October 21, 2024
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. — Psalm 145:18
I have been doing a lot of reading of late on Prayer, more specificaly about prayer practices that can help us see, or notice God in all things. The Bible reminds us often that God's presence is with us in our daily routines, closer than we might expect, I know this, but sometimes I need to ask God to help me notice his presence in my experiences.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, (1491-1556) a Spanish priest and theologian, believed that discernment came out of awareness of how God moved uniquely in each soul. He developed the spiritual practice of the Daily Examen, a practice that was rooted in Scripture. Examen carries the meaning of an act of appraising or scrutinizing something, in this context it is analyzing our day.
The longing to recognize God's presence more in our lives is worthwhile, yet we often fail to pursue this desire, or maybe we're not even sure how to begin. The Prayer of Examen is an approach designed to guide us in discerning God in everything around us. The result of this heightened perception of God is spiritual development, transforming us to reflect Christ's image and to be amazed at His love, grace, and mercy.
St. Ignatius' spiritual practice can afford us some, maybe all of the following benefits.
- Keeping company with Jesus throughout the highs and lows of the day
- Becoming quicker to recognize God’s presence in your experiences
- Developing more discernment and receptivity to God’s voice
- Fostering gratitude
- Being aware of areas you can grow
- Becoming more prayerful throughout your day
Paul, you may recall prayed continually for the sisters and brothers at Colossae the following: We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. (Colossians 1:10-12)
The Prayer of Examen, is one help among many, that the Spirit gives us to assist our growing in the knowledge of God and his will. Living a life worthy of Lord, being able to live is such a way that pleases God developes as we recognize God in all things.
The prayer of examen can be done in a few ways and revised to your preference. You may write your responses in a journal or simply respond in your head in conversation with God. Here are five steps you can use as a guide to lean deeply into God for your own daily Examen:1. Gratitude: Psalm 100:4 says to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praises.” Give thanks to God for his benefits today and all that you are grateful for. Starting with gratitude is a beautiful way to acknowledge God's goodness and the blessings bestowed on your life.
2. Ask for Light: Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to view your day with His perspective and truth. Although challenging, the practice of daily examen aims to offer a profound and honest reflection.
3. Review: Review your day as if you were
watching a short film. What happened? Where did you sense God’s presence? When
did you feel far from him? Do your best to actively remember your day and
notice where he was particularly present.
4. Repent: You may ask yourself, Where
did I feel emotional pain today? or, Where did I stray away
from God? Then, ask God for forgiveness. Invite
his mercy and compassion to be with you. In this you create space for both self-awareness and
the experience of the overwhelming grace of God.
5. Renew: Conclude by seeking renewal from God, asking to be made more available, and to persist in recognizing His presence in all things. If your day was challenging or uneventful, it's alright! Seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to experience tomorrow in a new way.
I am learning that, by regularly practicing the Daily Examen, you can reflect on how certain experiences have shaped you to become closer to or further from the image of Jesus. Through this practice you may start to recognize His presence increasingly in your daily life and truly, what a wonderful gift that is!
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