Here we are at the end of another year. 2024 has set, and 2025 is dawning with great potential. At the close of each year, Sheri and I adapt the Examen prayer practice to reflect upon our journey over the past year as we look forward to the coming new year. As we do so, we pay special attention to where we have seen God’s presence in our lives. Here are some of our reflections from 2024 and our goals for 2025:
We celebrated several accomplishments in 2024, including:
- Sheri’s wonderful book, Valued by God, was published by Wipf and Stock. If you have not yet read this work, you can get a copy from either of us in person or just about any online book distributor. Join in the conversation about how God values women.
- We traveled to California, Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Florida, and Colorado. Some of our trips enabled us to visit our parents, adult children in their various locations, and our brilliant granddaughter, Maya. We spent time on beaches of both the East and West coasts of the U.S., as well as time visiting beautiful cathedrals and unique bookstores.
- Sheri completed her chaplaincy internship and began her residency as well as a worship ministry position at Cross of Grace.
- Brandon completed his first full year of service at Chapel Rock Christian Church in May.
- Our life work of intentional, incarnational discipleship took on new life through the start of Manna.
- Brandon lost a significant amount of weight through diet and exercise, including many enjoyable runs. He also competed in three different 5Ks.
- We both sang at various karaoke events. Sheri won a competition, and Brandon did not turn anyone’s stomach with his poor singing.
We also prayed over our goals for 2025, both individually and together. We asked God to guide us in accomplishing these goals and to make his presence known at each step of the journey.
Our goals include:
- Sheri completing her chaplaincy residency and finding a permanent role
- Sheri continuing her work as the contemporary worship minister at Cross of Grace
- Brandon continuing to improve his fitness
- Brandon continuing to help others use their gifts for God’s glory through the ministries of Chapel Rock Christian Church
- Both Sheri and Brandon completing book projects
- Experiencing Immanuel together through shared daily prayer
- Purchasing a home in the Indianapolis area
- Continuing the joy of traveling together, including a cruise to celebrate our anniversary and a trip to California to meet our soon-to-arrive grandson
- Continuing to lead Manna, our incarnational discipleship group
How to engage in your own annual Examen prayer practice
This exercise of reflecting on the past year and planning for the coming year was a blessing, and it involved several steps we did not share above. The following is a brief prayer guide adapted from the daily Examen prayer that we used for this annual practice. You might want to consider doing the same thing as we prepare to turn the page on the calendar.
Centering Prayer:
- Begin in stillness and silence before God.
- After a few moments of stillness, ask God to guide your thoughts and memories, drawing your attention to the moments in which you most felt God’s presence in the past year.
Replay the Past Year:
- What made you happy?
- Where were you anxious/frustrated/angry?
- When did you experience God’s presence?
Rejoice:
- Recognize the big and small moments in which God has been working in, through, and around you, and celebrate these moments in prayer.
Repent:
- When and where did you not live up to God’s plan?
- When were you guilty of not loving others as Christ loves you?
- Who have you hurt with your words, actions, or attitudes?
- Confess these things and ask for God’s help in responding, changing, and being more focused on his presence in the new year.
- Claim God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:19) as you move forward into the new year.
Reboot and Refocus:
- How will you more closely reflect Jesus in 2025?
- What spiritual practices will you begin or develop in the New Year?
- What goals will you pursue with Jesus in 2025?
We do not always use such a structured prayer exercise, but the Examen prayer is incredibly helpful in seasons of transition, such as the start of a new year.
Do you practice this sort of reflective prayer? Please let us know! We would love to hear about your practice and how it helps you experience the presence of God in your life.