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.

Chapters

• 0:00 Settle In And Breathe
• 0:46 Invitation To The Holy Spirit
• 2:24 Resting In God’s Presence
• 3:24 Gratitude For Today’s Gifts
• 4:57 Asking For Light And Clarity
• 7:15 Reviewing The Day With Love
• 18:15 Emotions As Windows To Spirit
• 19:15 Letting Go Of Judgment
• 19:15 Trust, Promise, And Amen

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:03

Welcome, beloved. Begin by finding a comfortable position. With feet resting gently on the floor, hands resting loosely in your lap. Allow your body to soften, your shoulders to release any tension. Take a deep, slow breath in and gently let it out. God is here with us, nearer than our own breath. Let's begin with an invitation to the Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit, you are the breath of God, the flame of love, the gentle whisper that guides us. Awaken now our memory, stir our holy imagination, and help us to see this day through the eyes of Christ. May your light guide us, your mercy comfort us, and your love renew us. Hear the words of the psalmist. Be still and know that I am God. We remember God is closer than our very breath, more faithful than the sunrise, always present, always loving. Gracious God, I believe that I am in your presence and you are loving me. Beautiful Jesus, I believe that at this very moment, with whatever is going on in my life, I am in your presence, and you are loving me. Without condition, without restriction, without limit. And so I choose in your grace to open my mind, my memory, my imagination, my entire self to your love. Together, we recognize God's gifts. Scripture says, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Let your heart wander back through this day and notice God's gifts, large or small, a kind word, the warmth of the sun on your skin, a meal that satisfied, a moment of laughter. And ask yourself, where did I experience love today? Where did I receive love? Where did I give love? Hold these moments gently before God and whisper in your heart, thank you. And now we ask for God's light. Jesus promised, when the Spirit of Truth comes, Spirit will guide you into all truth. We invite God's loving perspective, and we receive the light that we need to see clearly. Holy Spirit, help us to look upon this day not with judgment or self-criticism, but with the ears of love, with the eyes of love. Show us where you were present, even if we did not notice it at the time. Show us ourselves with your tenderness. Begin with the present moment, then gently trace your steps backward. Notice where you were, what you said and did, and who you encountered? Ask yourself, where have I felt true joy today? Where did I feel empty or drained? Where did I sense God's loving presence? Where did I resist him? Beloved, pay attention to your emotions. They are windows into the movement of spirit. If a moment shines with God's nearness, linger there in gratitude. If a moment stings with failure or distance, hold it in God's compassionate gaze. You do not need to fix or judge, only to notice, to remember, and to be present with God in what was. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I will never be lonely, for you are near. You prepare a table before me, a feast, even in the presence of enemies. You anoint me with the fragrance of your Holy Spirit, and you give me all I can drink of you until my cup overflows. So why would I fear the future? Only goodness and tender love pursue me all the days of my life. And then afterward, when my life is through, I'll return to your glorious presence to be forever with you. Amen.