Welcome to this time of prayer.
This is a prayer to review the last 24 hours,
To see where you have connected with God,
Where you have missed God,
And to think about the day to come.
This prayer is often called the Examen.
Some people find it helpful to have a journal or a pad of paper to hand to jot things down as they go.
Others prefer to make some notes at the end.
You could do this prayer sitting or even lying down in bed at the end or the start of the day.
So begin by getting comfortable.
Relax and feel your connection to the ground.
Take a deep breath and relax a little more.
Let go of your thoughts and quieten down.
Come home to yourself.
Be aware of God's presence.
Dwell in this for a few moments.
Now look back over the last 24 hours.
Without straining to remember everything,
See what comes back to you.
What have you done?
Where have you gone?
Who have you been with?
And how has your mood shifted over this time?
What are you grateful for in this last 24 hours?
What has been life-giving and energising?
What has warmed your heart?
When have you been the person you are called to be?
When have you felt close to God?
Loved by God?
Trusting in God?
Linger over these moments and relish them.
Let their goodness into your body.
Express your thanks to God.
And let God's presence abide in you.
And now look back again over the last 24 hours.
What have been the difficult moments?
What are you ungrateful for?
What missed opportunities have there been?
When have you been less than the person you are called to be?
And when have you felt distant from God or lacked trust in God?
Please do not criticise yourself for any of this.
This is just learning,
Simply information.
Express your feelings to God.
Tell God what you would like help with.
And what you would like forgiveness for.
Let God's tender love touch you.
And now imagine that you hold in one hand all the things you are grateful for.
And in your other hand all the things you are ungrateful for.
Look at this with God.
Exchange a few words or thoughts together.
And now look forward to the next 24 hours.
Show God this day.
What intentions do you have?
What attitudes would you like to cultivate?
And what does God show you about this?
Is there something you would like to commit to?
Ask God for what you need.
And is there anything else you would like to say or show to God?
End this prayer in whatever way you wish.
And when you have finished you might like to make a few notes.
And when you have finished you might like to make a few notes.
