EVENTIDE EXAMINATION

Dear God,

The pagan philosopher Aristotle, observed that:
"The unexamined life is not worth living."

Christians have long practiced the
Examination of Conscience.

Here as darkness comes and evening falls,
let me take time to come to You to make
an honest evaluation of the life I have lived this day.

I will not always ask myself the same questions, Lord, and I trust that You,
in the Holy Spirit, will guide my efforts.

Let me be honest in facing up to my failures
and shortcomings, but with confidence
in Your help and graces.

With the knowledge that I can always better myself, let me not despair nor be depressed.

Guide me to examine this day of my life
with candor, and with hope,
with resolve to live a better day tomorrow,
and with confidence in Your forgiveness,
and with obedience to Your guidance.

? Did I do anything today intended to injure another person? Did I hurt anyone by neglect?

? Did I speak evil of another person,
in gossip, in anger, in jest? Help me remember tomorrow that "Words can kill," and that words once spoken, can be apologized for,
but can never, ever, be unsaid.

? Did I remember in any way by words or deeds or generosity, those who need my help?
A relative? A co-worker? A friend?
A stranger? The poor?

? During the day, did I stop to think of You? Did I speak to You in prayer, however briefly?

? Was I careful to use my body well,
not endangering my health by what I ate
or did not eat, by getting reasonable exercise and by "obeying the doctor's orders"?

Let me make a quick review
of the Ten Commandments, applying them
to my life this day, to see if I have failed to live up to them as best I could.

+ I am the Lord your God.
xxYou shall worship the Lord your God
xxand Him only shall you serve.

+ You shall not take the name of the Lord
xxyourxGod in vain.

+ Remember to keep holy the Sabbath Day.

+ Honor your father and your mother.

+ You shall not kill.

+ You shall not commit adultery.

+ You shall not steal.

+ You shall not bear false witness
xxagainstxyour neighbor.

+ You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

+ You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

You, Lord, see as I do, into my secret heart. Forgive me for any faults hidden there
where only You and I know they exist.

Knowing that You have promised us mercy
and forgiveness, let me earnestly beg
Your pardon for every sin I have ever committed, even those long forgotten,
and they are many.

Then let me go peacefully to sleep this night in the confidence of Your unbounded love,
and in the hope of Your forgiving mercy.

Thank You my good God. Goodnight.

Amen

Image Ownership Credits
Next Prayer
Prayer Index
Website Home

(c) 2012 Donn B. Murphy
dbm@nowstar.net