Title: Prayer of Examine
Text: 2 Chronicles 7:14 & Psalm 139:23-24
Teaching Synopsis
In this teaching we ask, “How can we experience God as active, close, personal, and relevant to our everyday lives through the gift of praying?”
Introduction
When I was thinking about prayer, and how to graphically represent that, I went through
People praying, folded hands, stain glass windows, looking up into the sky, etc. But the more I thought about it, all of those images where driven by the perspective of us. Which is precisely the problem with humanity, we make most events revolve around us. What if we understood prayer symbolically, by looking to what we can be in awe of, but not quite understand. What we can experience, but not explain.
So today we are going to dive into this initially short series (which may turn into an ongoing series) on Pray, the verb.
The Framework
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
- 2 Chronicles 7:14
- Upward Prayer – If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face…
- Inward Prayer – …turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin…
- Outward Prayer – …and will heal their land.
The Prayer of Examen
The Plague of Shallow Drillers. There is a shallow Christianity by which we stay on the surface and do not plunge into the depths of who we are and who Christ wants to make us be. We seek God’s quick first aid-kit of salvation and avoid the deep surgery he desires to do to our souls.
In The Prayer of Examen I reflect on how I have responded to God and others in my daily life. I open myself to God’s Holy Spirit to investigate what motivates me and continual work God needs to do in my heart.
Two reasons why we need God to examin our souls
Self-Justification – if we are the lone examiners of our heart, a thousand justifications will arise to declare our innocence.
Self-Loathing – If lfet to our own devices, it is so easy for us to take one good look at who we truly are and declare ourselves unredeemable. Our damaged self-image votes against us, and we begin beating ourselves mercilessly.
The prayer of examen removes the fig leaves that we are covering up our shame with. It positions us to be naked in front of God. It is a portion of His restorative work.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
- Psalm 139:23-24
The Prayer of Examen considers…
Examen of Awareness – in this phase we discover how God has been present to us throughout the day and how we have responded to His loving presence. (Foster, p. 27-28)
- What were my thoughts, feelings, and emotions today?
- Where did I sense God’s presence, voice, correction, celebration, direction, etc.?
- How did I respond to God’s movement in my life?
The goal of this prayer is to make us aware of our surroundings. By remembering, we take time to look back and see how God was moving and how we responded to that movement.
Examen of Conscience – in this phase we allow God to uncover those areas that need cleansing, purifying, and healing. We are inviting the Lord to seach our hearts to the depths. Far from being dreadful, this is a scrutiny of love (Foster, p. 29)
Aspects to Remembering
- The Method to Remembering – there are many ways in which you can take time to reflect and remember how God has been moving. Journal, artistic expression, physical activity, music, a dedicated moment. The point is to pick one that will serve your awareness of God’s presence in your life.
- The Rhythm to Remembering – when will you do this? At what point will you stop what you are doing and allow God to move through your soul? When can I do this daily? When can I do this monthly? When can I do this quarterly? When can I do this Annually?
Wrapping it Up
All of us need to take time for the prayer of examen. We need to internalize Psalm 139:23-24 so that we can live in the freedom and liberty that Christ died for.
To download this file click Pray: the Prayer of Examen
