This is such an important phrase, let's mediate on this using the Examen. The Examen.
Originally given to the Church by Ignatius of Loyola in 1548, this simple
method of prayer is still used by many Christians around the world as a
powerful way to connect with God. Through a few small steps, we can invite the
Holy Spirit to search our inmost thoughts and speak the peace of Christ into
our souls.
Our challenge
this week is to pray this Prayer of Examen once per day, as a way of allowing
God’s voice to speak into the last twenty-four hours of our lives. The basic
steps are listed below, but feel free to experiment and adapt this practice to
fit the rhythm of your everyday life. I pray that it opens our eyes to the
reality that God is always at work in our lives, and that it brings us His
“peace that passes all understanding.”
THE PRAYER OF EXAMEN
This prayer is
simple enough to pray anywhere, but you may find it more rewarding to pray in a
location where you can be alone and quiet. Silence may be a helpful tool to
quiet your mind and focus your thoughts on God. Sit comfortably, with your body
upright, and hands rested in your lap as a sign of your openness to hear the
voice of the Holy Spirit. Try praying it once a day, whenever you can
find the best time for uninterrupted, quiet reflection. Some people prefer the
early morning hours, others prefer the quiet of bedtime, find what works for
you.
When you are ready
to begin, close your eyes, breathe deeply, and proceed quietly through each of
these five steps.
Step 1: Presence
Take a moment to
become aware of God’s presence with you. No matter how distracted or distressed
you may seem, you are never separated from the presence of God. Use this time
to “centre down,” or to calm the anxious thoughts of your day and simply relax
in the presence of God. Breathe deeply. If you are having trouble quieting your
thoughts, try repeating a simple phrase in your mind, like “Come, Lord Jesus”
(Rev 22:20), or “Be still, and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).
Avoid the
temptation to rush through this step. It’s okay if you spend your entire time
trying to become still. This is an important and peace-giving discipline in
itself, so try not to move on to the second step until your heart is truly at
rest.
Step 2: Gratitude
Our busyness
often fools us into thinking we have “earned” all that we have. Gratitude helps
us see the truth: that our lives are a gracious gift of God. Remember the
blessings God has graciously given you. Picture them in your mind, and give God
thanks for them. As you thank God for relationships, picture their faces and
let them bring you joy. Thank God for His provision, your “daily bread,” and
your health.
Gratitude is a
powerful prayer, despite whatever our current emotional state may be. Before
you continue on with the next step, allow these prayers of thanksgiving to help
calm your fears and frustrations.
Step 3: Review
Now take a moment
and look back over the past twenty-four hours of your life. Think of all that
has happened in the previous day; conversations, thoughts, actions, reactions.
Ask God to reveal your “anxious thoughts” (Ps. 139:23). As you remember your
day, pay close attention to your emotions. Where did you experience joy, peace,
or love? Where did you experience pain, anxiety, worry, stress, or anger?
Notice anything that is particularly strong, or anything that you would like to
keep hidden in the shadows.
As you pray, take
note of these emotions but try not to interpret or justify them. Allow God to
simply meet you in the midst of your life, and to walk through these memories
with you as a friend. Allow His love to speak peace to your soul.
Step 4: Listen
Now, remembering
some of these things you have noticed in your day, simply ask God, “What are
you telling me?” Then take a moment and listen. Note what you hear in the
silence; perhaps a thought, word, scripture, or image. It may help to write
your thoughts in a journal. Be still and listen for the voice of the Holy
Spirit.
Throughout the
silence, know that you are completely loved and accepted through the love of Jesus.
Step 5: Ask
Turn your
attention to the future, and ask God to help you walk forward in a different
way. Ask for His grace to heal the broken places in your soul. Ask Him to
provide a way forward, a simple step or change you can make to live a life of
peace and rest. Take a moment to write down what you have gained from this time
of prayer. What needs to change in your life to help make tomorrow different
than today? Ask God for His grace, which is powerful enough to make such a
change, and can transform your life into the image of Jesus.
That’s it! Try
praying this simple prayer once each day, and see what God says and does. I
hope that just as Jesus spoke to his frightened disciples, you hear
these words spoken into your soul: “Peace be with you.”
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