Freely Seeking with Sharee

“You make known to me the path of life;
    you will fill me with joy in your presence,
    with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11 NIV).

During an overwhelmed and out-of-control season, I signed up for an online study on spiritual disciplines, where I learned the importance of silence, solitude, gratitude, and prayer.
One of the habits taught was the Daily Examen, a prayer exercise created by Ignatius of Loyola, a Spanish Priest born in 1491 and the founder of the Jesuits. It is “…a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern his direction for us.” (From www.ignatianspirituality.com)

The Daily Examen is a set of five introspective prompts to follow. No equipment is needed; it only takes a few minutes of your day. It can be done as you wake, take a drive, or go to sleep. Here are the five steps (Dan Wilt, 2020):
1.Be Still – become aware of the presence of God.
2.Give Thanks – review the past hours with thankfulness.
3.Reflect – become aware of your emotions.
4.Pray – Choose one feature of the day and pray.
5.Hope – look toward the following hours with expectation.

There are great benefits when the Examen is incorporated into daily life, especially during times of distraction, disorientation, or distress. I became more aware of God’s presence and experienced deeper intimacy. Through prayerful reflection, an attitude of gratitude was cultivated, helping me recognize greater opportunities to express thankfulness. Instead of grumbling, I looked forward with hope! Worry and anxiety decreased, and I even slept more soundly!

Prayerful reflection helped keep my mind on Christ and developed gratitude for God’s constant presence with me and in the circumstances of my day! I pray it helps you, too!