Today’s Reflection
One of the spiritual practices I have come to love is the practice of Examen, or a prayerful examination of the day. The practice comes from Saint Ignatius of Loyola, a sixteenth-century mystic and the founder of the Jesuit order of priests. He believed this form of prayer to be one of the most important, and he saw it as a gift of God to be practiced regularly. . . .
In this prayer practice, you focus and reflect on the awareness of God’s presence throughout the day. You ask questions such as, Where did I see God today?, At what points in the day did I feel far from God?, How did I experience joy today?, and What made me sad today?
—Jenny Youngman, Scrambled Starts: Family Prayers for Morning, Bedtime, and Everything In-Between (Upper Room Books, 2015)
Today’s Question
How would you answer the Examen questions referenced in today’s reflection? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
—Revelation 1:8 (NRSVUE)
Prayer for the Week
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
—Traditional Doxology
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Lectionary Readings
- Isaiah 1:1, 10-20
- Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23
- Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16
- Luke 12:32-40
Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.