settling down?

What are my distractions?

What in me needs Your touch of life, needs Your breath of life?

What was I afraid to let go of today? What did I happily receive?

Where am I missing the point, or missing Your heart?

"Child, turn from ________ to Me."

What did devotion look like today? (See Jeremiah 30:21)

To answer the deepest longings of my heart and God's, what do I need to put aside? (Thanks, Jim Branch. An example: the wise men. They put aside much to pursue Jesus.)

What would You have me learn by being with ______?

How did You show Your affection to me today in a personal, loving, specific way?

How did I live creatively, thereby reflecting my Creator?

Want to give this a try with a group or conference?

Email suzannestelling@mac.com to make a personal appointment for yourself, your Bible study, your retreat, or your conference.

Other Resources

2ndstorygoods.com (home site for Jubilee artisans)

www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen

https://marshill.org/pdf/sp/PrayerOfExamenLong.pdf

Books: The Seven Sacred Pauses by Macrina Wiedekehr

my practice

My Path

I want more of God - I don't want to settle for a mediocre, flat spirituality. Ancient Christians pursued God using these two tools, the Examen and the Pauses. Given the change of technology, the availability of electricity, and typical workday hours, I've adapted these time-tested practices to our modern world. As Jesus said, "Come and see.”

I Believe

I WANT TO BE MORE MINDFUL AND MORE ATTENTIVE TO THE TRINITY THROUGHOUT THE DAY AND NIGHT. THE PAUSES BEGIN AT DAWN AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DEPTHS AND QUIET OF THE NIGHT.

God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the indwelling Holy Spirit have captivated me. May the Trinity rouse you from lethargy, inspire you with vision, and energize you to be a light amidst the darkness.

My Community

City mentors, people on my street, church people, and a plethora of books have created a call to stillness and action, to stay heaven-centered and earthly-good, to revel in spiritual delight and fight injustice, all at the same time. This is our life together as the Body of Jesus. Hear His invitation. Check the blog to see this worked out into our streets and souls.