Blog & Resources
If you're looking for some things to try in your time with God here are a few recommendations
Haven Spiritual Care Blog
Have you ever wished to be able to more clearly see where the Lord is at work in your life? I know I have - saying simple prayers like, "Lord, what are you up to? or "please show me where you are in this." I know He's always with me, as He promises in Matthew 28:20, but sometimes it's so hard to see. One tool I love when looking and listening for God is the Prayer of Examen. A simple five step prayer that helps me pay attention and notice God's involvement in my daily life. Here are the steps to the Examen. And, if you're feeling creative, you can also check out the free app: Reimaging the Examen - here they walk you through a simple examen or a themed examine on topics like: freedom, praise, loving others and more. Seeing God's movements through the Prayer of Examen becomes clearer and easier the more you practice it. It helps you strengthen your ability to notice God’s presence in your everyday life over time. The more often you practice it, the more you get to enjoy the way God saturates your life with His goodness and care. I hope you enjoy it! The Prayer of Examen The Prayer of Examen is a simple review of the day. It’s a time to slow down & be aware of how God was at work in your day. When practiced regularly (usually at the end of the day) it brings to light ways the Lord is at work in and around you as well as things we may need to let go of or allow God to bring healing to. Get comfortable. Relax your body. Take a few deep breaths. While breathing deeply, slowly let go of anything that’s distracting you. Invite Jesus to make you aware of his presence. Take a moment to sit in His presence and love for you. Thank Jesus for one or two blessings that come to mind. Take a minute and think back over the last 24 hours. Don’t try and control your thoughts, just let the Holy Spirit bring to mind whatever He wishes. In what parts of your day did you feel the Lord’s presence? Pay attention to the small things. Where did you feel joy, freedom or love from the Lord? As you think about where you felt his presence, notice what thing rises to the top & express your gratitude…He may be inviting you to more of those moments. When in the last day did you feel most distant from God? It may look like anxiety, despair, loneliness, frustration or something else. As those things come to mind don’t condemn yourself for those moments, just notice them and let them go like they’re floating by on a river. Ask God to bring healing to these places. As you think about all you’ve reflected on, ask the Lord to bring to mind the most significant moment of the day and talk with him about it. Notice if he’s inviting you to repentance, worship, gratitude or celebration. To end, thank the Lord for the things he’s spoken to you and ask for his presence for tomorrow. As you think about the day ahead, what things come to the surface? Ask God for a gift you think you might need for tomorrow…courage, strength, joy, wisdom or something else. Thank him for His love for you and presence with you.
Wholeness - a state of being complete in God. It can be easy to bring parts of ourself to God. It can be a lot harder to allow Him into other places. Some places feel better left in the dark than exposed to the light. And, yet, He longs for us to be complete in Him. To live as He made us to be. To let His light bring healing to every part of us. This prayer has become dear to me. It sits by the chair where I often spend time with Jesus in the morning. It's a simple prayer I love to pray in a choice to surrender all the parts of me to the God who made them. To bring all of me into His loving light. I pray this might be a blessing to you as you walk with the One who is, little by little, making you whole by His love. Prayer for Wholeness (Excerpts from Psalms for Praying – Nan Merrill) Arise O Divine Love Confront all within us that is not whole. You are the Promise of our wholeness. Help us to learn to trust You, To untangle the webs of illusion that we have made. Let all the fragmented parts of our being gather around You, Help us to face them one by one. Love’s healing presence will mend all that has been broken, And we shall be made whole. Teach us to be patient with ourselves, That we might offer the gift of patience to others. Awaken us to all that is holy, All that is sacred, That our lives may be a reflection of You. May we risk the unknown and live into the Mystery that is You. Praises be to the Blessed One, the very Breath of our breath, the very Heart of our heart. Father of all fathers, Lead us into the wholeness our hearts long for, in the Name of Your Dear Son Jesus through the power of Your Holy Spirit.