Stage 4: The Journey Inward

An Examen for Lent

As we enter the season of Lent, we’re invited to slow down, pay attention, and return our hearts to God. In this special episode, Casey guides us through a simple, 10-minute Examen—a historic Christian prayer practice that helps us reflect on our day in God’s presence.

Stage 6: The Life of Love & What's Next

Stage 6 is the culmination of the Critical Journey — a life marked by humility, simplicity, and overflowing love. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to become a person who naturally radiates the love of Jesus. We’ll offer a few final thoughts about next steps for walking with Jesus in every season of faith.

Stage 5: The Journey Outward

On the other side of The Wall is a deeper, freer life with God. Stage 5 is all about living out of inner freedom, not performance or striving. We explore what this stage looks like and share a practice for loving others from a place of abundance rather than obligation

The Wall

Have you ever felt like you’ve hit a wall in your faith — where prayer feels empty, God feels silent, and nothing seems to work the way it used to? This is what Janet Hagberg and Robert Guelich call The Wall, a pivotal moment in Stage 4 of the Critical Journey. In this episode we unpack why The Wall shows up, what God might be doing in this season, and how you can lean into it instead of walking away.

Stage 4: The Journey Inward

Stage 4 is often called The Journey Inward — it is about moving toward a deeper encounter with God. This is the season where we begin to ask harder questions, wrestle with our motives, and allow God to reveal what’s beneath the surface of our faith. In this episode of Practicing the Practices, we’ll explore the beauty and challenge of this inward turn, and why it’s essential for maturing in Christ.