a drop of water

In Chapter 3 of Prayer, Richard Foster describes the Prayer of Examen.  He starts out by noting that there are two parts of this prayer, 1. The examen of consciousness and 2. The examen of conscience.  He describes each separately but ends with the understanding that they are much more like two overlapping circles, always influencing with each other.

He describes the examen of consciousness as the method “through which we discover how God has been present to us throughout the day and how we have responded to his presence.”  It’s implication is that we become more aware of our surroundings and that “God wants us to be present where are.”  I know that for me I am often asking God for and about tomorrow, completely ignoring what is infront of me today.  God becomes limited to the servant who is preparing and providing for my tomorrow (which he is), but I forget that he is the God who is present with me right now, today.

The examen of conscience is the process of inviting the Lord to search our hearts to the depths of the psalmists words in Ps 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts.  See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  We uncover those areas that need cleansing, purifying and healing.  Foster mentions two dangers to deep introspection without God: 1. “If we are the lone examiners of our heart, a thousand justifications will arise to decalre our innocence” and 2. “If left to our own devices, it is easy for us to take one good look at who we truly are nad elcare ourselves unredeemable.”

It is easy to be upset and want to end the evil and sin that is outside of ourselves.  What if we had the same kind of feelings towards the actions within ourselves of the same ilk?

When we are sick, we often go to the doctor for a diagnosis.  They have the knowledge of the how the human body works and know the current remedies for our ailments.  God has the knowledge of not only how our human body works, but how our heart and mind work.  It makes sense that we should go to the great physician regularly to stay healthy.