Jesus’ Disciples learn to have “I”-sight checked with the Lord.

Lamentations 3:30

Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.

This week's immersion continues to delve into spiritual disciplines as a way to expand our prayer life and walk with God. Consider the Examen as another tool for your spiritual belt of truth.

Developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), founder of the Jesuits, the Examen is a spiritual discipline of prayer looking to discover the movement of the Spirit in our daily lives by reviewing your day. There are five steps, generally taking about 15 minutes to do in all.

1. Recognize that you are in the presence of God
   
2. Look at your day with gratitude
3. Ask for help from the Holy Spirit
   
4. Review your day
   
5. Reconcile and resolve

Some choose to use this at lunch and/or before bed. It can be performed every day, especially when working on specific behaviors or attitudes. Many who use it regularly do so weekly. The goal this week is to try it. We will break it down one step per day, then use all five steps on Saturday (and Sunday). This is merely one interpretation of these steps to discern the movement of God’s Spirit in your day – and great for your Lenten experience.

Before you start: As with many spiritual disciplines, if possible find a place where you are unlikely to be disturbed – with limited external noise. Use a candle or lower the lights to engage in this activity. Sit comfortably, relax, become aware of your breathing, and settle in.

Step 1: Recognize that you are in the presence of God

While you are always in God's presence, prayer places you in God's presence in an especially attentive way. God knows you deeply, and desires an intimate connection with you. Jesus says 'abide in me and I will abide in you' As you quiet yourself, focus on God’s presence with you (and the creation and others around you as well). Keep in mind God’s desire to BE with you. Then be still and know that you are with God. Let your sole focus for todays devo be God’s presence with you and His desire to be with you.

Prayer for the Week

Father God, as we learn about this prayer tool called examen, help me see its value and learn to use it as a tool for drawing close to you, for absorbing your Word and its application in my life, and for evaluating my current walk with you; in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Ephesians 1:16

I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 
~ Paul

Step 2. Look at your day with gratitude

Begin to give thanks to God for the gifts of the day. Special pleasures will spring to mind: A good night's sleep, the smell of the morning coffee, the laugh of a child, a good meal or lesson learned. As you move in gratitude through the details of your day, give thanks to God for his presence in the big and the small things of your life.

Things that I am thankful for today (or this week):

[Reflect and write about what the Lord is putting on your heart.]

Ephesians 1:17-19

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. 
~ Paul

Step 3. Ask for help from the Holy Spirit

Before the next step of reviewing your day:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you look honestly at your actions and attitudes, to understand the motivations of your heart, to see the gifts of God and how you've responded to them.
  

These are what we call prayer prompts in IMMERSION. Keep in mind that this is not a time to dwell on your shortcomings, nor a time to get down on oneself; it is a gentle look (with God) at how you have responded to God's gifts. Consider it an opportunity to grow in understanding of yourself and your relationship with Him.

Wednesday is normally our Identity in Christ day, so let’s work out of that mindset to finish step 3:

In Christ I am given the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that I may know God better.

Step 4. Review your day (with God’s help)

After you have (1) acknowledged God’s presence, (2) shared some grateful moments, and (3) asked for the Spirit’s help, it is time to (4) review your day – or week. If you can, replay it like a movie in your mind. Notice details and contexts of what happened and how you acted – particularly your motives and feelings. Do not psychoanalyze or try to fix anything here, simply note your daily motives, actions and reactions.

The following questions can be helpful in your review:

• When did I fail today? why?
  
• When did I give love today?
  
• Where did I receive love today?
  
• What habits and life patterns do I notice in my day?
  
• In what ways did I notice God in my day?
  
• When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?
  
• When did I have the greatest sense of belonging?
  
• When did I have the least sense of belonging?
  
• When was I most free? Least free?
  
• When was I most creative? Least creative?
  
• When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
  
• When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?
  

As you review, allow your thoughts to wander through situations you've been in and allow God to speak about them, to challenge, encourage and/or teach you through them.

[Write about other people and situations on your mind, heart, soul and this word.]

Revelation 3:18-20

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
~ Jesus

Step 5. Reconcile and resolve

This sounds daunting, but is actually freeing, satisfying, and brings hope to the heart. The final step is a heart-to-heart talk with Jesus. in this time, you share your thoughts regarding your actions, attitudes, feelings and interactions. You may be led to seek forgiveness, ask for direction, share a concern, express gratitude, etc. There may be some action being called for. Resolve with Jesus to move forward in action where appropriate. Finish with the Lord’s Prayer or something similar.

[Reflect and write about what the Lord is putting on your heart.]

Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done
In earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
As we forgive those that trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
For ever and ever.
Amen.

According to the Texarkana Gazette, spitting is uncouth, but for Jesus it seems to be part of His healing ministry. In this story and at least two other places (Mark 7, John 9), he spits – expectorates (gotta love that word!). Read this short story, follow it up with verses 27-30 and notice the parallel of how some people see Jesus clearly and others do not, left with incomplete vision.

Let’s not unnecessarily end up with an incomplete vision of God or of ourselves: As the prophet Jeremiah encouraged, Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord (Lam. 3:30).
Consider the Examen as another tool for your spiritual belt of truth.

Here are the 5 steps to the Examen, this week’s spiritual discipline of prayer (generally taking about 15 minutes to do). Look back in the week to review each area along the way.

1. Recognize that you are in the presence of God
   
2. Look at your day with gratitude 
3. Ask for help from the Holy Spirit
   
4. Review your day
   
5. Reconcile and resolve (record observations on paper)

Mark 8:22-26

They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?”

He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.”

Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.”

Psalm 40:4-5

Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after a lie! You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; none can compare with you! I will proclaim and tell of them, yet they are more than can be told.

Forms and rituals do not produce worship, nor does the disuse of forms and rituals. We can use all the right techniques and methods, we can have the best possible liturgy, but we have not worshipped the Lord until Spirit touches spirit.

~ Richard Foster

[Reflect and write about what the Lord is putting on your heart.]

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Amen.

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