The Prayer of Examen in Lent

Praying the Examen in Lent

Lent is a season of preparation. Similar to the ways Advent prepares us for Christmas, Lent offers us time to ready ourselves for the joy of Easter. In the Christian calendar, Lent is a penitential season, one that invites us to focus on spiritual disciplines of emptying like fasting in order that we might more wholly experience the filling that happens with the arrival of Easter through communal feasting and celebration.

It’s also a time of prayer and self-examination. Seasons like Lent remind us to pause, check in with ourselves and God, and consider with God what is potentially entangling and burdening us as we run the race of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin. Sometimes we need a little structure. That’s why we’ve created this Prayer of Examen for you to use in Lent. (Read more about the Prayer of Examen here.)

How to Use This Examen

Below you’ll find six steps to walk you through the Prayer of Examen. We’ve also included focus themes for each of the six weeks of Lent. Of course, if you feel God inviting you back to a theme you’ve already done, that’s okay. Follow where you sense the Spirit is leading you.

Weekly Themes

• Week 1 – Repentance: Repentance is much more than feeling sorry for something we’ve done. Repentance is changing our minds and practices—and choosing instead to receive Christ’s mercy and follow him. Where do you need to change your mind and practices and follow Jesus’ way? 1 John 1:9
• Week 2 – Service: Jesus is the humble servant. He came to serve, not to be served. Where might God be inviting you to serve and release being served? Matthew 20:28
• Week 3 – Temptation: Jesus began his ministry on earth being tempted by the enemy. He was tempted to rely on his own strength and identity rather than the Father’s. What areas do tend to rely on your strength and identity as opposed to God’s? Matthew 26:41
• Week 4 – Contentment: Saint Augustine famously said, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” In which areas of your life do you most sense a lack of contentment? Philippians 4:11-13
• Week 5 – Generosity: Scripture tells us that God is a God of abundance. And that it is more blessed to give than to receive. In what areas of your life is God calling you to give abundantly? Acts 20:35
• Week 6 – Renewal: Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we have hope that Christ will restore and renew all things—our bodies, our hearts and minds, our communities, and all of creation. Where in life do you cling to the hope of renewal? Titus 3:3-6

The Practice

1. Prepare – Get comfortable. Close your eyes and take a few long, deep breaths. Ask the Lord to draw near and still your heart and mind.

2.  Express thankfulness to God – Next, take a few minutes to tell God what you are thankful for. Consider using the following statements as a guide:

Thank you, Holy Spirit, for comforting me when …

Thank you, Father, for providing for my needs, such as …

Thank you, Jesus, for what happened earlier today/this week …

3. Examine your day with God – Read the weekly theme’s description. Then, review with God specific moments from your day or week where you experienced [weekly theme] or recognized the absence of [weekly theme]. Tell God about what you thought, felt, and did, and ask for the grace to understand what God might be doing in your life regarding [weekly theme].

Consider using the format below if you need more structure:

• God, which of my thoughts from the day do you want to draw my attention to and connect with [weekly theme]?
• What feelings from the day do you want me to think about more deeply as I focus on [weekly theme]?
• What did I do today day that reveals my relationship with [weekly theme]?

4. Reflect with God – As you reflect on what God showed you about [weekly theme], tell the Lord when in these moments you felt nearest to God (moments of consolation) and when you felt furthest from God (moments of desolation).

5. Look ahead with hope – Tell God how you wish to collaborate with God on [weekly theme] tomorrow. What are you excited about? What are you nervous about? It can be helpful to name one specific way you want to partner with God. Use the statements below as inspiration or guidance:

• God, I want to invite you more deeply into my thoughts about [weekly theme], such as …
• Spirit, I want to invite you into my feelings of [weekly theme], such as …
• Jesus, I want to invite you into my actions related to [weekly theme], such as …

Conclude with prayer – End with the Lord’s prayer:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your Name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins

as we forgive those

who sin against us.

Save us from the time of trial,

and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours,

now and for ever. Amen.