Examen 1: Known
In the more meditative strands of our Christian traditions we find practices of self-examination, confession and the resolve to change. The church fathers called this kind of prayer the "Prayer of Examen."During the time of Lent some attention should be paid to this significant practice. Particularly in our Presbyterian-Reformed traditions we are cagey about too much emphasis on confession because we fear falling back into "old, cold, rote-repetition."
Psalm 139 is a very valuable guide through this important discipline of examen. The significant starting point of the psalm is that God knows us deeply and intimately. Our confessions are not going to surprise or shock God. He knows us. He has seen our failures, He has heard our angry thoughts, and He has felt the chill of our jealous emotions.
He knows when we've tried to get it right and yet have failed. He also knows when we didn't care a hoot even though we knew it was wrong. He's seen us being dragged and pushed over the edge and He's also agonised as we've charged into the darklands with callous indifference. He has watched us strain out the gnats and yet swallow camels. God has seen us at our very best and He has seen us our very worst.
And still He loves us!
Still He would work with us!
Repeatedly He will let us try again!
When we begin this journey of self-examination we do it with the incredible hope that even if we are shocked at and don't like what we find when we examine ourselves, God knows.
And God loves...
And God still sent His Son!
| 1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. (Psalms139:1-2) |
