An examen prayer is a spiritual practice that involves reflecting on one’s day and discerning God’s presence and guidance in the midst of daily life. The practice has its roots in the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order in the 16th century. Since then, the daily examen has become a staple practice in Jesuit spirituality and has been adopted more broadly by many Christians across denominations.
The examen typically involves five basic steps:
- Becoming aware of God’s presence – Taking a few moments to still oneself and remember that God is with you.
- Reviewing the day with gratitude – Walking through your day in your mind’s eye and noticing the gifts, grace, and blessings the Lord has given you.
- Paying attention to emotions – Reflecting on the feelings that surface as you review your day and considering what they might be revealing about God’s activity in your experiences.
- Choosing a significant moment – Selecting a significant experience of the day and praying for understanding of where God was present.
- Looking toward tomorrow – Asking God for light for tomorrow’s challenges and peace for resting in Him today.
The daily examen provides a framework for reviewing your day with God in a spirit of gratitude. It allows you to tune your heart to God’s frequency and see your whole experience in light of His presence. By pausing to pray and discern, you begin to notice God actively walking with you amidst your daily routines and activities.
There are several key benefits of practicing the daily examen prayer:
- It helps you develop greater self-awareness and understanding of your inner world.
- It increases your sensitivity to discerning God’s hand at work.
- It fosters gratitude, humility, and trust in God’s involvement in your life.
- It supports growth in self-understanding and Christian discipleship.
- It provides perspective when navigating challenges and frustrations.
The daily examen can be practiced at any time of day, but many find praying the examen at night to be especially fitting. Reviewing your day prepares your heart for rest and reminds you that your life and being are safely held in God’s hands as you sleep.
There is no rigid formula for practicing the examen. The main point is carving out reflective time to pray over your experiences with a spirit of openness. But having a basic structure can help guide you through the practice, especially when you are starting out. Here is one simple five-step daily examen framework you can follow:
- Stillness – Quiet yourself and invite God’s presence. “Lord, here I am.”
- Gratitude – Review your day with gratitude. “For what am I thankful?”
- Reflection – Pay attention to your emotions and relationship with God. “What draws me closer? Farther?”
- Sorrow – Ask forgiveness for shortcomings. “What am I sorry for?”
- Hope – Look forward to the day ahead with hope. “Be with me, Lord.”
It only takes 10-15 minutes to pray through this examen outline. The important thing is finding a pace and flow that works for you. Don’t worry about checking boxes; simply be present with God and open to the Spirit’s leading.
Scripture encourages self-examination as part of our walk with Christ. Paul writes, “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?” (2 Corinthians 13:5). Lamentations 3:40 also urges, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” Practicing daily examen provides space to heed this scriptural wisdom.
In addition to the five-step daily examen, there are variations on the practice that can help you go deeper:
- The examen of consciousness – Focusing specifically on being aware of God’s presence with you throughout the day.
- The examen of thanksgiving – Orienting your review around gratitude for blessings received.
- The examen of humility – Considering moments of pride and asking for greater humility.
- The examen of desire – Discerning the deeper longings in your heart and their relationship to God.
- The examen of reconciliation – Paying attention to relationships and seeking reconciliation where needed.
The daily examen is ultimately about being attentive and responsive to God’s personal guidance day by day. It provides a simple yet profound framework for spiritual growth grounded in awareness of His presence in all of life.
Here are a few tips to get the most out of daily examen prayer:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your prayer time.
- Schedule a consistent time and seek to make space for stillness.
- Release any expectations and simply be open.
- Focus more on listening than analyzing.
- Stay centered on God’s loving presence with you.
- End with hopeful trust in God’s faithfulness.
Practicing the daily examen leads to greater attentiveness, connection with God, and alignment of our lives to His purposes. We begin to see ourselves, others, and daily events through His eyes. Though simple, over time the examen “prayer of awareness” bears incredible fruit in the life of a disciple.
In summary, the examen is a method of prayerfully reviewing your day to discern God’s presence, activity, and direction in the moments and experiences of your life. By pausing to examine your day through the lens of the Spirit, you open yourself to greater purpose and peace amidst the mundane. The daily examen helps you recognize the living God is walking with you – and inviting you to join Him in writing each moment of your life.