Give the gift of pause this Advent, with an evidence-based prayer practice

Advent can be a beautiful, bear of a season for those in ministry. The pressure to keep your preaching fresh, your people fed, and your calendar full can feel dizzying. So, this month, we’re sharing a resource to help you give yourself and others the “gift of pause” amidst the wonder of it all.

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Trends in Ministry Flourishing

Clergy who practiced pausing with the Daily Examen saw anxiety symptoms go down and spiritual well-being go up.

A pause is no small gift. In Scripture, there is a Hebrew word—Selah—that occurs frequently at the end of verses in Psalms and Habakuk. Thought to be some kind of musical direction, its meaning is generally interpreted as an instruction to “pause and listen.” Without the gift of pause, it’s not just that we can’t breathe. We can’t sing.  

As the songs of Advent begin, we want you to be able to sing full-throated, if able (and off-key, if necessary). Because the gift of Advent is akin to the gift of pause. Through this liturgical season, we are gifted stories of Mary’s pondering, Zechariah’s silence, Jesus’s long-awaited arrival. The waiting—the pause—is what makes the arrival all the sweeter.  

Here at the Clergy Health Initiative, we know the theological benefits of a “holy hush,” as our teammate the Rev. Dr. Fatimah Salleh likes to call it. And we know the health benefits, too. In our Selah study, we found that, compared to a control group, United Methodist clergy who practiced one kind of pause—praying the Daily Examen—saw their anxiety symptoms go down and their spiritual well-being go up.  

Not familiar with the Daily Examen? The Daily Examen is a method of reflecting on the events of your day in order to name and notice where God has been present. It is a simple but powerful prayer that's been practiced regularly (often daily!) by Jesuit clergy for over 500 years. You can learn more about it here.  

As a gift to you, we’re including a special Advent edition of the Daily Examen as this month’s featured Serve Well resource. Consider committing to the practice for just 15 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You might also consider practicing it weekly with your staff, small groups, or congregation, too.  

Sure, you can’t put a bow on a pause—so we made you a shareable resource instead. May you receive this beautiful, bear of a season with more singing because of it.  

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Your Serve Well Resource

A Daily Examen for Advent

Begin by lighting the candle(s) on your Advent wreath, if you have one. Take a few moments to pause and notice your breath. Breathe in and out slowly for several breaths. When you’re ready, move through the Examen at a pace that feels right. Remember, this is a time to pause and prepare for the presence of God in your life—not rush through it.  

*Note that in Step 2, you’re invited to focus on a different word each week during Advent: Week 1: Hope, Week 2: Peace, Week 3: Joy, and Week 4: Love. 

1. Become Aware of God’s Presence: Thank God for the day and ask for the company of the Holy Spirit as you, like Jesus, prepare to consider the day with the eyes of a newborn. 

2. Review the Day with Gratitude: Walk through the past 24 hours. When did you experience the gift of hope/peace/joy/love?* What do you want to bring before God in gratitude, like the wise men?

3. Pay Attention to Your Emotions: Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. When did you long for hope/peace/joy/love?* With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, notice which emotions made it hard to say Let it be, like Mary.

4. Choose One Feature of the Day and Pray From It: Talk with God about one emotion or event that’s lingering with you. Pray that God would forgive you for anything that kept you from being hospitable to the holy, like the innkeeper.  

5. Look Toward Tomorrow: What is one thing God is inviting you to do tomorrow? Who might you share the gift of pause with? Ask God to bless you as you prepare the way. 

Close your prayer of Examen by praying the Lord’s Prayer, and/or making the sign of the cross as you take a few more breaths and moments of pause.

About Us

The Collaborative is a partnership between the Duke Clergy Health Initiative (CHI) and Duke Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL). CHI focuses on providing pastors with tools to improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual health, while RaSCL focuses on helping current and future faith leaders adapt to evolving times. Together, we serve those who want to serve well. Our work is made possible thanks to the generous time of our clergy and seminarian ministry partners and generous funding from The Duke Endowment. To stay informed of our latest research in ministry formation and flourishing, sign up to get our monthly Serve Well newsletter directly in your inbox.