Pre-Passover Self-Examination for Women

by Pam Rehm

As spring creeps in and the holy days get closer, I always feel that quiet tug in my heart. Life is too busy, the kids are running around, the house needs a deep clean, so much to do, and no time. But I know that I need to slow down and take a look inside. Passover is not just about sweeping out every last crumb of leavening from the pantry (though I do that too!). For me, it is really about looking deeply into the hidden corners of my heart and mind, and then confessing what I found there.

Why This Matters So Much to Me Before Passover

In 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul tells us that before we partake of the bread and wine that picture Christ's body and blood, we need to examine ourselves. "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup."

Yes, that includes us women.

The preceding verse warns that taking these symbols in an unworthy manner brings guilt upon ourselves. I do not want to approach Passover casually or with unconfessed junk weighing me down.

Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:27).

This self-check is not a one-time thing. It is something we should all try to do all year long, but the Passover season is the perfect time to hit the reset button and reflect. It is when I renew the promise I made at baptism almost 39 years ago and remember what Christ's death really means for me.

Think of it like spring cleaning our life. Just as we hunt for hidden crumbs of leavening in our homes, we are called to purge the old leavening of sin.

“Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore, let us keep the Feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

Christ is our Passover Lamb. His shed blood paid the death penalty I deserved. That blood on the doorposts of my heart means God passes over my sins in forgiveness. The spotless Lamb died for me and for you. That's personal. That's huge.

How I Prepare—Simple Steps That Fit My Busy Life

Here are some key things that help me approach Passover with the right frame of mind:

Quiet Time to Reflect on His Sacrifice I set aside quiet time (about 15-20 minutes a day) to read and think about the betrayal of Jesus, His death on the stake and the resurrection. I try to imagine how God the Father must have felt to watch His Son suffer so much. It would be a hard thing for me to watch that happen to one of my children. But Jesus voluntarily did this for you and me. This step reminds me why I need to examine myself, not out of guilt, but out of gratitude and the desire for change to become more like Jesus Christ.

Use God's Law as a Mirror I read through and think about the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. For each one, I ask the following questions:

How does this apply to my daily life right now?

Am I putting anything before God, like such things as worry, social media, chores, or bills?

How are my words to my husband and/or children honoring God the Father and Jesus Christ?

Are there areas of envy or discontent that might be stealing my joy? I must be honest.

I confess my sins to God and ask Him to help me change.

Go Deeper with the Sermon on the Mount. Read Matthew 5–7. I love the sermon on the mount because we see the heart (or attitude) behind the commands—anger is like murder in the heart, lust like adultery. As women, we often feel the pull of comparison or people-pleasing. We must remember what 2 Corinthians 10:12 says.

2 Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

When we compare ourselves to one another, whether it is to feel superior, inferior, envious, or justified, we fall into foolishness and miss the real goal of measuring up to the stature of Christ.

Pray Psalm 51 with tears if needed. I try to make King David's prayer my own. Especially verse 10.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

I ask God to give me discernment so that I can see myself as He does, while at the same time remembering what Romans 8:28 says.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28) .

A Woman's Gentle Reminder: Examine the self, not others

I need to remember that I am to examine myself and no one else. My focus should be on me and my goal of becoming more Christ-like. Seeing the faults of others is easy, but my focus should be on my own leavening, my attitudes, worries, habits or sins that I have continued in for too long.

If I see someone struggling, I try to help by offering encouragement and prayers.

Practical Tips for Busy Women

Journaling: By journaling my attitudes, worries, habits, or sins, I help focus on what I need to get rid of in my life. And it gives me a written record I can take to God in prayer.

Involve others: While the deep heart work is personal, I try to share what I'm learning about myself with my friends or family. I discuss a lot of things with my daughter. She is really good at helping me with scriptures to think about. She is also very encouraging. When we discuss our attitudes, worries, habits or sins with others, it can help us figure out how to clean those things out of our lives.

Physical + Spiritual: As I clean my house, I think about how thankful I am that God is loving and forgiving and I ask Him how to get rid of the sin in my life.

I have made this a memory verse: "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified" (2 Corinthians 13:5).

I truly do not believe any of us want to be disqualified, But as Romans 8, verse 9 says

"But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit, if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ, he is not His” (Romans 8:9).

This is why self-examination is so important. When I look in the mirror I want to see more of Jesus Christ and less of myself.

As we draw near to Passover, let's have humble, grateful hearts. Christ, our spotless Passover Lamb, has already paid the ultimate price. His perfect life and shed blood cover our sins, delivering us from eternal death. Through honest self-examination, guided by God's Word, we purge out the old leavening of sin and renew our baptismal covenant. May we approach this Passover cleansed and committed, proclaiming His death until He returns, and emerge from these holy days more like Him.

Praying for all of you so that you have a deep, meaningful Passover.