The evening examen: going over your day before God
By the end of the day, everything has blurred: you no longer quite know what you did, said or felt. The evening examen is a very ancient Christian practice: taking ten minutes to go over the day in God's presence. Not to judge yourself, but to see clearly.
What it looks like in your day
Settle into a quiet place, on the edge of the bed or in an armchair. Say a word to God: "Lord, look at my day with me." Then, in four short steps:
- Give thanks. What went well? What blessings did you receive?
- Review. Replay your day like a film, from waking up until now. Where were you close to God? Where did you drift away from him?
- Acknowledge. Is there a word, an attitude, a thought you are not proud of? Name it without making excuses or flogging yourself.
- Begin again. Ask forgiveness for what needs it, receive it, and ask for help for tomorrow.
An example: "I was curt with my colleague this morning. I had promised to help her and I forgot. On the other hand, I had a real moment of peace during my lunchtime walk. Thank you. Sorry for my impatience. Tomorrow, I'll offer her my help."
If you are in a hurry, two minutes is enough: one thing to give thanks for, one thing to regret. If you are just starting, don't try to go through everything, choose one moment of the day that stays on your mind. If you are shy in prayer, you can write a few lines in a notebook.
What the Bible says
The Bible invites this honest look at yourself, but always before God, never alone facing the mirror:
“Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Notice: the psalmist doesn't say "I search myself," he says "Search me, O God." It is God who sheds light, and not our own self-criticism, often unfair or too harsh.
The prophet also calls for a collective and lucid approach, which ends in a return to God and not in condemnation:
“Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.”
In the New Testament, Paul invites us to examine ourselves (2 Corinthians 13:5) to check our faith. And Psalm 4 gives a lovely picture of the evening: "commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still" (Psalms 4:4).
Pitfalls to avoid
The inner courtroom. The examen is not a trial. If, after ten minutes, you feel crushed, you did it wrong. It should end in grace, not in condemnation. God himself is already "merciful and gracious" (Psalms 103:8).
Looking for faults at all costs. Some evenings, there will be nothing serious to point out. Don't invent sins for yourself, but give thanks.
Stopping at the negative. The first step is gratitude, because the good received is also a truth about your day. An examen that sees only failings is unbalanced.
Staying alone with what is heavy. If you discover that you are dragging something more serious, a conflict, a habit, a shame, don't hesitate to talk about it with a trusted person. The examen is there to help you see, not to carry it alone.
Tonight, before sleeping, try it: a thank-you, an honest look, a forgiveness, a new start. Five minutes is enough.