Have you ever heard of a prayer practice called “The Daily Examen”? It is a method of prayer used among Jesuit communities, as modeled by St. Ignatius of Loyola. Basically there are 5 steps in the prayer:
1. Enter your time of prayer with an awareness of God’s presence. Acknowledge Him, greet Him.
2. In God’s presence, review your day with gratitude. Reflect on both the big and small moments from the day for which you are grateful.
3. Pay attention to your emotions. What have you felt throughout the day? Let God enter into the highs and lows you experienced today.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it, be it positive or negative.
5. Look toward tomorrow with the assurance of God’s guiding presence.
I learned this method of praying sometime after Bob passed away. What a help it was! I needed a structured awareness of God, a structure of gratitude. As I prayed this way, I felt much less alone, much more connected to God, more purpose-filled and directed. I rediscovered a life of thankfulness.
Your life of gratitude—and of thanksgiving—might need a jolt after the experiences of this year. Try the steps above as you’re going to bed tonight. You might just sleep really well.