Spiritual practices help us see God in our lives. Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Jesuits in 1541, described discernment as “finding God in all things to love and serve Him.” He created the Prayer of Examen to help people notice and respond to God’s presence daily. A simple guide for this prayer is:
- Place yourself in God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you.
- Pray for the grace to understand how God is acting in your life.
- Review your day — recall specific moments and your feelings at the time.
- Reflect on what you did, said, or thought in those instances. Were you drawing closer to God, or further away? Where you fell short of who God wants you to be – ask for forgiveness, mercy and peace.
- Look toward tomorrow — reflect on how you might collaborate more effectively with God’s plan. Be specific. Conclude with the “Our Father.” [1]
Recalling our feelings can help us identify key moments. Ignatius spoke of two kinds of feelings: consolation and desolation. We experience consolation when something is good, leads us towards God and away from selfish desires. Desolation is when something is not good, we step out of God’s way, and act from selfish desire. Do you notice either of these feelings in this day? What can you learn from those moments? Is there any change you would now ask God in his grace to bring into your life?
How do you feel about incorporating this practice into your daily routine? Early on it will require conscious effort, and probably to be written out for recall. I am sure you can see how once a habit; it can help us be attentive to God at work in all of life.
In Him,
Jason
[1] adapted from https://www.jesuits.org/spirituality/the-ignatian-examen/Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash