Weekly Practice 8/31/26
Make every effort to do or reflect upon this week’s practice with others.
Scripture
Psalm 139:23-24 MSG
Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I’m about;
See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal life.
Practice
Examen
Through the month of September, we’ll be doing a big, annual examen to coincide with Trellis Vineyard’s one-year anniversary. Each week will be geared to one of our different values:
Know and love God
Know and love others
Know and surrender self
Partner with the Spirit
If you haven’t tried examen prayer yet, use this week to practice. It’s not hard, but it does require time to prayerfully look back. As you reflect on the past day (or year, as we’ll do in September) pay attention to how and when God has felt near or active in your life, and how and when you have participated with his love and work. Also, pay attention to times when God has felt distant, and when you have ignored or even resisted him. The point is to get better at noticing and responding to God’s presence, and noticing and resisting anything that pulls us away from him.
This week, practice examen as often as you can, ideally once a day. If it helps, use this framework:
1) Be still — Allow yourself to settle and to become aware of God’s presence.
How do I want to welcome God’s peace?
2) Give thanks — Ask God to bring to mind specific things from your day for which you can experience gratitude.
What am I grateful for today?
3) Reflect — Notice how you're coming to this time of prayer, what you experienced today and where you felt drawn throughout your day.
How do I come to this time of prayer?
Where did I feel drawn today?
What do I notice now about my day?
4) Pray — Talk with God about one or two things that came up in your reflection, and invite God to respond however God might choose.
What in my reflection seemed significant
What do I most want to talk to God about?
What might God most want to talk about?
5) Hope — Look ahead with God to the day’s remaining hours or the upcoming day.
Where will I need or desire God’s grace and loving presence?
6) Surrender — Offer yourself, the past hours and your upcoming hours to God, to use however God might desire.
What can I more fully offer to God?
How do I want to express this surrender?
