The short answer
The Examen is a way of looking back over the day in God’s presence. The familiar pattern is flexible: notice that God is with you, give thanks, review the day, pay attention to your inner movements, and ask for help as you turn toward tomorrow. You do not need to remember every detail or produce a spiritual conclusion.
Choose five to ten quiet minutes at a time you can repeat. Evening is common, but a lunch break or the end of a workday can also work. If the day was difficult, the prayer does not require you to call it good. Bring what is true.
A five-part daily Examen
- Become present. Slow down and remember that you are with God. You might pray, “God, help me see this day with you.”
- Receive with gratitude. Name one gift, however small: a person, a moment of beauty, strength to finish something, or the fact that you were carried through a hard hour.
- Notice the day. Let the day pass through your mind without rushing. When did you feel alive, peaceful, generous, tense, resentful, lonely, or closed in? Emotions are invitations to pay attention, not verdicts about your character.
- Pray over one moment. Stay with one moment that seems to need God’s attention. Give thanks, ask forgiveness, express grief, or ask what love might look like next. Be specific and honest.
- Look toward tomorrow. Ask for grace for one real situation ahead. Choose a small response, then close with a simple thank-you or an honest “stay with me.”
Original prompts when the day feels blurry
- Where did I receive more than I expected today?
- When did my attention become wider, kinder, or more truthful?
- What feeling did I avoid naming?
- Which moment would I bring to God without editing it?
- What is one person or situation I want to meet differently tomorrow?
You do not have to answer every prompt. Choose one that opens attention. If nothing comes, sit quietly and name that honestly.
How a prayer pause on your phone can help
Pray Shield uses Apple Screen Time to place a short pause with a Bible verse and prayer before selected distracting apps open. That pause can remind you to stop and choose your next action; the Examen described here is a separate prayer practice. App selection is free; Bible and prayer features are available through the optional Plus subscription. For a practical setup, see how Pray Shield works. You can also keep a verse visible with a Bible verse on your iPhone Lock Screen.
Keep the Examen gentle
The Examen is not a productivity review, a demand to feel grateful, or a way to blame yourself for a difficult day. If a memory brings significant distress, pause and seek support from a trusted person, pastor, counsellor, or doctor. Prayer can accompany care; it does not replace it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a daily Examen prayer?
It is a flexible prayerful review of the day with God: become present, receive something with gratitude, notice your emotions and desires, pray over one moment, and ask for light for tomorrow.
How long should the Examen take?
There is no required length. Five to ten minutes is a practical starting point, but a shorter honest pause can also be prayer.
Do I have to feel grateful during the Examen?
No. Gratitude is one movement, not a demand to deny pain. You can name what was difficult and ask God to meet you there.
Can I do the Examen in the morning?
Yes. Evening is common because you are reviewing the day, but a morning review of the previous day or a midday pause can also be meaningful.
Does Pray Shield have an Examen feature?
Pray Shield provides a Screen Time prayer pause before selected distracting apps. This article’s Examen practice is a separate prayer routine; the app is not presented as an Examen tool.