Guided Prayer- The Examen a prayer before sleeping

What if a few quiet minutes could remake the way you remember your day? We offer a gentle, guided examen that begins with breath and stillness, invites the Holy Spirit to lead, and helps you see ordinary moments as places where love showed up. It’s a slow, spacious journey through memory that replaces self-criticism with compassion and turns small details—a kind word, warm sunlight, a shared laugh—into signs of grace.

We start by settling the body and naming God’s nearness as closer than our own breath. From there, we welcome the Spirit’s guidance to awaken memory and imagination so we can look honestly at what unfolded. Gratitude anchors the practice as we ask where we received and gave love, then we retrace the day from the present backward, noticing scenes, conversations, and emotions with a tender, nonjudgmental eye. Joy points to alignment, emptiness reveals what needs care, and resistance becomes a clue for tomorrow’s courage.

As the review deepens, we linger where grace glows and hold our misses in mercy, trusting that transformation grows best in kindness. Ancient promises steady our hearts: a prepared table in the midst of pressure, anointing for the hours ahead, goodness and tender love in pursuit. We close in confidence, not because the future is simple, but because we are not alone. If this reflection brought you peace, share it with a friend, subscribe for more guided prayer, and leave a review to help others find rest and clarity today.

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In the service of LOVE,
Pastors Dennis and Heather Drake

Episode Transcript

SPEAKER_00 (00:03):
Welcome, beloved.
Begin by finding a comfortableposition.
With feet resting gently on thefloor, hands resting loosely in
your lap.
Allow your body to soften, yourshoulders to release any

(00:27):
tension.
Take a deep, slow breath in andgently let it out.
God is here with us, nearer thanour own breath.

(00:54):
Let's begin with an invitationto the Holy Spirit.
Come, Holy Spirit, you are thebreath of God, the flame of
love, the gentle whisper thatguides us.

(01:16):
Awaken now our memory, stir ourholy imagination, and help us to
see this day through the eyes ofChrist.
May your light guide us, yourmercy comfort us, and your love

(01:40):
renew us.
Hear the words of the psalmist.
Be still and know that I am God.

(02:01):
We remember God is closer thanour very breath, more faithful
than the sunrise, alwayspresent, always loving.

(02:24):
Gracious God, I believe that Iam in your presence and you are
loving me.
Beautiful Jesus, I believe thatat this very moment, with

(02:45):
whatever is going on in my life,I am in your presence, and you
are loving me.
Without condition, withoutrestriction, without limit.
And so I choose in your grace toopen my mind, my memory, my

(03:11):
imagination, my entire self toyour love.
Together, we recognize God'sgifts.

(03:31):
Scripture says, give thanks inall circumstances, for this is
God's will for you in ChristJesus.
Let your heart wander backthrough this day and notice
God's gifts, large or small, akind word, the warmth of the sun

(04:00):
on your skin, a meal thatsatisfied, a moment of laughter.
And ask yourself, where did Iexperience love today?

(04:24):
Where did I receive love?
Where did I give love?
Hold these moments gently beforeGod and whisper in your heart,
thank you.

(04:52):
And now we ask for God's light.
Jesus promised, when the Spiritof Truth comes, Spirit will
guide you into all truth.

(05:16):
We invite God's lovingperspective, and we receive the
light that we need to seeclearly.
Holy Spirit, help us to lookupon this day not with judgment
or self-criticism, but with theears of love, with the eyes of

(05:42):
love.
Show us where you were present,even if we did not notice it at
the time.
Show us ourselves with yourtenderness.

(07:15):
Begin with the present moment,then gently trace your steps
backward.
Notice where you were, what yousaid and did, and who you
encountered?

(07:43):
Ask yourself, where have I felttrue joy today?
Where did I feel empty ordrained?

(08:08):
Where did I sense God's lovingpresence?
Where did I resist him?
Beloved, pay attention to youremotions.

(08:29):
They are windows into themovement of spirit.
If a moment shines with God'snearness, linger there in
gratitude.
If a moment stings with failureor distance, hold it in God's

(08:50):
compassionate gaze.
You do not need to fix or judge,only to notice, to remember, and

(09:12):
to be present with God in whatwas.

(19:15):
The comfort of your love takesaway my fear.
I will never be lonely, for youare near.

(19:44):
You prepare a table before me, afeast, even in the presence of
enemies.
You anoint me with the fragranceof your Holy Spirit, and you
give me all I can drink of youuntil my cup overflows.

(20:11):
So why would I fear the future?
Only goodness and tender lovepursue me all the days of my
life.
And then afterward, when my lifeis through, I'll return to your

(20:33):
glorious presence to be foreverwith you.
Amen.