Self-examination and self-knowledge have been considered essential to Christformation throughout church history. In the profound first chapter of his highly influential Institutes of the Christian Religion Calvin said: “It is certain that man never achieves a clear knowledge of himself unless he has first looked upon God’s face, and then descends from contemplating him to scrutinize himself.”[1]
One way to make progress against sin is to practice daily self-examination, which is sometimes referred to as examen. You may not need to set aside a time at the end of the day for examen if your occupation allows you to assess your situation before God throughout the day. However, many people find this difficult and creating a set time at the end of the day works better for them. Following is a guide to daily self-examination:
Guide to Daily Self-Examination
- At the end of the day (or during the day if practical) examine your day for signs of God’s work and blessings and give thanks.
- Ask the Spirit to guide you in self-examination and then set your reliance on him; this helps to avoid the pitfalls that come with doing this on your own.
- Review the events of the day while asking yourself if you have sinned without acknowledging it and repenting. Uncover harmful attitudes that you have embraced as well as unbelief in your heart (fear, especially anxiety, is usually a good indicator of unbelief.) Also, examine your motives.
- It is also helpful to consider your emotions during the day, how you managed them, and what led to emotions that brought you closer to God. In the future, invest in things that lead to those emotions.
- Acknowledge your sins and immaturity to God and turn away from them. Then pray something like: “God, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Luke 18:13, NIV). Thank God for his forgiveness.
- Ask God for grace and wisdom to walk differently in the future and determine a godly path to follow.
As you reflect on yourself you will learn to recognize and overcome progressively deeper sins. Soon you will be able to focus on intentional internal sins such as greed, lust and unforgiveness. In time you will be able to make progress against non-premeditated sins committed in the heat of the moment, such as ungodly words spoken in anger or pride. As you mature further you will become aware of deeply hidden internal sins such as spiritual pride, spiritual hedonism, subtle selfishness, unbelief and lack of love. All along the way the Spirit will be revealing your ungodly attachments and disordered affections.
[1] Jean Calvin, ed. John T. McNeill, Institutes of the Christian Religion, vol. 1, The Library of Christian Classics, vol. 20, trans. Ford Lewis Battles (Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960), 37. Institutes 1.1.2.
