Self-Examination
In my Spiritual Formation class with Mark Wilson, I was given these questions and they were very revealing in my own life. I would encourage you to use them in your own devotional time. They are from John Wesley's Holy Club and Loyola, the found of the Society of Jesus.
Here is one set of nearly two dozen questions which John Wesley gave to members of his discipleship groups more than 200 years ago. The questions may have their origin in the spiritual accountability group started by Wesley when he was a student at Oxford -- a group that detractors called "The Holy Club."
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? [ conversation starter questions ]
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
Loyola's Spiritual Exercises:
1. Is there any desire, thought, habit or deed blocking me from God today?
2. Have I been indifferent toward God? Have I consciously sought His presence? Have I tried to expand my idea of Him?
3. Does Christ's motive of love control my thoughts and actions?
4. Have I been insensitive or unkind to the poor, sick, ignorant, or people different than myself?
5. Is there any person in whose presence I am uncomfortable, or against whom I have an unchristian attitude? What should I do about it?
6. Have I wronged anyone? What wrongs should I right today?
7. What message has the Bible for me today?
8. What should I be thankful for today? What persons should I thank today?
9. How can I show my appreciation?
10. For what Kingdom interests should I pray today? (family, church, missions, social work, justice)
11. On which of these should I work today?
12. What persons shall I remember in prayer today?
13. How shall I share myself, my time, and my possessions today?
14. What debts shall I pay today? What letters shall I write today?
15. Are all my plans and motives for today Christian?
Here is one set of nearly two dozen questions which John Wesley gave to members of his discipleship groups more than 200 years ago. The questions may have their origin in the spiritual accountability group started by Wesley when he was a student at Oxford -- a group that detractors called "The Holy Club."
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Do I confidentially pass on to others what has been said to me in confidence?
3. Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me every day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone else of my faith? [ conversation starter questions ]
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
Loyola's Spiritual Exercises:
1. Is there any desire, thought, habit or deed blocking me from God today?
2. Have I been indifferent toward God? Have I consciously sought His presence? Have I tried to expand my idea of Him?
3. Does Christ's motive of love control my thoughts and actions?
4. Have I been insensitive or unkind to the poor, sick, ignorant, or people different than myself?
5. Is there any person in whose presence I am uncomfortable, or against whom I have an unchristian attitude? What should I do about it?
6. Have I wronged anyone? What wrongs should I right today?
7. What message has the Bible for me today?
8. What should I be thankful for today? What persons should I thank today?
9. How can I show my appreciation?
10. For what Kingdom interests should I pray today? (family, church, missions, social work, justice)
11. On which of these should I work today?
12. What persons shall I remember in prayer today?
13. How shall I share myself, my time, and my possessions today?
14. What debts shall I pay today? What letters shall I write today?
15. Are all my plans and motives for today Christian?
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