"Speak Lord" - The Prayer of Examen
By Ryan Dawson
Over the past several weeks at Sequoia, we have been on a journey together as we seek to deepen our relationship with God through prayer and Scripture. In our Practicing Prayer & Scripture series, we have been exploring some of the ways we can develop healthy rhythms that help us grow in our faith, become more like Jesus, and learn to follow Him in our everyday lives.
This coming Sunday, we will continue our conversation about prayer by looking at Listening to God (Part 2). We will take time to look at 1 Samuel 3, where we meet young Samuel, who heard God calling his name but initially didn't recognize His voice. After God called him several times, the Priest Eli helped Samuel understand how to respond. He instructed him to say, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9, NLT).
I love that simple prayer because it reminds us that prayer isn't just about talking to God, bringing Him our requests, and asking Him to intervene in the circumstances of our lives. Prayer is also about learning to be still, paying attention to His Word, and allowing Him to shape our hearts as we learn to recognize His voice and respond in obedience.
But if we're honest, listening can be difficult. Our lives are full of noise, activity, responsibilities, and distractions, and even when we set aside time to pray, our minds can wander to the many things competing for our attention. Sometimes, we need a simple practice that helps us slow down, reflect on our day, and become more attentive to God's presence. One such practice is called the Prayer of Examen.
What Is the Prayer of Examen?
The Prayer of Examen is an ancient Christian practice, often associated with Ignatius of Loyola, that helps us prayerfully reflect on our day and become more aware of God's presence and activity in our lives. Rather than simply rushing from one day to the next, we take a few moments to look back, notice where we have experienced God's goodness, recognize where we may have missed His leading, and ask Him to guide us as we move forward.
The Examen isn't about beating ourselves up over our failures or trying to figure out a hidden message in every experience. It is about learning to live with a greater awareness of God, trusting His grace, and allowing His Spirit to form us into the people He created us to be.
As we prepare to explore listening to God this Sunday, the Prayer of Examen offers us a practical way to cultivate a listening heart. We may not hear an audible voice, but as we prayerfully reflect on our day, God's Word can help us recognize where we need to grow, where we have experienced His goodness, and where He may be inviting us to respond in faith and obedience.
I encourage you to try this practice at the end of your day. It takes just five to ten minutes, but over time, it can help you develop a deeper awareness of God's presence and a more responsive heart. Here are five simple steps to guide you.
1. Become Still and Remember God's Presence
Begin by slowing down and becoming quiet before the Lord. Take a few deep breaths, release the distractions of the day as best you can, and remind yourself that God is with you.
You don't have to work hard to get God's attention or convince Him to draw near. He already knows you, loves you, and invites you into relationship with Him.
The Psalmist reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10, NLT). Take a moment to acknowledge His presence and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your day through God's eyes.
You might pray: Lord, thank You that You have been with me throughout this day, even in the moments when I wasn't paying attention. Quiet my heart, open my eyes, and help me become more aware of Your presence. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.
2. Give Thanks for God's Goodness
Now look back over your day and ask yourself, Where did I experience God's goodness today? Perhaps it was a meaningful conversation, an unexpected kindness, a moment of beauty, an opportunity to encourage someone, or the simple blessing of sharing a meal with family. Maybe God gave you strength for a difficult responsibility or peace in the middle of a stressful situation.
Not every day is easy, and sometimes God's goodness is harder to recognize. Yet gratitude helps us notice the gifts we might otherwise overlook. Take a moment to name two or three things for which you are thankful, and offer God your gratitude.
You might pray: Father, thank You for the ways You cared for me today. Thank You for the people You placed in my path, the strength You provided, and the blessings I might otherwise have taken for granted. Help me become more attentive to Your goodness in the ordinary moments of life.
3. Review Your Day with God
This is the heart of the Examen. Gently walk back through your day, from morning until evening, asking God to help you notice what was happening in your heart. Where did you experience joy, peace, love, or a sense of God's presence? When did you feel most alive and connected to Him? Were there moments when you sensed an opportunity to serve, encourage, forgive, or show compassion?
Also consider the harder moments. When did you become impatient, anxious, frustrated, or self-focused? Was there a conversation you wish you had handled differently? Did you miss an opportunity to love someone well? Were you so distracted or hurried that you failed to pay attention to what mattered most?
As you reflect, you might ask the Lord, What do You want me to notice about my day? What might You be teaching me about my heart, my relationships, or my walk with You? Don't approach these questions with shame or condemnation. You are simply inviting God to help you see your day honestly, with the assurance of His grace.
Sometimes, as we reflect, we begin to recognize patterns. We notice the situations that bring us closer to God and the habits or attitudes that seem to pull us away from Him. Over time, this kind of reflection can help us become more sensitive to the Spirit's work in our lives.
You might pray: Holy Spirit, help me see this day honestly. Show me where I responded with love and where I fell short. Help me recognize the moments when I was attentive to You and the moments when I was distracted. Thank You that I can bring all of it into Your presence.
4. Receive God's Grace and Respond
As you reflect on your day, you may become aware of something that needs attention. Perhaps you need to ask someone for forgiveness, make a difficult conversation right, change an attitude, or take a step of obedience you have been avoiding. Whatever comes to mind, remember that conviction is an invitation to return to God, not a reason to run away from Him. We don't have to hide our failures or pretend we have everything together. Through Jesus, we can receive forgiveness, find grace, and begin again.
If there is something you need to confess, bring it honestly before the Lord. If there is someone you need to forgive, ask God to help you take the next step. If you recognize an opportunity to love or serve someone tomorrow, make a simple plan to follow through.
The purpose of the Examen isn't simply to understand our day better; it is to allow God to shape how we live tomorrow.
Remember Samuel's response: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.” A listening heart is not simply interested in hearing from God; it is willing to respond to Him.
You might pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. Show me what I need to learn from today, and give me the courage to respond to You in obedience. Where I have failed, help me receive Your mercy. Where You are inviting me to grow, help me take the next step.
5. Look Ahead with Hope
Finally, bring the coming day before the Lord. What responsibilities, conversations, challenges, or opportunities lie ahead? Is there a particular situation in which you need God's wisdom, patience, courage, or compassion?
Rather than trying to anticipate and control everything that might happen, entrust the day to Him. Ask Him to help you recognize His leading and respond faithfully as opportunities arise.
You might pray: Father, I place tomorrow in Your hands. Help me recognize Your presence, listen to Your Word, and follow the leading of Your Spirit. Give me eyes to see the people who need Your love and a willing heart to serve them. Whatever tomorrow brings, help me walk with You. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. In Jesus' name, amen.
Learning to Live Attentively to God
One of the things I appreciate about the Prayer of Examen is that it reminds us that our relationship with God isn't confined to our morning devotions or Sunday gatherings. God is present in the ordinary moments of our lives: in our conversations, our work, our relationships, our struggles, and our opportunities to love and serve others.
As we learn to reflect prayerfully on our days, we begin to recognize more clearly how God is at work in us and around us. We become more aware of the attitudes that need to change, the people we are being called to love, and the small steps of obedience through which God is shaping us.
Learning to listen to God doesn't necessarily mean hearing an audible voice or receiving a special revelation. Often, it means becoming more attentive to the truth of Scripture, more aware of the Spirit's work in our hearts, and more willing to respond faithfully to what God has already made clear.
So, I want to encourage you to try the Prayer of Examen. Set aside five to ten minutes at the end the day to meet with God. Become still, give thanks, review your day, receive God's grace, and entrust tomorrow to Him. As you practise, keep returning to Samuel's simple prayer: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”
May this become more than a prayer we say; may it become the posture of our hearts. As we learn to recognize God's voice, respond in obedience, and trust Him with each new day, may we continue to grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Jesus.
Growing with you,
Ryan
Over the past several weeks at Sequoia, we have been on a journey together as we seek to deepen our relationship with God through prayer and Scripture. In our Practicing Prayer & Scripture series, we have been exploring some of the ways we can develop healthy rhythms that help us grow in our faith, become more like Jesus, and learn to follow Him in our everyday lives.
This coming Sunday, we will continue our conversation about prayer by looking at Listening to God (Part 2). We will take time to look at 1 Samuel 3, where we meet young Samuel, who heard God calling his name but initially didn't recognize His voice. After God called him several times, the Priest Eli helped Samuel understand how to respond. He instructed him to say, “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9, NLT).
I love that simple prayer because it reminds us that prayer isn't just about talking to God, bringing Him our requests, and asking Him to intervene in the circumstances of our lives. Prayer is also about learning to be still, paying attention to His Word, and allowing Him to shape our hearts as we learn to recognize His voice and respond in obedience.
But if we're honest, listening can be difficult. Our lives are full of noise, activity, responsibilities, and distractions, and even when we set aside time to pray, our minds can wander to the many things competing for our attention. Sometimes, we need a simple practice that helps us slow down, reflect on our day, and become more attentive to God's presence. One such practice is called the Prayer of Examen.
What Is the Prayer of Examen?
The Prayer of Examen is an ancient Christian practice, often associated with Ignatius of Loyola, that helps us prayerfully reflect on our day and become more aware of God's presence and activity in our lives. Rather than simply rushing from one day to the next, we take a few moments to look back, notice where we have experienced God's goodness, recognize where we may have missed His leading, and ask Him to guide us as we move forward.
The Examen isn't about beating ourselves up over our failures or trying to figure out a hidden message in every experience. It is about learning to live with a greater awareness of God, trusting His grace, and allowing His Spirit to form us into the people He created us to be.
As we prepare to explore listening to God this Sunday, the Prayer of Examen offers us a practical way to cultivate a listening heart. We may not hear an audible voice, but as we prayerfully reflect on our day, God's Word can help us recognize where we need to grow, where we have experienced His goodness, and where He may be inviting us to respond in faith and obedience.
I encourage you to try this practice at the end of your day. It takes just five to ten minutes, but over time, it can help you develop a deeper awareness of God's presence and a more responsive heart. Here are five simple steps to guide you.
1. Become Still and Remember God's Presence
Begin by slowing down and becoming quiet before the Lord. Take a few deep breaths, release the distractions of the day as best you can, and remind yourself that God is with you.
You don't have to work hard to get God's attention or convince Him to draw near. He already knows you, loves you, and invites you into relationship with Him.
The Psalmist reminds us, “Be still, and know that I am God!” (Psalm 46:10, NLT). Take a moment to acknowledge His presence and ask the Holy Spirit to help you see your day through God's eyes.
You might pray: Lord, thank You that You have been with me throughout this day, even in the moments when I wasn't paying attention. Quiet my heart, open my eyes, and help me become more aware of Your presence. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.
2. Give Thanks for God's Goodness
Now look back over your day and ask yourself, Where did I experience God's goodness today? Perhaps it was a meaningful conversation, an unexpected kindness, a moment of beauty, an opportunity to encourage someone, or the simple blessing of sharing a meal with family. Maybe God gave you strength for a difficult responsibility or peace in the middle of a stressful situation.
Not every day is easy, and sometimes God's goodness is harder to recognize. Yet gratitude helps us notice the gifts we might otherwise overlook. Take a moment to name two or three things for which you are thankful, and offer God your gratitude.
You might pray: Father, thank You for the ways You cared for me today. Thank You for the people You placed in my path, the strength You provided, and the blessings I might otherwise have taken for granted. Help me become more attentive to Your goodness in the ordinary moments of life.
3. Review Your Day with God
This is the heart of the Examen. Gently walk back through your day, from morning until evening, asking God to help you notice what was happening in your heart. Where did you experience joy, peace, love, or a sense of God's presence? When did you feel most alive and connected to Him? Were there moments when you sensed an opportunity to serve, encourage, forgive, or show compassion?
Also consider the harder moments. When did you become impatient, anxious, frustrated, or self-focused? Was there a conversation you wish you had handled differently? Did you miss an opportunity to love someone well? Were you so distracted or hurried that you failed to pay attention to what mattered most?
As you reflect, you might ask the Lord, What do You want me to notice about my day? What might You be teaching me about my heart, my relationships, or my walk with You? Don't approach these questions with shame or condemnation. You are simply inviting God to help you see your day honestly, with the assurance of His grace.
Sometimes, as we reflect, we begin to recognize patterns. We notice the situations that bring us closer to God and the habits or attitudes that seem to pull us away from Him. Over time, this kind of reflection can help us become more sensitive to the Spirit's work in our lives.
You might pray: Holy Spirit, help me see this day honestly. Show me where I responded with love and where I fell short. Help me recognize the moments when I was attentive to You and the moments when I was distracted. Thank You that I can bring all of it into Your presence.
4. Receive God's Grace and Respond
As you reflect on your day, you may become aware of something that needs attention. Perhaps you need to ask someone for forgiveness, make a difficult conversation right, change an attitude, or take a step of obedience you have been avoiding. Whatever comes to mind, remember that conviction is an invitation to return to God, not a reason to run away from Him. We don't have to hide our failures or pretend we have everything together. Through Jesus, we can receive forgiveness, find grace, and begin again.
If there is something you need to confess, bring it honestly before the Lord. If there is someone you need to forgive, ask God to help you take the next step. If you recognize an opportunity to love or serve someone tomorrow, make a simple plan to follow through.
The purpose of the Examen isn't simply to understand our day better; it is to allow God to shape how we live tomorrow.
Remember Samuel's response: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.” A listening heart is not simply interested in hearing from God; it is willing to respond to Him.
You might pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your grace and forgiveness. Show me what I need to learn from today, and give me the courage to respond to You in obedience. Where I have failed, help me receive Your mercy. Where You are inviting me to grow, help me take the next step.
5. Look Ahead with Hope
Finally, bring the coming day before the Lord. What responsibilities, conversations, challenges, or opportunities lie ahead? Is there a particular situation in which you need God's wisdom, patience, courage, or compassion?
Rather than trying to anticipate and control everything that might happen, entrust the day to Him. Ask Him to help you recognize His leading and respond faithfully as opportunities arise.
You might pray: Father, I place tomorrow in Your hands. Help me recognize Your presence, listen to Your Word, and follow the leading of Your Spirit. Give me eyes to see the people who need Your love and a willing heart to serve them. Whatever tomorrow brings, help me walk with You. Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening. In Jesus' name, amen.
Learning to Live Attentively to God
One of the things I appreciate about the Prayer of Examen is that it reminds us that our relationship with God isn't confined to our morning devotions or Sunday gatherings. God is present in the ordinary moments of our lives: in our conversations, our work, our relationships, our struggles, and our opportunities to love and serve others.
As we learn to reflect prayerfully on our days, we begin to recognize more clearly how God is at work in us and around us. We become more aware of the attitudes that need to change, the people we are being called to love, and the small steps of obedience through which God is shaping us.
Learning to listen to God doesn't necessarily mean hearing an audible voice or receiving a special revelation. Often, it means becoming more attentive to the truth of Scripture, more aware of the Spirit's work in our hearts, and more willing to respond faithfully to what God has already made clear.
So, I want to encourage you to try the Prayer of Examen. Set aside five to ten minutes at the end the day to meet with God. Become still, give thanks, review your day, receive God's grace, and entrust tomorrow to Him. As you practise, keep returning to Samuel's simple prayer: “Speak, LORD, your servant is listening.”
May this become more than a prayer we say; may it become the posture of our hearts. As we learn to recognize God's voice, respond in obedience, and trust Him with each new day, may we continue to grow in our relationship with Him and become more like Jesus.
Growing with you,
Ryan