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Self-reflection was a founding and foundational practice of the early Methodists. John Wesley, Methodism’s main founder, wrote these 22 questions in 1729 for the private devotional use of the Holy Club, a group of Oxford University students who sought to live the fullness of the Christian life they read about in the Bible. These students became the leaders of early Methodism.

It’s amazing how fresh and useful the questions are today, even though they’re almost 300 years old. If you’re considering adding self-reflection questions to your spiritual practices, these questions would be a great choice. They’re timeless and proven. You could use all of them daily or a few each day so you cover all of them over the course of a week. – Lisa <><

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. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me every day?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?