Practicing The ExamenSample

The last step of the Examen involves asking God’s guidance for the 24 hours ahead.

You face many tough choices each day. For example, you need to decide where to invest your time at work and at home. Should you take a risk in your career, or play it safe? Should you stretch yourself in the service of others, or do you need to step back and recharge your batteries?

What exactly are the most important things to focus on in the day ahead?

Asking God, “What guidance do you have for me?” is an active step that brings God into the big and small decisions of your daily life.

As you practice the Examen, you may hear God’s guidance in different ways. You could feel God prompting you to take some specific action, like calling a colleague or working on one task. Or you might get the sense that God wants you to notice something today – a gift from him or a situation he wants to fix. There could be something God calls to your mind that you’re meant to remember – something about yourself or about God that’s true.

The last step of the Examen opens you up to God’s guidance so that you can carry this spiritual discipline into the next 24 hours of your life.

When you practice the Examen on a daily basis, you will find God guiding you more and more in your day-to-day work.

Practice the Examen:

1. Tune into God’s presence. God, be with me as I reflect on my day.

2. Review your day. What gave me joy today? What troubled me today?

3. Notice your emotions. What made me feel most strongly?

4. Discern. What are you asking me to notice, God?

5. Look ahead. What guidance do you have for me?

Prayer: God, give me guidance for the day ahead. May I find you in my work today.

Further Exploration:Read more about Colossians 3:23 in the Theology of Work Bible Commentary.

If you enjoyed this plan, find more plans from the Theology of Work Project at www.theologyofwork.org/devotions