Prayer of Examine: Return to Jesus, Part 2

Dec 10

This is the second part of a two-week Prayer of Examen to reflect on the last three months, as we come to the close of the year. The Examen is an opportunity to return to Jesus, inviting His presence to guide us through our experiences and attune our hearts, souls, minds, and bodies to Him. Part one covered a review of the heart and a review of the soul. Today we will continue with a review of the mind and a review of the body.

Return to Jesus is a posture of repentance and metanoia, a continual turning back to Him in humble dependence. It has become a core practice for the Kansas City Underground, a way of pausing—whether individually or as a community—to listen to the Spirit of God, allowing Him to search our hearts and lead us in the steps of repentance.

This intentional practice creates space for us to intentionally attune and attach ourselves to Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, making His presence and leadership practical in our daily lives. In this Prayer of Examen, we will return to Jesus by reflecting on how we love Him with all our heart (emotions), soul (spiritual life), mind (intellect), and strength (will and physical body). As Mark 12:30 commands, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.

These four dimensions are not separate from one another but are intertwined capacities of the soul and body, working together as a unified whole. Let us invite the Holy Spirit to guide us as we reflect on each of these areas, seeking to return to Jesus with all that we are.

Recall the Father’s Love

As you sit in silence, take a moment to focus on the deep, abiding love of the Father. You are always in the presence of God. Become aware of His nearness in this moment and ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart, mind, and soul to experience His love more deeply. Allow His love to settle in your spirit as you prepare to review this last season through the lens of the Great Commandment.

Pause.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength. Mark 12:30

Pause.

Review of Heart, Soul, Mind and Strength

As you prepare to review the last season of your life (consider the last three months), ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. Ask for the ability to reflect with clarity on the different dimensions of your life—heart, soul, mind, and strength. Allow the Spirit to help you notice where you’ve been aligned with Jesus and where you’ve strayed. Ask for the grace to return to Him in all things. Don’t let yourself become overwhelmed. Ask the Spirit to lead you to one headline in each of these four dimensions.

Review Three: Mind—Accessing the Mind of Christ

Reflect on your thoughts and beliefs in this last season. To what degree have you allowed the mind of Christ to shape your thoughts, mental map, and deepest convictions? What lies, illusions, and strongholds may have taken hold?

Unlearn

Ask the Spirit: Where is my mental map flawed? Where have I held onto lies, illusions, or strongholds that are not aligned with the mind of Christ? Ask the Holy Spirit to highlight a specific thought pattern or conviction that needs to be surrendered.

Relearn

Invite the Spirit to guide you into all truth. How can I return to Jesus by changing my thinking and core conviction? How can I move from unbelief to belief in this area of my life? Reflect on how you can reset the logic of your life to align with Jesus’ teachings and way of life on that.

Pause.

Record the headline for this dimension.

Review Four: Will and Body—Activating Jesus’ Kingdom Through Oobedience And Flourishing In My Body

Reflect on the choices you made in the last season in terms of both your will and how you cared for your body. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are called to honor God through both our decisions and our physical well-being. This includes aligning our will with God’s purposes as well as making intentional choices to care for our bodies through rest, nutrition, exercise, and balance.

Assess

Ask yourself: Where have I aligned or misaligned my will with God’s will today? Consider the choices you made with your time, energy, and focus. Did you seek God’s kingdom in your decisions? Also, assess how you treated your body. Did you prioritize physical well-being by eating well, resting, exercising, and taking time to recharge?

Act

Pray: How can I return to Jesus by realigning my will and caring for my body? Reflect on how you can surrender your will to God’s purpose in your life, making decisions that reflect His Kingdom. Additionally, consider practical steps you can take to ensure your body flourishes, such as prioritizing exercise, eating nourishing food, getting enough sleep, or observing a Sabbath rest.

Pause.

Record the headline for this dimension.

Reconcile with Jesus

Picture yourself sitting with Jesus, speaking with Him as you would a close friend. Share with Him the moments from this time that weigh heavily on your heart. Hold your four headlines in front of Him. As you sit with Him, allow yourself to feel the love, forgiveness, and grace that Jesus pours out to you.

Thank Him for the ways He was present with you today, for the good moments you experienced during this examen. Ask Jesus to help you be more aware of His presence in this next season, and to help you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.