Ignatian Meditation Exercise
At our youth retreat Celebration this year, one of the speakers gave us a thought-provoking exercise we can do each day to strengthen our relationship with God. He directed us to close our eyes for 3-5 minutes and imagine the last 24 hours of our waking hours as a video that we are watching with Jesus. Where would He pause the video to talk about something? Where would He pause and praise us or affirm what happened? Where would He pause and challenge us?
This is a type of Ignatian exercise designed to help us know our hearts and deepen our relationship with God. The speaker then gave us 5 questions we can use to think through our day.
Where did I resist God? Where did I respond to God?
For what moment am I most/least thankful?
When did I offer/withdraw/receive love today?
When did God seem closest/most distant?
What fruit was absent/present in my life today?
This is a form of praying, even though you may not be actually talking to God, other than asking Him to show you things. You are listening more than speaking. You are dialoguing by seeing what He’s showing you and then responding to that.
I do the video thing and the 5 questions in 5 minutes usually. This is not intended to be a long, drawn out session that’s going to be one more thing you have to do in a day. This is short, a moment of silence and contemplation with God. If you get bogged down, choose one of the things to do. I hope this helps you be able to interact with God.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20
