Practice: Examen

Each Saturday during Lent, we will take some time as a church family to practice a different spiritual discipline or spiritual practice together. Today, we are practicing the Examen with Seniors Pastor Matt Erickson.

What is the Examen?

The Examen is usually a daily practice of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect God’s presence and discern His direction for us. For the sake of this devotional, we are going to practice a Lenten Examen, where we will prayerfully reflect on the past 6 weeks in order to see where God has been at work in each of our lives during Lent, and to discern what He is calling us to this Easter season.

How to Practice the Examen:

Reflect on these questions in light of the past 6 weeks of Lent:

1. As you think back through this season of Lent, what has been happening to you personally during this season?
2. In the past 6 weeks, where have you experienced the greatest sense of consolation (peace, contentment, shalom, beauty, etc.)?
3. Call to mind 2 or 3 things from this Lenten season that you are grateful for. Write them down and thank God for them.
4. In the past 6 weeks, where have you experienced the most desolation (preoccupation, depression, anxiety, etc.)?
5. Where have you most experienced the presence of God during Lent? Where did you notice God? In what people, places, and events did you encounter God? Take your time and just “notice.”
6. How has your image of God changed, matured, or been challenged during Lent? Finish by naming the three most important spiritual take-a-ways from this Lent that you never want to forget.