1. Remember

In your mind, walk back through the events of your day. Begin at the beginning, when you woke up. When did you feel close to God? When did you feel most alive? Pay attention to your emotions as you recall the day. 
Were there any moments when you had a particular sense of God’s presence, or that he might have been speaking to you? 

2. Rejoice
Thank God for those moments in the day that were miniature gifts to you. Every single day, there will be something to thank him for, however small (or big) it may be. This part of the Examen helps to form in us an attitude of gratitude to the God who is present in all things, and from whom everything good flows.

3. Repent
As you recalled the events of your day, did anything come to mind that you felt uncomfortable with before God? You recalled when you felt most alive. Conversely, when did you feel least alive; least human? To repent simply means to apologise for, and to commit to turn away from, that which you know to be wrong. Repent of anything you did, said or thought that you sense dishonoured our loving God.

4. Recentre
Think about the day ahead tomorrow. How, tomorrow, can you move closer to those things (perhaps practises, places or people) that helped you to feel most alive in Christ? Dedicate your next day to God, asking him to be Lord of your day. Ask his Holy Spirit to recentre your heart, mind and body in him now, and always.

Amen.