The Prayer of Examen is an ancient practice. While I’ve read a lot of different things on this method of prayer, the most helpful work I’ve come across is by a Catholic author named Mark E. Thibodeaux—his short book, Reimagining the Ignatian Examen: Fresh Ways to Pray from Your Day. Thibodeaux’s very brief introduction by itself is super practical and worth the price of the book. There is also a mobile app that was built off the book called “Reimagining the Examen”.
Here’s how Thibodeaux describes the method:
“In the Examen, we review our recent past to find God and God’s blessings in daily life. We also look back to find moments in the day when things didn’t go so well—when we were hurt by something that happened to us, or when we sinned or made a mistake. We give praise and thanksgiving for the blessed moments. We ask for forgiveness and healing for the difficult and painful moments. Having reflected on this past day, we then turn to the day yet to come and ask God to show us the potential challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. We try to anticipate which moments might go one way or the other for us: toward God’s plan or away from it. We ask for insight into what graces we might need to live this next day well: patience, wisdom, fortitude, self-knowledge, peace, optimism. We ask God for that grace, and we trust that he wants us to succeed in our day even more than we do.” (pg. x)
I’ve found the reflective aspect of what Thibodeaux describes to be the most helpful and use it often while laying in bed—just before falling asleep.
The idea is that at day's end, you prayerfully reflect back through your day—hour-by-hour, emotion-by-emotion, interaction-by-interaction—processing your day, through prayer, with God.
If you found yourself angry at one point of the day (for example), prayerfully ask yourself why. Is there something that has become too important to me that I need to confess and repent? Is there something I have to have—something endangering my contentment? Am I feeling threatened and need to prayerfully remind myself of Christ my Rock, Fortress, Refuge?
At what point or points in your day did you have a special awareness of God’s presence? Praise Him for that. Where did you see Him at work? What are some evidences of His grace or small moments of joy to give thanks for?
If you found yourself to be anxious, or especially content, examen that.
Prayerfully reflect back over conversations or interactions—what is God telling you about those interactions? How does He want you to remain lovingly engaged with people you’ve interacted with? How might you pray for them?
Were there any moments of particular pride you need to confess? Any moments of specific sin? Any one you need to pursue reconciliation with tomorrow?
You get the idea. It’s simple: prayerfully examen your life through the prayer of examen.