Examen
St Ignatius Loyola set an example by daily reviewing that which had occurred, the tool has five basic steps:
Become aware of God’s presence
Review the day with Gratitude
Pay close attention to your emotions
Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
Look toward tomorrow.
Awareness of God’s presence.
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/jhn.14.16-17.niv
Be quiet, put away all distractions
Breathe in and out, say a breath prayer, Guide me Lord God...
Push everything from your periphery
Review the year with Gratitude
“The Lord has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.”
Psalms 118:24 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/psa.118.24.niv
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.”
Colossians 3:15 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/col.3.15.niv
Remember the good things, the habits, the moments of joy, the peaceful moments - Give thanks to God
Remember the dark days, the grief filled moments, the weight that was on your shoulders - Thank God for his sharing those moments with you .
Pay close attention to your emotions
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/pro.3.5-6.niv
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/isa.41.10.niv
“I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
2 Timothy 1:3-7 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/2ti.1.3-7.niv
Consider the feelings you had throughout the year, worry, concern, anxiousness, weakness, joy, peacefulness, despair, hopefulness, disappointment, grief.
What happened or you thought might happen that caused you to feel these ways?
What are thoughts which may have occurred or inputs which may have amplified your feelings?
Were these good, holy, from God, or were they doubts, mistruths and lies from the enemy?
Choose one feature from the year and pray from it.
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/2co.3.16-18.niv
Pray for insight or wisdom from God
Pray for your eyes to be opened to that which is not from God, feelings of fear, anxiety, worry.
Pray for understanding of how to catch thoughts, turn off inputs which are not from God and
Pray too for forgiveness for not hearing Him, focussing on Him, not looking for His presence.
Pray for strength to not be drawn down a path which amplifies the enemies tools instead of Gods.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:1-2 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/rom.12.1-2.niv
Look toward tomorrow
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Ephesians 2:10 NIV
https://www.bible.com/111/eph.2.10.niv
We are known, loved and prepared to do good things in His name.
God has built in us the plasticity of the mind, we can be transformed.
We are not without purpose.
Pray
God lead us through the personal examination of our year, show us the good, the righteous, the fruit. Reveal to us the wrong steps, the moments when we did our own thing, that times when we allowed amplification of stuff which is not from you or of you.
We pray for holy revelation as to what you have for us to think, feel and do in this coming year. We pray for our church to be unified in the adventure that awaits and in glory given to you by empowering and edifying of one another!
Amen
