As we seek to participate with God’s Spirit in moving towards Jesus’ vision of piety, the Examen is a useful discipline. This one-a-day or twice-a-day review of the past few hours provides a setting for us to prayerfully explore our walk with God.
Earlier we noted several helpful Examen questions suggested by Adele Calhoun. Here are some additional ones to consider from the wonderful guides at Renovare:[i]
- How is Christ making his presence known to me, especially in prayer, meditation, and spiritual reading?
- How is God leading me further into holiness of heart and life, and how am I welcoming or resisting that?
- How am I experiencing the influence or work of the Holy Spirit in my life?
- What opportunities is God giving me to serve others, and to work for justice and peace?
- How am I encountering Christ as I read the Scriptures and as I share my faith with others?
- How is God revealing his extraordinary grace to me in the common matter of everyday life and work?
Again, the intent is not to ask every question during each Examen. Instead, choose just one and consider it as you review your last day or half-day.
As we saw earlier, the Examen can focus either on questions related to our awareness of and interaction with God during the day (examen of consciousness). Alternatively, it can focus on our successes and struggles regarding character issues (examen of conscience). The questions above focus on both of these general categories.
If you choose to spend an Examen reflecting on character issues, it may be helpful to think through think through different categories of sin.[ii] For example you could consider the list of the seven deadly sins: pride, anger, lust, envy, greed, sloth, and gluttony. You could use the Ten Commandments (Ex. 20). Or you could reflect on Paul’s lists in which he contrasts very specific sins to avoid with qualities to pursue (Rom. 12:9-21; 1 Cor. 13:4-8; Gal. 5:16-23; Col. 3:5-14). Especially with these lists from Paul, during your Examen you can simply reflect on the following two questions: In what ways did I struggle with the sins in this list today? In what ways did I experience the positive qualities in this list today?
If, during an Examen, you find that a particular sin shows up again and again, you might choose to examine more deeply by asking yourself the following: Why did I do what I did? What happened as a result of my sin?[iii] Exploring these two questions can help get at some of the deeper issues underlying that particular sin.
Marjorie Thompson writes that when using an Examen to focus on character issues it is very important to “put on neither the rose-colored glasses of naïve optimism nor the gray-colored glasses of needless pessimism.”[iv] That is, some of us are so positive and uncritical that it’s difficult for us to discern any character struggles during our day. Others of us are so negative and critical that it’s difficult for us to discern any character successes during our day. This is why the Examen necessitates an examination of both highs and lows, successes and failures, steps forward and steps backward.
This kind of daily self-examination can be difficult. Yet it is worth it. Thompson reminds us of three benefits which flow from it.[v] First, it leads to greater self-awareness. The more we truly know ourselves the better able we are to truly know God. Second, it leads to greater truthfulness and honesty about ourselves. We can now let go of pretense and humbly accept ourselves as we are. Finally, it leads to greater compassion. The more clearly we see ourselves, the less likely we are to judge and critique others. Seeing our brokenness helps us identify with the brokenness in others.
Take ten minutes today and practice the Examen with the issues above in mind:
Recognize
Close your eyes. Breathe in and out, slowly. Repeat these words to yourself silently: “You are with me always. You will never leave me nor forsake me.” Recognize that God is present right here and right now.
Request
Quietly ask God to fill you with wisdom and the ability to discern. Repeat this prayer: “God, give me eyes to see what you see. Fill me with insight and wisdom as I review this day.”
Review
Think back through the highs and lows of the past few hours. Reflect specifically on one or more of the questions we’ve covered in this brief chapter.
Resolve
Now answer this question: What is God saying to me through this review? What do I resolve to do as a result of this review? Is there a relationship to nurture or repair? Is there a work of your flesh to repent of? Is there an issue to lift to God in prayer? Is there a task or project that needs to become a priority? What does God wish you to resolve to do based on your review of the day?
[i] Chris Webb, The Path to Life (Renovare, 2010), 31.
[ii] John Ortberg, The Life You’ve Always Wanted (Zondervan, 1997), 123-124.
[iii] Ortberg, Life, 126.
[iv] Marjorie Thompson, Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life (Westminster John Knox, 1995), 86.
[v] Thompson, 98-99.
