reflections on practicing god's presence

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Reflections

On Practicing God's PresenceLittle Books To Print

by Light Heart Each book around 12 pages

The Closer WalkOnly GodThe Silent 'Thank You, Father'Plain TalkThe Closer Walk

Reflections For The HeartThe Holy HabitPleasing GodRare Gift

Brother Lawrence: A Heart For GodHumilityFaith AloneTrue SurrenderEsteem For GodSovereign Physician

The Gospel and Practicing God's PresenceLift High The GospelAll But LostThe Four Books

The Gospel, The Word, His PresenceThe Gifts Of The SpiritThe Best For Last

Above All ElsePurely For The Love Of GodGod Draws Us NearEverlasting TreasureFavor In Heavenly Houses

Most Pleasing To GodThe WayLiving For GodA Life That Makes SenseGod's WillThrough All Eternity

Simple FaithKnow, Love, and ServeGraceOn CourseRest

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And A Thousand WaysVisionA Willing HeartGod Is WithinLittle ThingsTake Comfort

The Fullness Of JoyThe Actual Presence Of GodThe Gift of HumilityAt One With GodIn Spirit And In Truth

For His LoveUplifting PrayerAbout Our Father's BusinessGod's WayThings Of GodBlessedComfortedGoverned By Love

God's PresenceHigh Notions Of GodThe Living GodThe Shortest WayIn His Name

Words Of Brother LawrenceA Summary In Quotes

In Others' WordsA Tapestry Of Quotes

On Practicing God's Presence

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The Closer Walk

Reflections OnPracticing God's Presence

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"It is Our Creator who teaches truth, who, in onemoment, instructs the hearts of the humble andmakes them understand more about themysteries of faith and about Himself than if theyhad studied for many years." ... BrotherLawrence

Contents

Only God The Silent 'Thank You, Father' Plain Talk The Closer Walk A Simple Act of Faith

Only God

1. Brother Lawrence left the gift of a way of life available toanyone who seeks to know God and live in His peace andpresence; that anyone, regardless of age or circumstance,can practice -anywhere, anytime.

In the small book, 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God', Brother Lawrence beautifully explains, through lettersand conversations, how to come to know God. His simpleapproach, a continuous, prayerful conversation with God,enables us to come to know Him - not from the head but

from the heart; a way many of us have never known before.

"Pay little attention to the beautiful words and subtlediscourse of the wise of the earth. Woe to those who look tohuman knowledge to satisfy their curiosity. It is the Creatorwho teaches the truth and instructs the heart of thehumble."

... Brother Lawrence

Only God reveals Himself to us. Only God revealsHimself to a humble heart that is sincerely open to Him anda will that is surrendered to His will and ways. The only wayGod does this is through a relationship with us. Our Fatherreveals Himself in all His love and truth through a privateand continual conversation of mind, heart, and soul. This isthe way God shapes us into His image and likenessaccording to His unique plan for each of us.

God reveals Himself through the living word of The

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Gospel which is His message delivered by the Son of God,Son of Man. However, we can only truly understand themessage, even two thousand years later, by engaging in thesame kind of union the Son, Jesus Christ, had with OurFather. And only God, our Creator, can open our eyes to seeand our ears to hear the revelation of His Son.

Only God makes Himself known to us. No one else cando it. We cannot do it for each other. Each of us must findthe gate, enter, and walk the humble path accompanied bythe certain guidance of the very Son of God. In this way wepractice the presence of God and approach the "Father of mercies, who is always ready to receive us affectionately."

God welcomes each of His children with open arms. He

makes no exceptions. He has no exclusions. The greater thesinner, the wider are His arms open to His child. Our Fatherwants us to know Him.

"Woe to those who look to human knowledge..." If there is one word that we must learn to see and takeseriously, it is the word 'woe'. This word, which is oftenconsidered outdated, often minimized or ignored, and evenscoffed at, is a very important word in the practice of God'spresence.

More than just an expression of emphasis, the word'woe' is a verbal danger flag. It means caution; heed andtake warning! There is a tone of great sorrow,mournfulness, and lament in this word. We find it only oncein Brother Lawrence's words. In the four books of TheGospel, we see that Our Lord used it sparingly butpurposefully.

When we come upon this word, we need to pause, lookto God's indwelling presence, and ask Him to search us andpoint out our faults. As God is the 'Father of mercies', Hegives us fresh insight and allows this word to wake us out of our sleep when we ask Him. He wipes away our pasttransgressions when we repent and gives us His strength tomove forward in our new awareness.

Depending on human knowledge to satisfy ourcuriosity about truth leads to self-centeredness, conceit,arrogance, and all the other ugly faces of pride. Whether weourselves become experts, specialists, high priests, orgurus, or whether we look to others who call themselves by



those and similar names, it is all the same. When we placeour power, because that is what it is, in human knowledge,we are headed for corruption of the worst kind imaginable.

May God bring any of us who are still on that road tothe terrifying, but ultimately liberating, place where we mustconfront the fact that, for all we know, we know nothing.May God bring any of us who are still on that road into asmany humbling and humiliating situations as it takes to getour attention.

Only God can do this. Only God can show us that wecannot understand, through human knowledge, what is inthe province of the divine and belongs to Him alone. OnlyOur Father can show us the uselessness of knowing about

God without knowing Him personally. God is the only onewho can move us from faulty and self-centered human 'headknowledge' to perfect and God-centered 'heart knowledge'.May He do this and continue to do this through all the daysof our lives!

2. In practicing God's presence we put aside thecomplications of worldliness and, as Our Dear Lord said,"become as little children." No matter our age, when we dothis, we begin to see more clearly. In simple faith wediscover:

God is our perfect parent. He loves us more than wecan ever imagine. He has a thousand ways of showering uswith His affection. He supports, encourages, and cheers uson. He scolds and corrects us when we are wrong, but everso gently.

God is the One who is always there, the perfect friendand partner. He always has time for us and wants to heareverything we have to say. It is all important to Him. Heunderstands it all, even when we think no one could possiblyunderstand how we think or feel. God understands. Helistens and He cares.

In an upside-down world of illusion and deception, aworld where appearances are not what they seem, God isreal. God created, and allows to exist, all of it, both goodand bad, so we may live with our eyes open, see clearly,and choose His Goodness. When our eyelids get heavy andwe begin to doze off, God finds a way to awaken us andprovides another chance to choose His Love and Goodness.



"He embraces me with love. He makes me eat at Histable. He serves me with His own hands and gives me thekey to His treasures. He converses and delights Himself withme incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways."... Brother Lawrence

We discover there is really only one way to know God.We have to be willing to have a personal relationship withHim. It has to be an affair of the heart, a primaryrelationship where no one or nothing else meddles orinterferes.

If we put God first, in addition to being our perfectparent, friend, and partner, we discover that God is our

boss, our master, our king. Fair, understanding, and patient,He showers great rewards on those who report directly toHim and get the job done. He hands out assignmentsappropriate to each of us and loves each of us the same forcompleting our tasks. He informs us that, in the end, eachtask and job is the same - to love, honor, and serve Him.God is the One.

o God is the One who never lets us down, neverdisappoints us. He's the One we can always count on.He never breaks a promise. God's love is everlasting.

o God is the one who picks us up when we fall, carriesus when we are too sick or too tired to walk. If wehave to go an extra mile, He takes us.

o God gives us courage to step apart from the crowd,courage to take a stand, and courage to stand alone.

o He slows us down when we go too fast and hurries usalong when we dawdle.

o God is our strength in doing the hard things and,even sometimes, makes the hard things easy.

o With God we are never alone. His presence is kindand gentle and He comforts us with tender care.

Some people hold the idea that, since we can neverfully know or understand God, we should not bother, weshould not even try. But that is just the opposite of whatGod wants.

God wants us to know Him. Our Father wants us totry. He wants us to ask. God wants us to bring Him all ourquestions. He wants us to understand Him because He



completely understands us. Brother Lawrence wrote, "Wehave a God who is infinitely gracious and knows all ourwants."

For all He gives, God asks so little in return. All Heasks is that we love, honor, and serve Him and placenothing between ourselves and Him. He wants to be numberone with us as we are with Him.

God is pleased when we call upon Him. He wants us tolean on Him. Our Father wants us to hear His kind andgentle words of encouragement. In conversation He preferssimplicity and directness. Fuss and fancy words areunnecessary. "Thank You, God" and "Thank You, Father" aremost satisfactory. Plain talk and an easy exchange of words

and thoughts throughout the day are His delight.

3. "God has infinite treasure to bestow. When He finds asoul penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it Hisgraces and favors plentifully. There they flow like a torrent,spreading with impetuosity and abundance." ... BrotherLawrence

A monk prayed for seven years for God to send him aspiritual director who could show him the way to living inGod's love. One day he was guided by an inner voice thatsaid, "Go to the church door. There you will find a personwho will show you the way to Me."

Upon arriving at the church door, he found a barefootand ragged beggar. The monk greeted the beggar with"have a good day," then stood patiently waiting for theperson God promised to send.

The beggar stood next to the monk and said, "Thankyou for your friendly greeting. I shall have a good day. Ihave never been unhappy. In my whole life I have knownnothing but happiness."

The monk looked questioningly into the soft eyes of the ragged and barefoot beggar. The beggar continued, "Ihave never had a bad day. Bad days come only when we donot employ them in honoring God by our submission andgratitude. If I am hungry and no one gives me anything toeat, I praise God. If I am exposed to rain, snow, and wind, Ithank God. If others look upon my poverty with contempt, Ipraise God's glory."



"I simply desire whatever God brings me and amgrateful. So, I am able to accept the bitter and the sweetwith equal joy. I know everything comes from God's handand God knows what is best for me. In God's presence I amcompletely happy."

The monk, of course, now realized that this was thespiritual director for whom he had prayed. He stood quietlyfor a moment, questions racing through his head. Finally,the monk asked, "Where have you found God?"

The beggar gently smiled and said, "I found Him whenI took leave of all creatures. I found Him in my inmostheart. When I am silent with men I am able to converse

with God and with Him I always find perfect peace."

The Silent 'Thank You, Father'

1. "Please give Him thanks with me for His great goodnesswhich I can never sufficiently express, and for the manyfavors He has done to so miserable a sinner as I am. May allthings praise Him. Amen." ... Brother Lawrence

The most powerful expression of practicing God'spresence is The Silent 'Thank You, Father'. These threewords are the very essence of the holy habit. This phrase isthe secret to living on earth and in heaven in continualconversation with God. It can start us and keep us movingforward on the path of practicing God's presence -no matterwhat.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father', is voiced from theheart. We repeat it inwardly at all times and in allcircumstances -no matter what. In this way, The Silent'Thank You, Father' brings us into instant awareness andcommunion with God.

We learn from Brother Lawrence that the thingsnecessary for the practice of the presence of God are love,

humility, simplicity, and faith. Contained within the threewords, 'Thank You, Father', is a complete expression of love,humility, simplicity, and faith. When silently spoken at alltimes and in all circumstances -no matter what, 'Thank You,Father' expresses our accord with His good pleasure, Hisholy will.



2. The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of ourlove because gratitude is our most natural way of appreciating love bestowed. When we love and love deeply,we cannot help but say 'Thank You' over and over again.When we love and love deeply, we cannot say it enough.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of humility because, when silently spoken in all circumstances-no matter what, we tell Our Father that His will be done.Despite outward appearances to our weak and limitedvision, we acknowledge that He knows best and it is good!

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of simplicity because these three words, and these three wordsalone, are enough. The phrase is complete and says all we

can utter in word or thought.

It is helpful to think of this expression as a 'thank yougift' we give to God. How easy and natural it is to say'Thank you' when we are pleased. The 'thank you gift' isgiven almost instinctively. How difficult and unnatural to say'Thank you' when we are displeased, offended, or hurt. Yetone 'thank you gift' given at such a time is worth more toOur Father than many 'thank you gifts' given when we arepleased.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is a full expression of faith because trust in Our Lord is the very foundation of living in God's presence. One of the words most often usedby Brother Lawrence is the word trust . We can only believewhat, in our hearts, we know to be true.

Sometimes, especially in the beginning, our faith isweak and we feel uncertain. We need only look to God andsay, 'Lord, increase my faith' and He will do it! Wheneverdoubt begins to creep in or we feel unsure about offeringthese words to Him, we beg, 'Lord, increase my faith,' andHe will respond.

How much better and faster this is than trying to useour own limited intelligence to search for answers and proof.How much more direct and gentle this is than running off onour own path full of detours and obstacles that so often leadnowhere or, even worse, keep us spinning in circles thatbecome deep ruts. How much easier to do it God's way withsimple gratitude.



3. The practice of the presence of God, which BrotherLawrence called the holy habit, is like any other professionalpractice in that it requires that we do some things in aspecific way. As God's creatures of habit, the practice of thepresence of God is the way to transform our habits intohabits that are holy and pleasing to God.

The Silent 'Thank You, Father' is the very essence of our becoming established in the practice of the presence of God. When we make this a habit, when it becomes deeplyrooted, second nature , we derive enormous benefits fromthis simple, three word phrase.

The beginning is not easy. We sometimes feel like ahypocrite silently saying, 'Thank You, Father' when someone

offends us or the circumstances are anything but pleasant.But Our Father knows. He cares. If we tell Him we feel like ahypocrite but are saying it because we know it pleases Him,He will help us. God's help is unfailing when we do His will.So we must be relentless in our pursuit of establishing thishabit. We must say, 'Thank You, Father' over and over,again and again. We must say it silently at all times and inall circumstances -no matter what. No one hears us. No onecan stop us when we persist and persevere.

It often happens that as soon as we seriously committo saying, 'Thank You, Father', all hell on earth breaks loose!Brother Lawrence described it this way, "It seemed to methat all creatures, reason, and God Himself were against meand faith alone for me." An observer, during my own time of trial, testing, and refining said that God was shaking me outlike a rag doll.

Oh, but Dear One, no matter how many times we say'Thank You, Father' and need to add, 'Lord, increase myfaith', He will do it. If we persist and persevere, talk to Him,tell Him everything, and keep our eyes fastened on Him,Our Father will be there for us -no matter what!

4. In time, when we diligently apply ourselves, this phrasetransforms our entire outlook and assures a dynamic,personal relationship with God. Sometimes, just the thoughtof silently saying, 'Thank You, Father' will flood our heartwith His radiant presence. We may become so aware of thissense of presence that, should we slip out of it, weautomatically form the words within.



At the very least, we will recognize when something isnot quite right. If we slip into a mood or a troubled frame of mind, a round of 'Thank You, Father', sometimes a vigorousround of many repetitions, will bring us back into His holypresence.

This beautiful phrase is a prayer which acts much likethe classic Jesus Prayer: "Lord, Jesus Christ, Have mercy onme, a poor sinner." When we inscribe these short, yetcomplete, prayers into the very fiber of our being, we form alasting and holy habit of expressing our love, humility,simplicity, and faith.

Plain Talk

1. "If, in this life, we might enjoy the peace of paradise, wemust accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, andaffectionate conversation with God." ... Brother Lawrence

God created us that we might discover and enjoy thekingdom of His presence on earth as it is in heaven. We dothis through the practice of the presence of God, whatBrother Lawrence, in the seventeenth century, calledestablishing the holy habit. To become established in thepractice of the presence of God we need to acquire newhabits. We do this by developing a personal relationship withOur Father through constant communion with Him.

As we begin to form a habit of engaging in a silentconversation of the heart with God, it is most helpful to usesome of the beautiful existing prayers. The Lord's Prayer isthe perfect model for all our conversation with Our Father.Though we may not use 'Thy' and 'Thou' in our ongoingconversation, from formal prayer we learn to appreciate howthese words reflect special honor and respect for God.

When we continually converse with God throughoutthe day by using simple and honest words, our talk becomesprayerful in that we speak to Our Father in a way thatacknowledges that He, Our Creator, knows us better than

we know ourselves.

In a letter, Brother Lawrence wrote: "Graduallybecome accustomed to worship Him in this way: to beg Hisgrace, to offer Him your heart from time to time, even everymoment if you can. Act in faith with love and humility."



The key to our constant communion with God, then, islove and humility. These come naturally as we becomeestablished in practicing God's presence. All we need to do isread the following comment to see the result of ouracquiring the holy habit:

"Brother Lawrence said that the worst that couldhappen to him was to lose that sense of God which he hadenjoyed so long. Yet the goodness of God assured him Hewould not forsake him and that God would give him strengthto bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him."

What more could we possibly have in this life? DearOne, this is the very real blessing and assurance we enjoy inpracticing the presence of God.

2. "Brother Lawrence decided to sacrifice his life with itspleasures to God. He entered a monastery thinking that hewould there be made to smart for his awkwardness andfaults. But he said that God had surprised him because hemet with nothing but satisfaction in that state."

One of the gifts of the practice of the presence of Godis a sense of relief, an almost indescribable joy over what itis to be released from the stranglehold of worldly things. Atthe same time, we find new delight in enjoying all the thingsof God in the world. What a relief!

Along with our relief comes a tremendous sense of gratitude for Our Father's carrying us on this path. All thesearching, the seeking, the knocking and tapping; all thediscontent, longing, and restlessness of the soul reachingout for sometimes we know not what; and, then, Our Fatherdraws us into the clear reality of His gentle presence. Wenow know that in God's presence is where we make ourhome. Whatever the toll, whatever the price, no matter thecost, we are glad and more to pay it. In quiet joy we say:Isn't it a relief

o to discover we can talk to Our Father directly,

o to discover that our thirsty hearts must no longersearch; that what, so deep inside, seemedunquenchable, can be filled to overflowing and withgrace abounding,

o to know that God is not some future goal or pastmemory but a 'right this moment' presence,

o to know that our simplicity and humility pleases God,



o to know God is personal, real, abiding, andeverlasting,

o to know that God has a soft spot for great sinnersand late bloomers,

o to know nothing can prevent our conversing withGod,

o to know that, even if we quit Him, He never quits us,o to know the only one we have to please is God,o to know He owns everything and all we need be is

good stewards,o Isn't it a relief to hear His words, "I am with you

always, even unto the end of the world."

3. Brother Lawrence wrote, "I think it is appropriate to tellyou how I perceive myself before God, whom I behold asmy King. I consider myself as the most wretched of men. Iam full of faults, flaws, and weaknesses, and havecommitted all sorts of crimes against his King. Touched witha sensible regret I confess all my wickedness to Him. I askHis forgiveness. I abandon myself in His hands that He maydo what He pleases with me."

"My King is full of mercy and goodness. Far fromchastising me, He embraces me with love. He makes me eatat His table. He serves me with His own hands and gives methe key to His treasures. He converses and delights Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways.And He treats me in all respects as His favorite."

In light of Brother Lawrence's words about asking Godfor His forgiveness, we might wonder what would havehappened if Adam and Eve had gone to God and sincerelysaid, "I'm sorry?"

Many see the account of the first children in a verynegative way. How often we hear or read something likethis: God made us with a sinful nature. When we disobey,He punishes us. That's just the way it is. We were born insin and that is the way we stay. It is all because of originalsin.

But, to see the real story, we have to look at itthrough God's eyes and feel it from His heart. In Genesis wefind a portrayal of the most loving parent imaginable. Awarm, caring, and generous father, He created every goodthing for His children. Male and female, equal in Hislikeness, they are His precious ones.



God knew they were innocent. So, like any lovingparent, God gave Adam and Eve instruction, some fatherlyadvice, for their own protection. How it must have brokenGod's heart to discover that His children disobeyed Him. He,in His wisdom, knew how much harm they would dothemselves if they did not listen to Him.

But the real heartbreaker comes next. This is the placewhere any loving parent would have given anything for asincere "I'm sorry." Instead, what happens is a parent'sworst nightmare. The original children blame each other. Toadd insult to injury they blame it on the snake. They refuseto take responsibility for their actions. Adam even insinuatedthat it was His father's fault because He was the one whogave Adam that partner, Eve.

God did what, for any parent, is the hardest thing theyever have to do. He kicked them out of the house. ToughLove. If only they could have said, right then and there, "I'msorry."

But the story doesn't end there. God did what a parenthas to do. And He did it with a heart that was breaking. Hehad to kick them out. Yet, He never stopped loving them. Henever, for a second, stopped caring about them.

In the Holy Bible, we find story upon story about God'sparental care and concern for His children. And finally, whenHe saw that His children were in danger of becoming

hopelessly lost, He sent His Own Son to reclaim and redeemthem.

Jesus came with Our Father's message of love. Hecame to tell us that Our Father is waiting. He loves us morethan we can humanly imagine. With our sincere 'I'm sorry',He will embrace us and shower us with His grace.

The Closer Walk

"I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility, and withlove. I apply myself diligently to do nothing and thinknothing which may displease Him. I hope that when I havedone what I can, He will do with me what He pleases." ...Brother Lawrence

The practice of the presence of God is a way of lifeavailable to anyone who desires to experience the fullness of a personal relationship with God. Brother Lawrence referred



to this way of life as living 'the holy habit'. He called it thetrue profession of every Christian.

To practice the presence of God is to live in theconscious awareness of Our Father, engaging in quiet andcontinuous conversation with Him. It means we live an innerlife of unceasing prayer and we strive for all we think, say,and do to be an outward reflection of what is pleasing toGod.

To practice the presence of God is to simply andhumbly walk the closer walk. It is a closer walk becauseeach day our hope is to get closer, to be closer to Our Lordthan we were the day before. Ever closer. As both adirection and a goal, this closer walk is also a very potent,

private, and personal awareness of the present momentwith God. He lives in us as we live in Him.

How can anything this simple, this basic, be soprofound and precious? Yet, it is. How can this walk, thisconversation, this practice bring us any closer to Him thanwe are right now? Yet, it does. Thank You, Father.

Just a closer walk with Thee,Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,Daily walking close to Thee,Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.

Through this world of toil and snares,If I falter, Lord, who cares?Who with me my burden shares?None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.

from 'Just A Closer Walk With Thee' , author unknown

A Simple Act of Faith

"We only deceive ourselves by seeking or loving God for anyfavors which He has or may grant us. Such favors, nomatter how great, can never bring us as near to God as can

one simple act of faith." ... Brother Lawrence

1. Of all of Brother Lawrence's words, these twosentences may, perhaps, be the most confusing. The firstpart is fairly simple. It is easy for us to see that only seekingand loving God for His favors and gifts can lead us todifficulty; everything from disappointments over our poor



requests to taking God for granted. This can become aselfish, one-way relationship with God where our firstthought is: "What's in it for me?" However, we mustcertainly depend on God for all things including asking Hisfavors. But what of a simple act of faith? What is it? Whatmakes it better?

A simple act of faith requires two things: trust andobedience. To perform this act we take no thought forourselves. A simple act of faith is done purely for the love of God. We are able to do this when we have a good groundingin The Gospels because they clearly and simply define ourattitudes and behavior. Without The Gospels we have nosolid foundation for our trust and obedience. Without TheGospels we may come to know and love Our Father but

have no pattern for translating our knowing and loving intoaction. When we know the Son through the word of TheGospel, we know Our Father. When we know the word of The Gospel, we literally find the way, the truth, and the life.We see that Our Lord lived a simple act of faith in trust andobedience to Our Father.

2. As our habit of saying the silent Thank You, Fatherbecomes second nature, we are more naturally disposed tosimple acts of faith. When we have learned to say ThankYou for all of it, each and every thing just as it happens, weare inclined to perform simple acts of faith because we havelearned to actually live out of simple acts of faith.

Also, in this way, things that may have presentedthemselves as complex, confusing, or requiring us toexamine several different options, now are quite simple andnatural to us. Sometimes we will take an outward action andsometimes the action will be to do nothing. With the backingof The Gospels and our habit of Thank You, Father, we findourselves blessed with the gift of discernment.

The act that brings us closer to God comes of ouralready being close to God. The less we have to think orreflect before we act and the more we act out of ourawareness of God's presence, the easier it becomes for us.Even if our action is against all worldly odds, runs counter towhat others may do, or hinders our getting our own way, weact by simply doing what is pleasing to Our Father. Thus, insimple faith we act because it is right in God's eyes.

Brother Lawrence's use of the word favors refers to



those things which are earthly and, therefore, temporal.Some of these favors are alleviation from suffering, rescuefrom physical dangers, and economic relief. Certainly weshould ask God for all manner of favors and give gratitudefor all favors bestowed on us. Our Lord gave us thewonderful prayer which we know as both The Lord's Prayerand the Our Father. This best known and loved prayer puts,in the clearest and simplest words, all the favors we shouldask of God.

Yet favors cannot be our sole reason for knowing andloving Our Father who is so much greater than the greatestof these earthly and transitory things. We must love Godbecause He is ultimately lovely. His is the kingdom, and thepower, and the glory forever. He is our All and we can only

truly experience the fullness of His love and presence bygiving Him our all. When we come to truly love God with allour heart, soul, mind, and strength we find that our dayseasily flow from one simple act of faith to another. We livein God's living presence.

© Light Heartwww.PracticeGodsPresence.com


Reflections For The Heart

Practicing God's Presence

"God does not ask much of us. RememberingHim, praising Him, asking for His grace, offeringHim your troubles, or thanking Him for what Hehas given you. Lift up your heart. Littleremembrances please Him."... Brother Lawrence

Contents The Holy Habit Pleasing God Rare Gift

The Holy Habit





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1. "There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet anddelightful than that of a continual conversation with God.Only those can comprehend it who practice and experienceit. Yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive. It is notpleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise. Let us doit from a principle of love, and because it is God's will forus."... Brother Lawrence

What if, by simply following Brother Lawrence'sexample, we could continually dwell in the kingdom of God'spresence? What if we could be certain, deep inside ourheart, that God loves us more than anything humanlyimaginable?

What if we realized that all God desires is our faithfulattention so He can share Himself with us? What if wediscovered that we love because God first loved us? This andmore comes from practicing God's presence.

These are the essentials of the practice of the presenceof God, what Brother Lawrence called the holy habit: Weengage in a continual, silent, and affectionate conversationwith Our Father. We walk with God in faith, love, humility,and simplicity. Out of love, we strive to do nothing and thinknothing which may displease Him. Calling God to mind atevery possible moment, every opportunity, we focus ourattention on Him and silently say, "Thank You, Father"throughout each day.

Over time, we become single in our thoughts, words,and deeds. Our will begins to conform to God's will. Throughpractice, we develop a habit of thinking, saying, and actingwith simplicity, humility, faith, and love.

As we become established in the practice of thepresence of God, we begin to experience great peace andtranquility that comes from the actual indwelling of GodHimself. Brother Lawrence called this holy freedom.

We exercise this holy freedom by engaging in acontinual conversation with God. This is known by manyother names such as prayer without ceasing, inner prayer,interior prayer, prayer of the heart, mental prayer, theinward gaze. Each of these terms, though sometimespresented in slightly different ways, all share the essentialsof the practice of the presence of God: simplicity, humility,



faith, and love. Each is a characteristic of a personal,dynamic relationship with Our Almighty Father.

In our continual conversation with God, BrotherLawrence said that "outside distraction spoils all" and that"perhaps all else is but folly and vanity". We struggle withthis, especially in the beginning. Our thoughts wander. Theoutside world intrudes and interferes. Our patience andpersistence are tried and, through Our Father's strength, webecome stronger. Our faith and love grows and deepens.

In time the holy habit becomes so delightful, sonourishing to the heart, that all else, even self, begins tomelt away. In time and with practice, we are naturally andgently drawn into our conversation with God. He actually

colors our every thought, word, and deed with light. Hislight fills us. His light pours over, covers, and eventuallyextinguishes everything in us but God, Himself.

A life in the practice of the presence of God, the holyhabit, is not one continual rapture or ecstasy; although wemay, from time to time, experience some of thesemoments. The holy habit and our continual conversationwith God is best described as a life of practicality andbalance because God dwells in His proper place at the centerof our being. Through the practice of the presence of Godwe learn to walk before Him in simplicity, humility, faith,and love.

2. "Sometimes I consider myself as a stone before a carver,whereof He is to make a statue. Presenting myself thusbefore God, I desire Him to make His perfect image in mysoul and render me entirely like Himself." ... BrotherLawrence

Lord, chip away.Remove the sharp edges that are offensive in your sight.Humble me and bring me low. Take off the rough spots of mind and tongue.Lord, chip away.

I need Your hammer. If left to myself, I see faults and flawsas specks of dust that I would try to brush or blow off. OnlyYou can see them as they are. Only You can chip them outwhere I would flick them off only to have them quicklyreturn.Lord, chip away.



I long for a pure heart, a heart like Yours. Take Your chiselto any hard spots. Tap out the blemishes and flaws andimpurities. Shape it into a heart that is pleasing in Yoursight.Lord, chip away.

3. "People seek methods of learning to know God. Is it notmuch shorter and more direct to simply do everything forthe love of Him? There is no finesse about it. One only hasto do it generously and simply." ... Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence's 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' has been called the methodless method to living inGod's constant presence. Yet that is not entirely true.Brother Lawrence does not present a structured method for

us to follow. Instead, he demonstrates the method God willwork in us as we turn over our will, our whole heart to Him.

As we prayerfully read and re-read the conversationsand letters, the keys to Brother Lawrence's way of practicingGod's presence begin to imprint themselves in ourconsciousness. Perhaps it is not too much to say, we beginto take on God's consciousness.

Instead of a method, we begin to see how God wantsto work with us and in us. We discover that it is God whowill show us and provide a way to remove the obstacles thatblock the path to Him. He will encourage our conversationwith Him by making that time sweet, gentle, and a comfortbeyond words.

God will share all kinds of secrets with us. Some will bedeep mysteries that we will not be able to explain. Some willbe solutions and practical applications for daily living. Somesecrets, once He points them out, will be obvious. As wewonder why we never thought of them ourselves, God willshare a good laugh with us. We'll share this loving laughterbecause what He really makes obvious is that, of all thethings in heaven and on earth, His companionship is theonly thing we cannot do without.

Through daily, even hourly reading of BrotherLawrence's 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' we alsocome to see our part which can be summarized in this way:The Practice of the Presence of God is a way of life where weengage in continual conversation with God; walk with Him inlove, humility, simplicity, and faith; and think, say, and do



what is most pleasing to Him; because that is God's will forus.

Pleasing God

1. Brother Lawrence "was pleased when he could take up astraw from the ground for the love of God, seeking Himonly, and nothing else, not even His gifts."

Throughout Brother Lawrence's conversations andletters are suggestions for establishing ourselves in the holyhabit of the practice of the presence of God. Some of thesesuggestions are subtle and some of them, at first, seemquite unusual to ordinary spiritual practices.

Brother Lawrence recognized that some of thesuggestions were exceptional and cautioned against allowingourselves to be concerned. In a letter, he said not to beafraid of the natural repugnance we experience. We will beuncomfortable because we are breaking the ties with our oldfamiliar worldly ways. Brother Lawrence's approach tohaving a relationship with God is very direct and personal.

One example, a vitally important suggestion, is to"think nothing which may displease God". Dear One, thatcertainly goes against conventional thinking and worldlyways. The ingrained idea that we can think whatever wewant, that our thoughts are private and harmless, crumblesunder the weight of God's presence.

This one small but very profound notion has the powerto transform our whole attitude. What we think matters agreat deal to God. Our thoughts are not as private as we,perhaps, once considered them to be. Suddenly we areconfronted with a suggestion that becomes very difficult toignore.

If we are motivated by love and our need for God'sconstant presence, we will, in God's way and time, bemoved from not doing, saying, or thinking that whichdispleases Him to only doing, saying, and thinking that

which pleases Him.

In the New Testament Letter to the Philippians we findsome excellent advice: "Whatsoever things are just,whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue



and if there be any praise, think on these things."

2. Brother Lawrence said, "there needed neither art norscience for going to God, but only a heart resolutelydetermined to apply itself to nothing but God and to loveHim only."

There is much about pleasing God that is an act of thewill. Brother Lawrence calls it resolute determination. Thiscomes of a decision we make maybe only once but applyover and over and over again. It grows, like our faith, out of small, tentative steps. Then the small steps become a habit.Soon we are taking larger steps.

God will not take us farther or faster than He sees fit.

Sometimes, especially during the early stages of ourgrowing determination, He will have us take a mis-step. Hemay try our determination in order to strengthen ourdependence on Him and so we do not fall into the trap of thinking we are doing something in our own strength. Hemay do this at different times along the way so we do notbecome complacent or self-satisfied.

We can take a closer look at God's will from twohuman perspectives: God's time and God's way. The former,God's time, immediately suggests to us the need for faithand patience. We may not always like the timing aspect of God's will, but, without a great deal of effort, most of us canusually grasp its meaning.

The latter, God's way, is much more difficult for us. Onthe one hand we hear that God's ways are strange andmysterious. On the other hand our vision is bound by ourown worldly expectations and limited human imagination. Inother words, we are faced with superstition, misconceptions,and selfishness.

If we begin to replace the superstition,misconceptions, and selfishness with acceptance, thengratitude; we finally come to determination, then resolute

determination. We surrender our ways to God's ways. Wereplace our doubts with trust in Him.

Over time, as we continue to apply our determinationto pleasing God, He begins to show us that His way isalways the practical, direct, and simple way. To our limitedway of seeing, we might call His way the ultimate common



sense.

If we truly want to please God and do His will, we havea wonderful pattern to follow in The Gospel, which is thevery foundation of Brother Lawrence's 'The Practice Of ThePresence Of God'. We need only look to The Gospel whereOur Father says, "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am wellpleased. Hear Him."

3. "In continuing the practice of conversing with Godthroughout each day, and quickly seeking His forgivenesswhen I fell or strayed, His presence has become as easy andnatural to me now as it once was difficult to attain." ...Brother Lawrence

What is it that keeps us from starting over? Is it ourown selfish pride, our false humility, our unwillingness toadmit to God we made a mistake? Why are we so insistenton trying to hide anything from God when we know He seesit all? Brother Lawrence wrote these words at almost eightyyears old having practiced the holy habit for about fortyyears:

"I am sometimes filled with shame and confusion whenI reflect on the great favors God has done for me and on theill use I have made of them ... Since He gives us yet a littletime, let us begin in earnest ... Let us return with fullassurance to that Father of mercies who is always ready toreceive us affectionately."

God wants us to start over. He is delighted each timewe begin anew. He doesn't keep score. In fact, Heencourages us to start over at every opportunity we get,minute by minute, hour by hour. At the very least, we canaccustom ourselves to waking with words such as, "Ah,Father, a new day, a fresh beginning! Thank you. You havemy heart."

A second, but more deeply ingrained reason that keepsus from not only starting over but from ever starting at all is

our fear of change. This is a basic, fundamental fear thatcan only be calmed through the trust that comes from apersonal and private relationship with God.

Jesus referred to this fear of change when Heexplained to His disciples the fulfillment of the words of theprophet, Isaiah. With regard to His own teachings, Jesus



said that the reason many people look but do not see andlisten but do not hear is because, if they did, they mightcome to believe and be healed. For many people, believingand being made whole strikes at the fear of change.

It is well worth our spending time with God reading thethirteenth chapter of Matthew because there is a great dealto discover in addition to Our Lord's explanation of thewords of the prophet, Isaiah, and of our fear of change.

Without faith and a personal relationship with God,change is terrifying. Most people would rather cling to theirfamiliar worldly ways than switch to the unfamiliar ways of God's kingdom. The most important point here is that weare all "most people" until and unless God, through His

grace and at His will, intervenes. If we come to understandthis, we are well on our way to the compassionate love Godwants us to have for others because it is the compassionatelove He has for each of us.

4. Little pleases God more than a contrite heart. Like theother aspects of practicing God's presence, a contrite heartis the result of the regular practice of admitting our faultsand offenses and asking God for His grace and forgiveness.We learn to do this just as they happen or as soon as we areaware of them.

Like the other aspects of practicing God's presence, acontrite heart is not our natural way. Our worldly hearts areproud hearts, full of self-praise, self-justification, and self-righteousness. Many of us have become experts at ignoring,excusing, rationalizing, and defending our mistakes.

Brother Lawrence was well aware of this andemphasized this regular exercise: "We must honestlyconsider and thoroughly examine ourselves. When wedirectly confront ourselves we will understand that wedeserve all God sends to humble us."

When our conversation, our very relationship with God,

matures to this level of understanding, we will thank Himwith full gratitude for everything He has ever done tohumble us. We will welcome whatever God may do to helpbring our hearts into conformity with His heart.

But we cannot do this alone. Of ourselves, we arecompletely and totally incapable of recognizing, let alone



overcoming, our proud hearts. The only way we can"honestly consider and thoroughly examine ourselves" and"directly confront ourselves" is through the very presence of God. We are completely dependent on Him to show us.

Only God can open our eyes to the truth. Without Him,we quickly become preoccupied with others. We start to lookoutside ourselves and weigh and measure by what we seethere. These are worldly standards that are not God'sstandards.

Only God, in the personal and private conversation,the special relationship we have with Him, can tell us whatwe so desperately need to hear. For, as we practice the holyhabit of living in God's presence, we develop a desperate

need, an overwhelming desire for the blessed relief of thehumility of a contrite heart. Only God can do this and Hewill. All we need to do is ask and keep asking for Hiscleansing light and grace.

5. One of the most difficult things for us to do, yet mostimportant to Our Father, is to let God be God. This soundssilly, doesn't it? How can we, mere humans, do anythingelse? The more we know of God's divine unchanging nature,the more obvious it becomes that we cannot change God.He always was, is now, and ever will be constant andunchanging.

So, then, why do we try? The problem for us and forGod lies in the trying. We interfere. We meddle. We not onlytell God what to do but how to do it. We try to give Him thebenefit of our expertise, especially when it comes to others.We may sometimes take advantage of our specialrelationship with Him to advise Him on worldly matters.After all, we have His attention and are in His presence, sowhy not? Perhaps this will help:

"He (Brother Lawrence) said that as far as the miseriesand sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so far fromwondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised

there were not more considering the malice sinners werecapable of. For his part, he prayed for them. But knowingthat God could remedy the mischief they did when Hepleased, he gave himself no further trouble."

Quite simply it all comes down to a matter of faith. Itis a matter of faith in a special form called holy indifference.



Unlike worldly indifference, holy indifference is anexpression of our high regard and esteem for Our Father.

Worldly indifference does not care and has nocompassion. Worldly indifference lacks faith in an all-caringand compassionate God. Holy indifference is the specialform of faith that is certain of an all-caring andcompassionate God. In our relationship with God, this faithexpresses our great love and respect for His superiority overus and His total capability of handling all of His creation.

Early in our practice of the presence of God we seethat Our Father really does know us better than we knowourselves. From this realization we then also see that Godknow others, no matter how close to us, much better than

we know them.

Out of this realization, our continual conversation withGod, and in the faith of holy indifference, we, like BrotherLawrence, can humbly say, "I do not pray that you may bedelivered from your pains; but I pray earnestly that Godgives you strength and patience to bear them as long as Hepleases."

Our prayers for others become the same as our ownprayerful converstion with God: to lovingly embrace His willand way. Now as a result of this and our practice of thepresence of God, the holy habit, we come to understandhow to let God be God.

Rare Gift 1. The Practice of the Presence of God is a rare gift. BrotherLawrence was hand-picked by Our Father to exemplify it tothose who had eyes to see. God continues to hand-pickthose who will follow Brother Lawrence's example the sameway He has hand-picked His Own from the very beginning.

God's chosen are those who are willing to live the wayof Our Lord, answer the call of "Follow Me", and see thecross as the ultimate symbol of victory, rather than the

worldly sign of suffering and defeat.

Brother Lawrence demonstrated this way of lifethrough the practice of the presence of God, a way that isavailable to anyone who seeks to know God's peace andpresence; that anyone, regardless of age or circumstance,can practice -anywhere, anytime.



You may think that if God has drawn you to Him, youhave a specific mission to fulfill, a special purpose. Indeed,God does have a plan for each of us. His plan is as individualas we are each individual. He has given each of us talents,abilities, strengths, and weaknesses and, as BrotherLawrence wrote: "some more, some less". When we learn tosurrender ourselves to His will and way, God gently guidesus according to His plan.

However, when God calls you to practice His presence,make no mistake about it, He has called you for onepurpose and He has given you one very special gift. His onepurpose is to love Him; to love Him in a way that surpassesall worldly expression and understanding because it is a

most uncommon and exquisite love. His one very special giftto you is a loving heart, a heart for Him. His gift is a heartthat longs to be filled with His grace and light.

If you have read this far, you cannot help but betouched by the simplicity of God's request of us. Maybe it'stime to give yourself in absolute surrender to Him. Withholdnothing. Give 'the all for the All'. Nothing more, yet nothingless for His gentle presence.

2. "We need to beg His assistance for knowing His will inthings doubtful and for rightly performing those which weplainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him beforewe do them, and giving Him thanks when we havecompleted them."... Brother Lawrence

It takes only a reading or two of Brother Lawrence's'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' to realize there are nohalfway measures in practicing God's presence, followingOur Lord, and living the First and Great Commandment. Nomatter how we try to dismiss it, explain why it was different(easier) for Brother Lawrence and even different for Christ(He was God!); once we really read 'The Practice Of ThePresence Of God' we come to the same conclusion we arrive

at when we really read The Gospel:

This is the true and simple Christian profession. If weare called to the holy habit of practicing God's presence wecan never again settle for anything less than totalparticipation. Anything less is to turn away from God'sperfect will for us.



We may be overjoyed, we may be dumbfounded, wemay be amazed. We may be angry, even furious. We maybe terrified. We may be perfectly calm. But the fact remainsthat we will, inevitably conclude that a life in God's peaceand presence really does require giving our all for The All.

3. Brother Lawrence knew that, for the right practice of thepresence of God, the heart must be empty of all otherthings. It is God's will to possess the heart alone. He tells usthat God cannot possess the heart alone without firstemptying it. Only when our hearts are left vacant to God canHe begin to mold us into the vessel that most pleases Him.

How often God brings us closer and closer to Him by

removing worldly attachments. How often He creates a voidof discontent, dissatisfaction, and disappointment in ourhearts.

A.B.Simpson, who also knew the surrendered life,explained it this way, "God has to break our hearts to piecesby the slow process of His discipline, and grind everyparticle to powder, and then to mellow us and saturate uswith His blessed Spirit, until we are open for the blessing Hehas to give us."

Dear One, the value of that blessing He has to give usis beyond earthly measure and far more than our limitedwords can possibly describe. The great favor of a personalrelationship with God, Our Father and Creator, and the greatfavor of being able to love the One Most Loving is pricelessand precious.

If God has put you in circumstances where you feelyou have no choice, all else has failed, all is lost, there isnothing to do but submit; do not waste one moment feelingguilty for not having freely chosen this path. If you do notalready know it, in time, you will come to see that God hashad His eye on you all along. God didn't act on a whim whenHe knocked down and blinded Paul on the road to

Damascus!

God allows crises in order to draw us close to Him.God, the Creator of All and from whose hand all is delivered,creates those situations where we have no choice. Thesesituations are called necessity. Out of necessity He gives usthe chance to make a virtue, the greatest virtue of all: the



humble and sincere acceptance of His holy will. All we needto do can be expressed by a silently spoken, "Thank You,Father".

4. Brother Lawrence spoke of the potential for anyone topractice God's presence. Our Lord spoke of the potential foranyone to follow Him. However, Our Lord also said thatmany are called to step forward but few are chosen to walkthe path. Brother Lawrence understood that. And we shouldunderstand it also.

We should understand it because, when we realize thatwe are to walk the path, we will become even more painfullyaware of the gulf that separates us from many others. As anillustration, in this lament spoken by Our Lord over two

thousand years ago, we feel the crushing disappointment,anguish and despair He feels because of the hardness of heart of His own, His people, His family:

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killed the prophets, andstoned those sent to thee, how often would I have gatheredthy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickensunder her wings, and ye would not have it! Behold, yourhouse is left unto you desolate. Ye shall not see me againuntil ye shall say, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Our Lord tells us that we will grieve. Grief is a veryappropriate response. However, our joy is forthcoming.When we become established in our true profession of thepractice of the presence of God, the holy habit, we will findthat peace, that quiet joy that lasts and lasts and iseverlasting.

When we become fully aware of our call to theprofession, the practice of the presence of God, we must getvery low. We must humbly bow down and get lower thanthe ground itself because we have done nothing to earn ordeserve this calling.

As soon as we understand that we are to be in theworld but not of the world, we must begin to look for andwelcome ways that humble us and keep us humble. Now wesee that even the slightest act of spiritual arrogance greatlyoffends Our Father, the Giver of the gift of His presence.



5. "Pay little attention to the beautiful words and subtlediscourse of the wise of the earth. Woe to those who look tohuman knowledge to satisfy their curiosity. It is the Creatorwho teaches the truth and instructs the heart of thehumble."... Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence "noted that there was a greatdifference between the acts of the intellect and those of thewill. Acts of the intellect were comparatively of little value.Acts of the will were all important. Our only business was tolove and delight ourselves in God."

Are you willing to put God first?Are you willing to put God first

in every area of your life?in every thought, word, and deed?in everything and before all else?

Are you willing to put God firstto be the special child He wants you to be?

Are you willing to be raised above the petty and mundaneto dwell in His gentle kingdom today?

Are you willing to put God first?Are you willing to be willing?

6. "It was observed, that in the greatest hurry of businessin the kitchen, Brother Lawrence still preserved hisrecollection and heavenly-mindedness. He was never hastynor loitering, but did each thing in its season with an evenuninterrupted composure and tranquillity of spirit."

The art of moving in God's time and way is somethingwe acquire through the practice of God's presence. Throughfaith and living to please Our Father, we gradually come tobe in tune with a holy rhythm that is beautifullysynchronized with the earthly time of clock and calendar. InGod, the Creator of time, we learn to follow and let Himlead.

Faith is movement; though not always physical

movement. It is a stirring, a humming, and dynamic motionof the spirit. When nurtured through a personal relationshipwith God and the practice of His presence, faith's motion islike a heartbeat going in the direction of divine love.

At first, faith seems separate from love. Yet faith andlove move on parallel paths where the end of faith is a



merging into one holy love, the Grand Love that is God.

7. "One does not become holy all at once."... BrotherLawrence

Patience and persistence are the chief ingredients indeveloping and sustaining the practice of the presence of God. These two virtues go hand-in-hand. They support eachother. Without understanding the importance of this to ourfaith and practice, when we become impatient then oureffort to persist crumbles; when we become lax or doubtfulthen our patience crumbles.

Brother Lawrence wrote: "I well know that ... thebeginning is very difficult because we must act purely on

faith. But, though it is difficult, God ... never refuses thosewho ask earnestly. Knock. Persevere in knocking. He willopen His graces to you."

Though in the beginning we act purely on faith, ourpatience and persistence in engaging in continualconversation with God and repeating a silent, 'Thank You,Father' develops into a habit that establishes us in practicingGod's presence and simply living His perfect will and way.When we become established in the holy habit andexperience the gentle joy and peace of God's presence, wecome to see that this truly is God's rare gift and we cannever thank Him enough.

"What comforts me in this life is that I nowsee God by faith. I feel what faith teachesus, and, in that assurance and thatpractice of faith, I live and die withHim." ... Brother Lawrence



Brother Lawrence

A Heart For God

Reflections On










"I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility,and with love. I apply myself diligently to do nothingand think nothing which may displease Him. I hopethat when I have done what I can, He will do withme what He pleases."... Brother Lawrence

Contents

Humility Faith Alone True Surrender Esteem For God Sovereign Physician

Humility

1. "In the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while severalpersons are at the same time calling for different things, Ipossess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon myknees at the Blessed Supper." ... Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence was a model of humility. Why shouldwe get to know him? Brother Lawrence did not hear voices,perform miracles, found an order or religious community,start a church, lead a cult or sect, or have wealth, power, orstatus. Brother Lawrence simply loved God. He lived inGod's presence and loved Our Father in a way that isavailable to each of us.

2. In a letter Brother Lawrence told a friend: "I expect youwill say that I am very much at ease, and that I eat anddrink at the table of the Lord." He agreed that thisimpression was true. Then he added some backgrounddetail. Consider, if you will, he suggested, how a sinner suchas I am, can ever really become complacent.

The earthly life in God's presence is not without pain;but there is a sweetness to the pain. When love is intense,our desire to please is strong. The sweet pain of theawareness of our unworthiness serves as a reminder.

Brother Lawrence's humility, the awareness of hisunworthiness, kept him, on one hand, at the ready to acceptanything that might lead to his improvement and, on theother hand, ever grateful for the favors and grace Godconstantly bestowed on him.

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This balance is the reason Brother Lawrence wasobserved as being never hurried and never loitering, butalways performing his tasks in their proper time and way.From Brother Lawrence we learn the true meaning of rightbalance in thought, word, and deed. That true meaning canonly be recognized through humility.

3. Since Brother Lawrence's death in 1691, he has beenvariously referred to as mystic, innovator, saint, andphilosopher. These titles were, no doubt, applied by thosewho had great respect for, if not always an understandingof, the practice of the presence of God.

Likewise, his detractors have their labels for him also;everything from simple-minded to ignorant and uneducated.

Often, he is just ignored. This last, no matter the motive,always turns out to be a kindness.

If there was one sin Brother Lawrence thoroughlyunderstood, it was the pervasive and corrosive nature of pride. He had seen a great deal of this in his life, especiallyduring his years as a soldier in the Thirty Years' War. Hetruly knew the scriptural meaning of "pride has no place inhumans".

He had seen its operation both in the world around himand within himself. So, Brother Lawrence also knew that thevery understanding of the nature of pride was, in itself, aprecious gift from God. He, therefore, had compassion forthose who were unable to see and those who had hardenedtheir hearts.

Yet, once Our Father gives the gift of the fullunderstanding of pride, there is nowhere else to walk but onthe path of humility. And, in God's presence, BrotherLawrence became deaf to the references, titles, and labelsand he became blind to the artificial lighting of worldlythings.

Brother Lawrence seems to capture the essence of hishumble approach in a letter he wrote to his spiritual adviser,"I think it appropriate to tell you how I perceive myself before God, whom I behold as my King. I consider myself asthe most wretched of men. I am full of faults, flaws, andweaknesses, and have committed all sorts of crimes againsthis King. Touched with a sensible regret I confess all mywickedness to Him. I ask His forgiveness. I abandon myself



in His hands that He may do what He pleases with me."

Faith Alone

1. Brother Lawrence wrote: "For the first ten years Isuffered much. During this time I fell often, and rose againpresently. It seemed to me that all creatures, reason, andGod, Himself, were against me and faith alone for me".

Then, as he had done so many times before, he gaveup, gave in, turned to God with the thought that if this wasthe way it was to be, he would love God anyway. This timesomething shifted. God settled in. Brother Lawrence wasfilled with the indwelling presence of Our Father.

For the next thirty years, during sickness and healthand amid tremendous growth and change in his monasticsurroundings, Brother Lawrence lived his life in holy freedomand continual joy. Once firmly established, he remained inthe presence of God.

2. A gentle man of joyful spirit, in addition to simple faith,Brother Lawrence had that help which God so often grantsto His own - a good sense of humor. We get a hint of it in aletter where he lovingly remarked about a young nun: "shewould go faster than grace." Humorous, memorable, andsomething to which we can all relate!

We each have at one time or another tried to go fasterthan grace. We try to get ahead of God and His perfect planfor us. We secretly think we know a better, faster, or easierway. Sometimes the results are humorous, sometimesdisastrous, sometimes successful. Yet anything we think wedo out of our own effort is bound to disappoint sooner orlater.

As we come to practice the presence of God, we gainthe full realization that nothing we think, say, or do is secretor separate from God. We cannot run. We cannot hide. Wecan no longer have our own way or have what we want

when we want it. Most importantly, we come to understandthat God really does know us better than we knowourselves. His way is better and easier. His timing is theperfect pace of grace. Even when it seems that the wholeworld is against us, if we persevere and continue in ourconversation with God, His grace will smooth the way.



3. When Brother Lawrence succeeded in a task, he gaveGod the credit. When he failed, he identified his faults andsaid, "I shall never do otherwise if You leave me to myself.It is You who must hinder my falling and mend what isamiss."

In this confessional comment we see BrotherLawrence's faith, dependency, and surrender to God'scorrection, mercy, and will. We cannot see, let alone correct,our own faults. We simply have too many blind spots.

We have to look to God to show us, guide us, andpoint the way. We have to ask Him to help us become betterlisteners. We must be willing to let God refine and polish usto His satisfaction, not ours.

4. "Let us begin in earnest," wrote Brother Lawrence. Andthis, after nearly forty years of practicing God's presence.Humble and sincere, he was always aware of hisunworthiness and, at the same time, hopeful of Our Father'smercy. At nearly eighty years old, Brother Lawrence knewwell that we practice God's presence anew each day.

When we set our life goal, as did Brother Lawrence, tobe the "best worshipper of God we can possibly be," eachday is a fresh opportunity to revive and renew our mostimportant relationship, the relationship with Our Father. Thisis a relationship that lasts for eternity.

5. Over the years Brother Lawrence developed a sharpinstinct for others who were being drawn to God. Thesewere often common people who were not among themonastery residents and visitors. He was sometimescriticized for conversing with other people. But, even in hisletters, we see that Brother Lawrence had a natural gift fordrawing out and encouraging sincere seekers.

An example appears at the end of his first conversationwith Joseph de Beaufort. Brother Lawrence said to him that,if discussing God and the things of God were Joseph deBeaufort's motives for meeting with him, he was welcomeback. If not, please visit no more. Strong words from thisgentle soul.

Brother Lawrence had a single eye for God. He knew itwas not pleasing to God for him to spend time with anyonewho did not share this divine motive - even if he was the



representative of Bishop de Noailles, whose charge includedthe very monastery to which Brother Lawrence belonged.

Yet, with these words, Brother Lawrence began afriendship with Joseph de Beaufort that lasted well overtwenty five years. Perhaps this is part of the reason whyBrother Lawrence was later described as, "rough inappearance but gentle in grace".

True Surrender

1. "We ought to give ourselves up to God with regard bothto things temporal and spiritual and seek our satisfactiononly in the fulfilling of His will." ... Brother Lawrence

This is one of Brother Lawrence's plain and simplecomments that, when we read it closely, is exceptionallypowerful. Where is the impact? It is in the phrase "both tothings temporal and spiritual."

Most of us have a general idea of giving up thetemporal and material to God. This is, of course, anessential part of establishing ourselves in the practice of God's presence. Yet, the most powerful part of thiscomment is "the spiritual."

We must let go of our expectations of what practicingGod's presence will do for us. There is no room for personalambition or self-serving attitudes no matter how lofty orgood intentioned. We cannot afford to jeopardize ourpersonal relationship with Our Father by discussing detailsand comparing or putting ourselves in competition withothers. We have to place our whole trust in God alone.

At some point in our practice we come to realize thatour spiritual preconceptions, ambitions, and attitudes standbetween us and Our Father, obstructing the way andblocking His light. Only when we turn our spiritualpreconceptions, ambitions, and attitudes over to God andreally let Him direct our course do we begin to experience

the beautiful journey of His will and plan for us.

2. "I endeavor to accomplish His will in all things. And I amso resigned that I would not take up a straw from theground against His order or from any motive but that of pure love for Him." ... Brother Lawrence



Brother Lawrence embraced not only the letter of thelaw but the spirit also. Pure love does that. We becomeeager to obey in all things. We live in a constant state of "Yes, Lord". The practice of the presence of God changesour whole attitude. Once, in our worldly ways, we lived tosee how much we could push the boundaries, get awaywith, or find loopholes and exceptions.

When pure love, the ardent desire to accomplish God'swill in all things, is our motive, we constantly and activelyseek ways to comply and conform in both letter and spirit.We loose all selfish need to challenge and ask why . Whereonce we had questions, now we have faith -a faith thatassures us that God has His reasons for all things and Hisreasons are perfect. We surrender to Our Father's will and

way.

With love as our motive we no longer feel a need tounderstand and, as is the nature and manner of Our Father,that's when He often reveals Himself in striking clarity.Often, just when we are humbly resigned to being a faithfulservant, God makes us a partner. Often, when we ceasepressing our efforts to understand, Our Father gives the giftof His understanding.

3. "He (Brother Lawrence) said that as far as the miseriesand sins he heard of daily in the world, he was so far fromwondering at them, that, on the contrary, he was surprisedthere were not more considering the malice sinners werecapable of. For his part, he prayed for them. But knowingthat God could remedy the mischief they did when Hepleased, he gave himself no further trouble."

Does this seem selfish and un-caring? Many peopleduring both Brother Lawrence's own time and today viewthis as an extreme attitude. He had few opinions and littleinterest in the issues and causes of the day. In worldlythings he was indifferent.

Many tried to involve him in their interests, projects,and affairs. He gently but firmly refused unless, of course, itwas a direction from a superior or an obligation of his office.

When questioned, during classroom studies early in hisnovitiate and also during later years, Brother Lawrence'sanswers were always brief, practical, and to the point. He



had little regard for mental posturing, long discussion, ordebate; all of which detracted from inner prayerfulcommunion with God.

It is no doubt that Brother Lawrence had enemies anddetractors. And it is no doubt he was well aware of the costof practicing the holy habit , even in a religious community.But Brother Lawrence knew his gospel and he lived it.

From youth, he followed the simple instructions of John the Baptist: "He that has two coats, let him give to himthat has none. He that has food, let him do likewise."

Brother Lawrence was indifferent to everything elsethat was temporal and material because he understood all

Our Lord's references to the kingdom. Yet Brother Lawrencehad an exceptional understanding of others. His compassionis evident when he says, "those only can comprehend it whopractice and experience it". He knew that the practice of the presence of God is a gift that can only be given by GodHimself. Brother Lawrence never stopped thanking OurFather for the gift.

4. "I will always continue to act purely for the love of God."... Brother Lawrence

A very important insight we get from learning aboutBrother Lawrence's example of practicing God's presence isthat, through the love of God and our surrender to His willand way, our priorities are arranged for us. If we put Godfirst in everything we think, say, and do, He will order,arrange, and direct our steps. God will do it in His way andHis time.

Though we cannot go faster than His grace, His graceis always sufficient at each step. But we must ask for it.Another way of looking at this is that we must keep God inmind in all we do. Brother Lawrence noted that the timesthings went awry were when he forgot to refer to God first.In time, and with more practice, this happens less and lessas we refer to God more and more. At some point itbecomes seamless and completely natural to us.

To make God our priority and "to act purely for thelove of God" is the essence of the practice of the presence of God. This is why anyone, at any age, and in anycircumstance can practice God's presence.



Consider Brother Lawrence's monastic life for amoment. He was a lay brother in a system that put him atthe lowest rung on the ladder, even below the many whocame to be trained there. The reality, even though BrotherLawrence completely embraced his position, is that laybrothers are generally considered common servants. Daysare filled with menial but necessary jobs, chores, and tasks.As in any structured group, monastic or otherwise, those inthe lowest positions are treated kindly by some and unkindlyby others.

It is important to see this because otherwise, we mightbe tempted to think that the reason Brother Lawrence wasable to live for forty years in God's presence is because he

was a monk. Seeing the reality of his day to day life, itmight be more accurate to say that Brother Lawrence wasable to live for forty years in God's presence despite hisbeing a monk!

The true insight we get from Brother Lawrence's life of practicing God's presence is that our circumstances and ourstation or place in life have little bearing on our practice.The practice of the presence of God is entirely private andpersonal. If we put God first in everything we think, say,and do, He will order, arrange, and direct our steps nomatter our place or position.

5. "The most excellent method of going to God is that of doing our common business ... purely for the love of God."... Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence introduces another powerfulconcept: our common business. When we couple this withrenouncing all things that are not of God, we have anotherof Brother Lawrence's simple yet radical concepts. How canwe possibly continue our daily common business anddiscontinue the things that are not of God? We cannot.

Here lies the secret and the power of the practice of the presence of God. When we offer to God, for His goodpleasure, everything we think, say, and do; our commondaily business; and all our acts and tasks both great andsmall; we are asking Him to do what we cannot ourselvesdo. We surrender our personal efforts to God's will and way.



Our Father, in His perfect time and His perfect way, inthat time and way that is exactly right for each one of us,will rearrange, sort-out, and refine our common business toHis satisfaction.

When Brother Lawrence looked back at the result of his decision to renounce all things that were not of God, hesaid he was surprised and that God had disappointed him.He expected suffering. He wanted penance. Instead BrotherLawrence got a showering of Our Father's favor and grace.

Esteem For God

1. "The practice produced in me so high an esteem for Godthat faith alone was enough to assure me."


Even in the early years of trial, testing, and struggle,Brother Lawrence experienced a great affection for God. Hesaid that his faith had always been based on love andthroughout his life that love for God had remained constant.

The practice, the constant exercise of the holy habit of turning our attention to God, develops our faith, the musclemost in need of strengthening. It is a basic principle that, if we turn toward something, we turn away from somethingelse. When we turn to face God, we turn our backs on thatwhich is not God.

The more we become filled with the light of God, thegreater His light blots out the darkness. We focus on God.Our love and esteem grows. He fills us with His light. Hislight flushes out the darkness.

This working of the practice of the presence of God,Brother Lawrence called easy because the exercise requireslittle effort. In fact, as we develop the holy habit, there is noeffort at all, only the pleasure that comes from loving OurFather's delightful presence.

2. One of the most beautiful aspects of Brother Lawrence'sway is the quiet confidence that can only come from anunbreakable bond with Our Lord. Brother Lawrencecherished The Gospel. He knew the message of the Son of God so well that he reflected it in everything he did. Heunderstood at the center of his being that the only way toOur Father is through His Son. He understood that when we



take up Our Lord's call of "Follow Me" unconditionally andwithout reservation, unworthy as we are, we are given ashare in the inheritance Our Father so greatly wants to giveus.

Fifteen centuries passed between the time God'sComplete Message was delivered in the Ministry of His Son,Jesus Christ, and the life of quiet Brother Lawrence. Yet inthat prior fifteen centuries and during the next five to follow,few have been able to reflect God's Complete Message withsuch clarity and simplicity.

Brother Lawrence saw but one thing, the FirstCommandment message of The Gospel. His only desire wasto know, love, and serve God with all his heart, soul, mind,

and strength.

3. In God's holy presence Brother Lawrence suggested thatwe converse "with an act of praise, of adoration, or of desireor with an act of resignation, or thanksgiving, and in all theways our spirits can invent".

The gift of imagination, which we sometimes callcreativity or inventiveness, is a precious gift from OurFather. Like all of our God-given gifts, they are only of valuewhen we return them to Him. Only the gift that is dedicatedto its source and creator will grow and thrive.

Imagination, without God at its center, is fantasy.Imagination that is centered in God becomes inspiration, in-spirited. We look for and enjoy doing little things to pleaseGod. As we grow in the practice of the presence of God, ourability to vividly imagine His nearness becomes stronger andinvolves all our senses until we actually feel His indwellingspirit.

This spirit, then, naturally expresses itself in littlecreative and inventive ways of showing our love andaffection for God. We arrive at that point where we, likeBrother Lawrence, say, "those only can comprehend it whopractice and experience it." Our Father's gift of inspiration isfar more than mere words can describe.

Sovereign Physician

1. "If we were well accustomed to the practice of thepresence of God, bodily discomforts would be greatly



alleviated. God often permits us to suffer a little to purifyour souls and oblige us to stay close to Him." ... BrotherLawrence

In this plain statement, Brother Lawrence sharesvaluable insight into God's purpose for allowing His childrento experience pain and suffering. Yes, pain and suffering canpurify and refine us. It can strengthen our faith, the musclethat needs constant exercise lest it atrophy.

Most importantly, God allows pain and suffering to"oblige us to stay close to Him." Brother Lawrence pointsout, "God has many ways of drawing us to Himself." Does itnot, then, seem obvious that the way of pain and suffering,even the way of the cross, is a gift?

Yet Brother Lawrence, no starry-eyed dreamer, seesthe big picture. He explains, "Worldly people do notcomprehend these truths. It is not surprising though, sincethey suffer like what they are and not like Christians. Theysee sickness as a pain against nature and not as a favorfrom God. Seeing it only in that light, they find nothing in itbut grief and distress."

"But those who consider sickness as coming from thehand of God, out of His mercy and as the means He uses fortheir salvation, commonly find sweetness and consolation init."

Trials, troubles, sickness, injuries, diseases, losses,defeats, failures. In the light of the practice of the presenceof God, all of it takes on new meaning. And, what's more,once we move into God's light and share His will andpurpose, we are in His safekeeping forever.

2. Brother Lawrence, formerly Nicholas Herman, knewmuch pain and suffering in his eighty years on earth. He wascritically injured as a youth in a war fought on his nativesoil, the Thirty Years' War. This was a war that, even today,still stands out as one of the most brutal wars in history.

This injury was an outward event that altered thecourse of young Nicholas' life. He was immediately sent backto his nearby village home to recuperate and return to thefield of battle. Yet, even with good medical care and time forhealing, he was unable to return to the fighting.



Of the little we know of his early childhood, it isgenerally thought that he was an only child in a villagemade up of close family members. We do know, from a fewlater comments from family members in religious ordersthat, from an early age, Nicholas was responsible,dependable, and reliable.

Young Nicholas Herman never regained his physicalstrength and vitality. One of his legs was permanentlycrippled and he suffered pain and complications that left himvulnerable to infection and fever.

How clearly we see the hand of God, the SovereignPhysician, in the life of Brother Lawrence. It was shortlybefore the outward event of his battle injury that Brother

Lawrence later speaks of his conversion, the inner event. Hetold Joseph de Beaufort that, at age eighteen, heexperienced the majesty of God through nature and was,from then on, loosed from the world.

This was the real beginning of Nicholas' religious life.The next several years were not only years of physical painbut also years of growing distaste for the the ways of theworld. This is how God often prepares those He chooses tobe in the world but not of it. This is how He prepares thoseHe chooses to live in detachment from the material andselfish ways of worldliness and attachment to the gentle andhumble ways of His kingdom of godliness.

Infirmity, losses, disappointments, despair, andhelplessness are methods God employs to draw His Own toHim. Then, in His own time and way, God begins to revealHis will for them. Eventually, for Nicholas Herman, God's willand way was a monastery in Paris and a new name, BrotherLawrence of the Resurrection.

During his first fifteen years at the monasticcommunity, Brother Lawrence ran the refectory. At first itwas what most of us envision as the simple job of cook. Themonastery was new and there were few mouths to feed.

That changed quickly when growth and expansion setin. The Paris monastery became a training center and thenumber swelled to upwards of one hundred residents plusguests and visitors. The crippled brother's job lasted roundthe clock. He rarely got to spend quiet time in the chapel.



After fifteen years his duty was changed to the sandalrepair shop where he could spend a little less time on hisfeet. Yet, knowing the enormous amount of work required inthe kitchen, he often went back to help out in any way hecould.

Brother Lawrence never complained. In later life hesuffered two serious illnesses that required close medicalattention. After coming through the second illness, hethanked the doctor and, in Brother Lawrence's gentlyhumorous way, told the doctor he wasn't sure he had donehim a favor.

He respected the doctors of his day and knew thatGod very often worked His healing through them. But, when

asked by one of the younger members of his community,how he managed so well, he took the opportunity to spend afew minutes sharing his experience of the practice of thepresence of God and the necessity of putting God first. Thisis also summed up in one of his letters:

"Do not rely completely on another physician becauseGod reserves your cure to Himself. Put all your faith in God.You will soon find the effects in your recovery, which weoften delay by putting greater faith in medicine than inGod."

"Whatever remedies you use, they will succeed only sofar as He permits. When pains come from God, only He canultimately cure them. He often sends sickness to the body tocure diseases of the soul. Comfort yourself with theSovereign Physician of both soul and body." ... BrotherLawrence

"I will always continue to act purely for the love of God. I shall have this good at least that untildeath I shall have done all that is in me to loveHim."... Brother Lawrence









The Gospel

andPracticing God's Presence

"We must know before we can love. In order toknow God, we must often think of Him. And whenwe come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with ourtreasure."... Brother Lawrence

Contents

Lift High The Gospel All But Lost The Four Books The Gospel, The Word, His Presence The Gifts Of The Spirit The Best For Last

Lift High The Gospel

"The stone which the builders rejected has become thecornerstone." ... Jesus Christ

The wonder of The Gospel! God's entire message to us ispresented through the words and deeds of Jesus Christ, theSon of God. Every possible theme or issue that is importantto Our Father can be found in Christ's plain, yetcomprehensive message, and in His way and manner of being. It has all been faithfully recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John that we might read, see,and believe.

The beautiful book of John starts with, "In the beginning

was The Word." When we read The Gospel we learn that,not only was The Word in the beginning, but it always is andshall ever be. It will not ever change. Not one dot of an 'i' ora cross of a 't'; can ever really be erased. All things shallpass away except This Word.

The Gospel is the foundation, the rock, the north point on


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our compass. It is our how-to manual, our code of conduct,and the only book we need to live the life God wants us tolive. To walk and live as God wills, we must be Christ-like.As the complete record of Jesus' earthly life, The Gospelgives us the pattern to follow. The books of Matthew, Mark,Luke, and John show us The Word and The Way.

Too often we turn to other parts of The Bible when wealready have The Word in The Gospel. Too often themessage of Christ is bypassed when we need to justify orrationalize that which He came to make perfectly clear.

Too often we use the references to the Old Testamentthat are found in The Gospel to prove the authenticity of Christ when, instead, it should be the other way around. The

Word of God the Son is the point of all reference, thebeginning and the end.

Does He not tell us what is the New Message? Does Henot tell us what to leave behind? Does He not tell us that Hecame to fulfill what was to be completed and specificallypoint it out? Could it be any clearer than Jesus Christ's ownsimple and straightforward words?

It has often been said that we can find a reference toprove or disprove almost any issue somewhere in The Bible.Taken as a whole, and all too often out of context, that maybe an accurate statement. However, for the Christian, thereis only one place of reference, The Gospel. By The Gospelshould all else be weighed and measured.

If, after prayerful consultation with God in our reading,we cannot find a reference in The Gospel message; if, afterprayerful waiting on God for His Gospel guidance, Heremains silent; then, perhaps, we should conclude that theissue is of no import to God or is not of God. At the veryleast, we owe it to Our Lord, to consider His Word beforewe, in our impatience, seek our answers outside The Gospel.

The Gospel must regain its place of priority in our lives. Itmust be the first text to which we turn. The Gospel clearlyspells out all we need to know through the words and acts of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Of the entire Holy Bible, both the OldTestament and the New Testament, The Gospel is the onlytext we cannot live without, because it includes the entiretyof our faith. Only when we put The Gospel in its true place



of priority can we even begin to appreciate the richness of the rest of Holy Scripture.

If we hunger and thirst for God's constant presence, wemust give up the Bible pick-and-choose approach. We canno longer consider The Holy Gospel as simply one of thechoices in a smorgasbord. For anyone who desires the fullmeasure of God's bounty, The Gospel is the complete meal.The Gospel is our feast. We absolutely must lift high TheGospel.

All But Lost

"In times as troubled as today" is a phrase taken fromthe Preface to 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God'.Brother Lawrence's life spanned most of the seventeenthcentury, a century marked by extremely troubled timesincluding the brutal and savage Thirty Years' War. Therewas enough that happened over the course of that centurythat, surely, those inclined to proclaim "the end is near"were very visible and vocal.

Yet, if we travel back in history, we find that eachcentury, era, age, and epoch bore the signs of troubledtimes. Many first century Christians were, understandably,convinced that Christ's message, so fresh to their ears,meant the end was upon them.

Each subsequent century, twenty of them, has had itsmessengers whom many would scoffingly call doomsayers.No doubt John the Baptist was called by that name in hisday also. Today, at least, John is viewed by most as aworthy messenger.

How easy it would be, then, to paint all of history sincethe first century with the same brush, since all times havebeen "troubled times". Yet, without agonizing over whichcentury was the most troubled, but still agreeing that thetimes were always "troubled" for those who lived them, weneed to take a close look at today. Right now is the onlytime we have. God has appointed each of us to be here atthis present moment.

So, while the Preface to 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' says "In times as troubled as today," there aredifferences in the kind and quality of the troubles. This is, of



course, one of the things that makes history an interestingstudy. However, to get to the point, there is one major andoutstanding difference in Christianity between theseventeenth century and this, the twenty first century.

Between the days of Brother Lawrence and today, we haveall but lost The Gospel.

Whether we read the conversations recorded betweenJoseph de Beaufort and Brother Lawrence or his lettersaddressed to a variety of people, we cannot help but noticenot only Brother Lawrence's own understanding of TheGospel, but also his assumption that the other personshares the understanding.

Unlike the age in which we live, books were not readilyavailable. Though some fortunate few had a NewTestament, it was more likely for an individual to have acopy of The Gospel than a complete Holy Bible. Christians,even during this very early time of the tearing apart of thebody of Christ, were brought up on The Gospel. In fact,many Roman Catholics and Protestants who learned to readbegan by learning to read The Gospel.

Brother Lawrence's assumption about others was notreally an assumption because The Gospel, the scripturebooks of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John; was the staple of

Christian life. Is this true today? Can we honestly say thatThe Gospel is as readily available today as it was over threehundred years ago? Is The Gospel the staple of Christianitytoday?

Please keep in mind that we need to make a distinctionhere between The Gospel and the Holy Bible, and even theNew Testament. Why? Because The Gospel of theseventeenth century, generally understood to be "of HolyScripture", was often what we would today refer to as a"stand alone" book. As such, a single book, The Gospel hadits proper priority and place at the center of daily life.

Today, we live in what is referred to as the informationage, a world that places priority on data. The emphasis is onmore and bigger, often at the expense of quality and clarity.The Gospel, around one hundred and fifty pages of print, isall but lost inside heavy encyclopedic paper Holy Bibles andelectronic search engine scriptures. Who can wonder that



anyone hungry for The Son's message from Our Fatherwould feel overwhelmed by the enormity of so muchmaterial? Who can wonder that a seeker of The Gospel, aheart being drawn to Christ, might back away from suchcomplexity?

Perhaps the biggest difference between today and thedays of Brother Lawrence is a matter of simplicity. Today weare driven by "Bible Study." Seventeenth century Christianswere powered by "Gospel Appreciation." Yet, it is not toolate to bring The Gospel back to its rightful place at thecenter of our lives. And it is not too difficult. All we need todo, and all we can do, is make The Gospel accessible. OurFather is in charge of the rest. He draws to Himself His ownand reveals His presence through The Gospel.

The Four Books

The Gospel, presented in the books of Matthew, Mark,Luke, and John; is like a musical quartet. Four distinctvoices blend and harmonize to present the fullness of thecomposition.

The wonder of this type of composition is that we canenjoy listening to each voice separately for its distinct purityand quality. Each voice presents the entire composition. Forexample, we can listen to the voice of Mark and hear a

faithful rendering of the complete composition, the gospelmessage.

When we turn to Matthew, Luke, and John; again, thesame thing, a distinctly pure voice that presents thecomplete work. As we listen, over time, our ear becomessensitive to the nuances and special qualities of each voice.Here is a sample of what we can learn about God'smessage, from each of the four voices.

The Gospel of MatthewWhat is God's will for us? The answer can be found in the

pages of the Gospel of Matthew, a rich source of informationdetailing the Son of God's instructions from Our Father tous.

Here we learn, through Jesus' teachings and actions,what we must keep of the old. We find what must bereplaced. We see what has been fulfilled and has come full



circle. We discover the new material and the new message.The Gospel of Matthew holds the keys to 'this generation's'entry into the kingdom of heaven ... if we have ears to hearand eyes to see.

The Gospel of MarkThis book of The Gospel, the accounting of Mark, is the

story of God in action; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Themovement of the story is swift. The details are presentedwith precision and economy. We often see the word'immediately'. This denotes not only quickness in thetemporal sense, but, more importantly, it denotes the keyingredient necessary to enter God's kingdom. The ingredientis obedience.

In the Gospel of Mark we are able to see the clear,decisive, and certain result of the Son's obedientlyrepresenting the Father and transmitting His message of themeaning of pure and simple faith.

The Gospel of LukeLuke's Gospel is a letter crafted to accurately convey all

that we must know about the Son of Man who is the Son of God, so we may clearly see what it means for God's childrento believe.

The Gospel according to Luke presents a close-up of theSon against a background of humanity. Luke paints abeautiful word picture that shows us that the only way toplease Our Father is by following His Son in all our earthlythoughts, words, and actions.

The Gospel of JohnThe Gospel of John is called the Gospel of love. It is

written by that disciple whose heart was, over time, totallysurrendered. Brother Lawrence, whose heart was also totallysurrendered, was a great believer in doing what was mostpractical, simple, and direct; a style similar to that of theBeloved Disciple.

The Gospel according to John shows us the exquisitebeauty and simple yet practical message of God's natureand the meaning of His commandment for all who would callthemselves Christ's disciples: the law of love. This love islove of the highest order, the divine love that enables us tolove God and each other as He loves us. In no other book dowe find stated so clearly the answer to the question: Who is



God?.

The Gospel, The Word, His Presence

1. What comfort and closeness to God we feel when we sitback and just read The Gospel. In the silence of our readingwe lose ourselves in God's words. His thoughts become ourthoughts. His view becomes our view. Though we may haveread the words many times before, God gives us new insighteach time we just read with Him.

When read prayerfully, The Gospel brings us directly intothe presence of God. As we begin, we simply turn ourattention to Him, Our Master, Our Teacher. As we read andpause to reflect on the words of Our Lord, we engage in anactual conversation with God. As we read, we take in thewords. As we reflect, God responds.

This act of prayerful reading, reading and reflecting fromthe heart, puts us, not only in the presence of God, but alsoputs us into a kind of sacred rhythmic exchange, like gentlybreathing in and out.

We become aware of our complete dependence on Godfor this simple act of reading. Without Him, without thebreath He breathes into the words, without His message, weare lost, in despair, and without comfort.

In the words of Brother Lawrence: "It is the Creator whoteaches truth, who in one moment instructs the heart of thehumble and makes him understand more about themysteries of faith and even about Himself than if he hadstudied them for a long term of years."

An excellent way to read The Gospel is to begin afreshwith Matthew, then Mark, Luke, and John; the first book tothe last book. We must put away the calendar, dictionary,reference books, concordances, and clock for now. All weneed is a bookmark or something to note the place whereour next reading begins.

Each day we do some reading. A chapter a day or at onesitting is often a comfortable pace. However, it is importantnot to make a hard and fast rule because sometimes wemay read more or less. The point is to read prayerfully,depending entirely upon God to guide our reading.



Whether we have never read The Gospel from beginningto end or have read it this way dozens of times, it doesn'tmatter. Each time is a new beginning and an opportunity forGod to bring us into His vision, His kingdom, and His Word.

We need to read leisurely and resist the need tounderstand each word. When a question forms in our mind,as it will from time to time, we simply note it to God andmove on. Later we see that He never forgets anything. Also,when we realize that we have drifted away, we just find theplace where we left off and read it again. We need to readthings a couple of times anyway!

Before we begin reading and when we finish, we take a

moment to thank God for being with us. Without Hisguidance we could easily lose our way and, perhaps, give upon The Gospel. This would really be a tragic loss.

Pay particular attention to Our Lord's words andinstructions to His Own, His close disciples, and followers. InGod's presence we are no longer a part of the crowd.Reading The Gospel with the awareness of God's presencewill highlight the uniqueness of our relationship with OurLord. We will want to know all the information that Our Lordshared with His inner circle so we, too, may keep His Wordand enjoy the fullness of faith.

Brother Lawrence said: "we ought to quicken and enlivenour faith. It was lamentable we had so little. Instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amusedthemselves with trivial devotions which changed daily."What better way, what more personal way, to practice ourfaith than to experience God's Word, The Gospel, in Hispresence!

Eventually, the times of reading and reflecting on TheGospel and 'The Practice of the Presence of God' become anessential part of our life, a sacred habit that influences allour thoughts, words, and actions.

The Gospel, from beginning to end; Brother Lawrence's'The Practice of the Presence of God', from beginning toend; are circles of love and protection that surround us andbecome a vital part of our very being. They are personalletters, intended to be read in the privacy of God's presence.



When this simple approach is firmly established as thesolid foundation of living in God's presence, additionalreading and reflection is greatly enhanced; especially therich array of available commentaries, books, and articlesabout The Gospel.

Brother Lawrence's personal approach, the same simpleand direct approach that Our Lord stressed throughout TheGospel, enables us to glide over the many discussions anddebates about authorship, timing, and countless otherdetails that, in the end, are often of little importance to theholy and unchanging message of God's will for us.

Brother Lawrence "noted that there was a great

difference between the acts of the intellect and those of thewill. Acts of the intellect were comparatively of little value.Acts of the will were all important. Our only business was tolove and delight ourselves in God."

We can do this. We can do this by keeping The Gospeland 'The Practice of the Presence of God' at the center andas the very foundation of our lives. Simple faith becomesour home in God.

2. The twelfth chapter of Matthew contains the parable of the unclean spirit. Jesus tells the story of what happenswhen an unclean spirit is driven out of a man. The uncleanspirit roams through arid regions and can find no rest.Finally it decides to see if it can return to the man fromwhom it was driven.

Upon return, the unclean spirit finds its former homeemptied, swept, and ordered. With these favorableconditions, the unclean spirit not only returns, but bringsalong seven others. So the last condition of the man is farworse than the first.

This can be an extremely frightening prospect for anyoneconsidering renouncing all that is not of God in order to

make way for His grace. How can we protect ourselves frommaking the situation worse? How do we prevent the returnof an unclean spirit and more?

Brother Lawrence, who lived the words of Our Lord,addressed this in many ways. For example, he spoke of itwhen he mentioned difficulties with wandering thoughts. He



suggested two things.

The first is to immediately throw ourselves on God'smercy. We must acknowledge to Him that we are too weakto keep the unclean spirits away. We must beg Him to fillthe emptiness with His strength. And, second, we must stayvery close to Our Father because "the least turning awayfrom Him is insupportable."

The root of the problem to which Jesus referred is theemptiness left by the departure of the unclean spirit. It is acleanly swept and orderly emptiness. Yet, it is an emptinesswithout purpose; an attractive and open invitation to be re-filled by its former spirit.

Brother Lawrence wrote of the importance of the heartleft vacant. He then added two words that make all thedifference: for God. The heart left vacant for God, the soulemptied, swept clean, and ordered for God will become afertile ground for the growth of God's grace.

Yes, at first this is very difficult. Anything that creates avacancy in our heart is painful. We ache with emptiness. Welong to fill the void. We are emotionally, mentally, andphysically weakened and 'the flesh' is vulnerable. Waiting forGod, especially if this is new to us, conflicts with ourpatience and self-will. And waiting for God withoutexpectation of the outcome, especially when we ache withemptiness, pushes our faith to the limit.

Sometimes, in our impatience and impulsiveness, we actfoolishly and get ahead of God. Brother Lawrence wrote,"Such was my beginning. Yet I must tell you that, for thefirst ten years, I suffered a great deal. During this time I felloften and rose again presently."

Yet, Dear One, when we, like Brother Lawrence, continueto practice God's presence, we do learn. We do becomesurrendered to God's will. We do discover that we simplycannot afford to do anything short of making the whole

space available for God. In this way, we open our hearts tothe fullness of His words, His presence, and the glad tidingsof The Gospel.

3. The practice of the presence of God is a response toOur Father's invitation to His banquet of life everlasting. Tosome the cost may seem too dear or the pain too great. The



immediacy of the temporal and material world in which welive narrows our vision and limits our faith.

Jesus tells a parable about a great feast where the lord of the manor hosted a big dinner to which he invited manypeople. When the appointed hour was near, he sent hisservants to summon the guests.

One by one, each of the servants returned with amessage of excuse. Last minute things had come up.Matters of pressing importance - newly acquired land, thearrival of a herd of stock, a recent marriage; all these thingstook precedence.

The host was very upset. He directed his servants to go

into the town and bring back the poor, the lame, and theblind to fill his house and enjoy the fine dinner which wasprepared. He told his servants that not one of thoseoriginally invited would ever taste the feast.

If Our Father's call to us was simply an invitation to aone-time dining event, even a once-in-a-lifetime feast, wecould probably go on with our lives without regret. After all,no matter how sumptuous the fare, it's still only food. But,the call to practice God's presence is not a simple one-timeevent.

There are no immediate material gains. In fact, there ismore fasting than feasting. Yet, if "not one of thoseoriginally invited will ever taste the feast," and we haveeven a hint of the idea of eternity, then the plain words of Brother Lawrence will hold that much more weight with us:"We die but once and a mistake there is irretrievable."

None of us has, from the beginning, the kind of faithrequired for what Brother Lawrence referred to as theChristian profession. When we are invited to Our Father'sbanquet of life everlasting, the continuous feast in Hispresence, God wants us to come as we are. In our fear andtrembling, we need only say, "Lord, increase my faith."

Brother Lawrence wrote: "When we are faithful to keepourselves in His holy presence, this begets in us a familiaritywith God where, when we ask, He supplies the grace weneed." The first time and each time thereafter, when we askfor more faith, more trust, or more closeness to Our Father,He responds very quickly. These are the gifts He is ever



ready to give us, because it is the nature of Our Father towithhold no good thing from a heart whose quest is tobecome wholly His.

The Gifts of the Spirit

1. In The Gospel we find listed a group of God's specialfavors. These gifts of the spirit are: Love, Joy, Peace,Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Fidelity, Gentleness, andSelf-control. How do we acquire these gifts? Weak,unworthy creatures that we are, try as we might, we areincapable of getting these gifts through our own efforts.These are gifts that can only be bestowed by God at will.And yet, they have been promised to His children, to Hisown.

From personal experience, Brother Lawrence saw that"the whole substance of religion was faith, hope, andcharity. In the practice of these we become united to the willof God. Everything else is indifferent and to be used as ameans that we may arrive at our end and then be swallowedup by faith and charity."

In other words, through the practice of the presence of God, our will eventually becomes united with God's will. Webecome synchronized to the expression of what is pleasingto God in all we think, say, and do. Our attitude is

transformed. We become God-contained.

We love God without any motive, even for His promisedgifts. We love Him purely because He is ultimately lovely. Hethen bestows on us the gifts of the spirit. We feel His greatoutpouring while, at the same time, as Brother Lawrencesaid, the gifts become "swallowed up by faith and charity".

Who can wonder whether becoming established in thepractice of the presence of God is worth doing whatever andfor however long it takes to become at one with the will andways of God?

2. His disciples came and Jesus taught them: "Blessed arethe poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousnessfor they shall be filled.



Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God. Blessedare the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted forrighteousness' sake for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.Blessed are you when men revile and persecute you, andsay all manner of evil against you for my sake. Rejoice andbe exceedingly glad."

Brother Lawrence reflects the simple radiance of 'TheBeatitudes'. To practice God's presence is to be poor inspirit; since we realize that without God we can do nothing.Awareness of our poverty leads us to become completelysurrendered and reliant upon God's grace.

A.C. Simpson wrote: "In the golden stairway of 'TheBeatitudes', the first promise is to those that are poor inspirit; but there is another step still deeper down on the wayto God - blessed are those who mourn. We need to mournover our poverty so we may realize our need. We need to bedeeply troubled over our spiritual wretchedness so we maycome with such hunger that nothing less than all the fullnessof Christ can ever satisfy us again".

We hunger and thirst after righteousness because nothingless than doing God's will holds any lasting satisfaction.When we live, move, and have our being in God, this is theessence of our faith and the foundation of our charity.Through the words of The Gospel and by practicing God'spresence we come to experience the fullness of the richesGod intends for all His children. And it is good.

The Best For Last

The Gospel, from beginning to end, is a marvel that soclearly demonstrates God's power of inspiration and howmagnificently He works through His children. Four of Hisown, different in individuality, brilliantly record a complete,thorough, and wholly compelling story of Jesus Christ, the

Son of Our Father.

We begin with the highly instructive book of Matthew.Then we move to the amazingly concise book of Mark. Next,the book of Luke provides us with story-like details. And,finally, we come to the book of John, whose words flow asonly a beloved son can speak of a cherished father.



At the very end of the book of John, we find the mostbeautiful scene in the entire record. The twenty-first chapterof John has been a subject of much discussion andconjecture about whether it was an afterthought, whether itwas really intended as part of John's book, and whether heeven wrote it at all.

We can only trust that Our Merciful Father has a senseof humor about those who become so easily distracted with,to use an expression of Brother Lawrence, "trifles andfooleries." Perhaps it is for those easily distracted that OurFather inspired John, in this same chapter, to record theexact number of fish in the net: one hundred and fifty-three! Sadly, those who focus on the details of this chapter

will likely miss the sheer delight of this most beautifulseaside scene.

It is very like John to have written this scene, whichhas so much to do with Peter. John's sensitivity towardothers is seen in his subtle interactions with Peter. This isespecially noticeable in the events surrounding and followingChrist's crucifixion where John seems to have becomePeter's quiet supporter.

The scene opens with seven of Christ's disciplesgathered together on the shore at the town of Tiberias' sideof the Sea of Galillee. It is well into the evening and Peterannounces that he is going fishing and the others go withhim. They work all night in the fishing boat and their netsyield nothing. This must have been a disappointment to atleast Peter, James, and John who were fisherman by trade.

What follows seems to happen in a flash. At dawn,Jesus calls from shore, "Have you caught anything?" Theyanswer 'no', He tells them to cast once more, and the net isfilled to the point of breaking. Here we can visualize a largecatch of fish almost glimmering in the first morning's sun.

John next writes that, when he told Peter the voice

was that of Jesus, Peter then immediately dove into thewater to get to his master. We have to wonder whether, atthe same time, Peter remembered how this happenedbefore. Is this not a repeat of the scene described in thebook of Luke when Jesus first called Peter to follow Him? Inany event, John said, 'It is the Lord' and Peter dove forshore. What a wonderful picture!



Next is a moment of great delight. On shore, thedisciples find that Our Lord has a meal prepared for them.Fish cooked over a charcoal fire. And bread. Almost casuallyit seems, Jesus tells them to add some of the fresh catch tothe meal.

What makes this so delightful is the ordinariness of itall. The disciples, having worked through the night, do notfind a banquet of delicacies awaiting them. Instead, theyfind their daily and familiar food. Yet, it is prepared andserved by the hand of The Master. The Lord and His closeones have a meal together. Good food in the best of company -divine simplicity!

The next highlight is Jesus' interchange with Peter. Itseems that Our Lord wanted to send a special message of comfort to him back at the tomb when He told the women totell the disciples "and Peter" to meet Him in Galillee. OnlyJesus and, perhaps John, could understand the depth of Peter's anguish over having done the very thing he couldnot imagine himself doing -denying his Master.

And yet, as we see with this group of six of the otherdisciples, Peter, no doubt with a new sense of humility, isback taking the lead. After they have eaten, Jesus asksPeter three times if he loves Him. We immediately see thecorrespondence of three times the question to three timesPeter's denial. But, there is more.

When Jesus asks Peter the first time if he loves Him"more than these," it may be, as many read it, that Jesushere refers to the other disciples. Yet, it seems more likelythat Jesus refers to the fish. Our Lord wants Peter to seeand say that he loves his Master and the work of his Mastermore than his trade as a fisherman. Peter is a skilled andsuccessful fisherman whose business has, at least, beensuccessful enough to provide for a family.

Peter very likely came from a long line of fisherman.

The trade was in his blood to the extent that his naturalimpulse the night before was, of course, to go fishing. And,since the business of the fisherman is to provide food, it isall the more natural for Our Lord to tell Peter to, "feed mysheep." We get a sense of Jesus saying to Peter: 'Don't stopbeing a fisherman, but take on the higher trade of feedingGod's children as I have taught you'.



After a little more discussion, Jesus tells Peter that hisone and only responsibility, his sole business and firstpriority is simply to follow Him. Then John concludes withthese most wonderful words, "There are many other thingsthat Jesus did that, if they were all told, I do not think thewhole world could contain all the books that would bewritten. Amen."

"The hour comes, and is now, when the trueworshippers will worship the Father in spirit andin truth. The Father seeks such people toworship Him."... Our Lord, Jesus Christ



Above All Else

Reflections On

Practicing God's Presence Second Edition

"God alone is capable of making Himself knownas He really is. We search in reasoning and insciences, as in a poor copy. What we neglect tosee is God's painting Himself in the depth of oursoul."... Brother Lawrence

Contents

Purely For The Love Of God God Draws Us Near Everlasting Treasure Favor In Heavenly Houses




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Purely For The Love Of God

1. "Always be with God. Do nothing, say nothing, and thinknothing which may displease Him. Do this without any otherview than purely for the love of Him and because Hedeserves infinitely more." ... Brother Lawrence

The practice of the presence of God is a way of dedicating our lives to God through the principle of love.Through this greatest of all principles, we habitually offereverything we think, say, and do to God until doingeverything to please Him becomes our very way of life.When the practice of the presence of God, what BrotherLawrence called "the holy habit", becomes our way of life,we are established in a private practice of the profession

most pleasing to God.

This profession is the way of life God intends for eachof us. God expects us to live from the principle of love forHim. This is God's reason and purpose for creating each of us. It is also Our Father's reason for sending His Son, OurLord, into physical, earthly being.

Our Lord Jesus Christ's earthly existence is the perfectmodel of life based on the greatest principle of love for OurFather. Jesus, God's Son on earth, is how Our Fatherrevealed Himself to us in a way we can all understand andcomprehend. Through Our Lord, Jesus Christ, we come tosee and believe that Our Father is infinitely greater than wecan humanly understand. We come to see and believe thatthe kingdom of God is infinitely fuller and greater thanworldly existence.

The main theme that runs through the message of OurLord as so well presented by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Johnin The Gospel, can be stated simply: "God's will is love". Allgood comes from the love of God. Love is His nature. Love isthe principle upon which God made us and the foundation of all His creation.

Though many have walked Our Lord's path of love inOur Father's presence over the years, the practice of thepresence of God is most often associated with BrotherLawrence. For nearly forty years he lived in quiet joy as aresult of doing everything purely for the love of God. In thelate seventeenth century, Our Father saw fit for BrotherLawrence to leave a legacy of a few conversations and



letters describing such a simple approach to living in God'spresence that anyone, anywhere can practice it.

The practice of the presence of God is a way of lifewhere we engage in continual conversation with God; walkwith Him in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and think,say, and do what is most pleasing to Him because that isGod's will for us.

This way of life, the holy habit, is an expression of theprofession most pleasing to God. It reflects the way of OurLord and the first principle of love for God above everythingelse. In one of his letters, Brother Lawrence wrote, "Aboveall other things I would advise all the world to practice thepresence of God, so necessary do I think it, and so easy

too."

2. "I know that some charge this state with inactivity,delusion, and self-love. ...it would be a happy self-love if thesoul...were capable of it. But while the soul is in this reposeshe cannot be disturbed by the kinds of things to which shewas formerly accustomed. The things that the soul used todepend on would now hinder rather than assist her. ...thesoul which enjoys God in this way wants nothing butHim." ... Brother Lawrence

The practice of the presence of God is a quiet way of living in a private and personal relationship with Our Father.Worldly people do not understand this, nor should we expectit of them. To live in God's presence is to be in the world butnot of the world. Those who practice the presence of Godresolve to place the singular desire for God above all earthlywants, needs, desires, and expectations. This isaccomplished by shifting our attachments and dependenciesfrom the temporal things of the world to the eternal realitiesof God. It is accomplished according to God's will, at Histime and in God's way.

When God is guiding and directing our steps, we losethe need for outside or worldly approval. At the same time,

we realize that, because we live in the world which is God'screation, offensiveness of any kind is an offense against OurFather. We must humbly accept both just and unjustcriticism and trust in God to soften and draw hearts to Himaccording to His plan, not ours. Only in this way can wetruly yield ourselves to serve according to God's will.



A great help to us in practicing God's presence is TheSilent 'Thank You, Father'. Spoken from the heart, werepeat this phrase at all times and in all circumstances -nomatter what. The Silent 'Thank You, Father' quickly bringsus into communion with God and alignment with His holywill. In trying circumstances this short phrase is especiallyhelpful in shifting our focus from ourselves to Our Father.

The Gospel offers so much comfort for us through thewords and teaching of Our Lord. Of the four beautifullywritten books of The Gospel, Matthew is especially notablefor the way he presents God's message with entire chaptersthat summarize Jesus' instructions, clarification of thecommandments, and examples of their application.

Also important are Jesus' instructions to His disciplesand the remarks made in reference to anyone who would bea disciple and claim Our Father's presence both on earth andin heaven. The Book of John, the beloved disciple, focusesspecifically on the personal nature of discipleship and theSon of God's love for the Father.

In practicing God's presence, it is important that webecome very familiar with all of Our Lord's teaching,commandments, and instructions found in all four books of The Gospel. As we prayerfully read and ask Our Father toshow us how to better apply these instructions to our dailylife, we gain a fresh perspective and appreciation for thewords and way of Our Lord.

We come to see the commandments and instructions,not as obstacles to our enjoyment of life but as the supportbeams for living God's way of love. We come to realize thatliving God's way truly is, above all else, the easy way.

3. "When we are faithful to keep ourselves in God's holypresence, and set Him always before us, this hinders ouroffending Him, and doing anything that may displease Him."


The attractiveness of God's gentle love compels us todo what we do for Him. We view what we do as "beingabout God's business" and even the little things that wewould selfishly prefer to put off or overlook, we find pleasurein doing for His sake. We may even discover that weactually enjoy doing some things that we previously disliked.



As we make a habit of keeping God's presenceconstantly in our awareness and engaging in the silentconversation of the heart with Him, we notice a refinementand politeness in our attitude. We perform our everydayduties, tasks, and "common business" gently and withtranquility.

When our only motive is to please God, there is nolonger any hint of selfish resentment, anger, or bitterness inour thoughts and deeds. We stop trying to arrange the worldto suit our needs because we have entrusted our needs toGod. We come to the place where obedience is an act of love and we would no more think of intentionally rebelling

against God's will than we could imagine living without Hislove.

God's love is the supreme gift, the Gift of gifts.Without the awareness of God's love, we dwell alone in aworld with no light which, perhaps, leads to eternalloneliness and darkness. With the awareness of God's love,we are open to the myriad ways in which He directs us toserve Him and return the gift to Him for renewal.

If we make our main objective the return of this gift of love to its source, Our Father, then all else flows from ourlove for God. This is God's will for us. How little He requiresof us for the everlasting favor of His holy presence.

4. "Brother Lawrence resolved to make the love of God theend of all his actions ... He was pleased when he could takeup a straw from the ground for the love of God, seeking Himonly and nothing else, not even God's gifts."

When we decide to make the love of God our only goalfor all we do, we may, for a time, feel hampered by ourneed to pause and consult with God before we think, sayanything, or take any action. This new exercise does slow usdown; but, as this exercise becomes a habit, we start to

experience a new sense of ease.

After a time of transition from our old ways of thinkingand doing to God's way of guiding our thinking and actions,we come to enjoy the pace and flow that results from Hisdirecting us. We begin to appreciate, in a very deep way,the reliability of Our Father's guidance.



As we become familiar with Our Lord's message,commands, and instructions, we move from our initial focuson the letter of the law to the spirit of the law. That is, webecome aware that to live in God's presence is to worshipHim continually "in spirit and in truth".

This is a natural result of our prayerful reading of TheGospel. God guides us and reveals the overall pattern of Hiswill and plan. In His holy presence, we now see that theentire message expressed by the words and living exampleof Christ is clear and quite simple. Everything in God's plan,the single point of Our Father's focus, is love.

In His holy presence, love in spirit and love in truth is

seamless. To love Him in spirit is to have His love as ouronly goal and motive. When love of God is our only goal andmotive, what we think, say, and do is in truth. The fact orresult of what we think, say, and do matches the spiritualmotive of love for Our Father.

We also discover that when we think and act out of love for God alone, His presence becomes dearer than wecould ever before imagine. Weak and unworthy beings thatwe are, we will continue to do this imperfectly. Yet theprospect of striving to improve and refine what we think anddo for the love of God has a sweetness all its own.

Living with the single goal and motive of the love of God results in many practical benefits, not the least of whichis true simplicity. Though the world, in any number of ways,tells us otherwise, to obey the laws of God and man takesless effort than to disobey. Instead of anger, bitterness, orhate, it is much simpler to think, say, and act out of OurFather's love and compassion.

Living with one goal and one motive, the love of God,enables us to give God our undivided attention. It also freesour time and energy so we may enjoy all the wonderfulaspects of His presence.

5. "We should feed and nourish our souls with high notionsof God which would yield us great joy in being devoted toHim."... Brother Lawrence

The esteem for God, the veneration, the high regard in



which we hold Him in our minds and hearts helps us toaspire to His goodness. Our affectionate regard for OurFather and the simple, instinctive act of looking upwarddraws us to Him and His infinite mercy and compassion.

Daily life presents us with so many ways toacknowledge the mercy and majesty of Our Father. We seeGod's goodness and grandeur in things both large and small.We begin to look for opportunities and additional ways topraise and please Him. As we seek these little extras, we aresurprised and pleased with, in Brother Lawrence's words,"all the ways the soul can invent".

Our continual silent conversation of the heart with Godengenders a new level of kindness and gentleness in our

thinking. Communion with Our Father is so pleasant that welose all interest in talking to ourselves or cluttering our mindwith imaginary conversations with others. At the same time,our attitude towards others begins to reflect the care andcompassion of Our Father.

It all seems so simple. We wonder: why, oh why, did Inot see it this way before? But, of course, at the same timewe realize this is the great change Our Father has made inus. This is His presence within. This is His grace workingthrough our unworthy and very imperfect nature. At thispoint, we can only respond with a head bowed in humilityand a heart overflowing with love for Him.

God Draws Us Near

1. In a letter Brother Lawrence writes, "We have a God whois infinitely gracious and knows all our wants. I alwaysthought that He would reduce you to extremity. It is a plainmark of the care He takes of you. Comfort yourself withHim, and give thanks for all."

On first reading this, we may find it striking that gentleBrother Lawrence would say, even in a private letter, healways thought God would reduce his friend to extremity.

But Brother Lawrence, no stranger to extremity, adversity,and affliction, knew a great deal about God's will and ways.

Brother Lawrence often mentioned in his letters andconversations that God has many ways of drawing us toHim. He knew that extremity, adversity, and affliction areoften God's manner of choosing us for His Own and



separating us from worldly ways.

God often goes to, what seems to us, extraordinarymeans to bring us to Him. These extraordinary means oftenresult in a total break from the life with which we werefamiliar. God's unusual or extraordinary means often resultin a loss of identity and self. We may feel we no longer knowwho we are. We may feel that all is lost and we are adriftwith no purpose or reason to live. God's extraordinarymeans often result in our having to "make a virtue of necessity" and rely completely on His strength, mercy, andpower.

2. Dear One, sometimes it takes a crisis. Sometimes Godhas to do something dramatic, something that puts us in a

position of utter powerlessness. Sometimes God has to takeus to that place beyond help and hope where only He canoperate. So often people look at personal crisis as God'sretribution. They see crisis as a demonstration of God'swrath. Not only is this wrong thinking but we greatly offendGod when we judge His will and way.

At a time when we are weakest and most vulnerable,when we are in pain, when we are frightened, lonely, andhelpless, this is the time to say, "Father, not my will butYours be done." Is this impossible? Yes, for us. Yet, withonly a speck of a mustard seed of faith, we are assuredthat, with God all things are possible. So, Dear One, we can,through God, say, "Not my will but Yours be done."

Please consider this: In every personal crisis is theopportunity to draw near to God. Every personal crisisinvolves God's freeing us in very special ways that areessential to His plan for us. Of course, because of the natureof crisis, we cannot see this at first. But, according to OurFather's exact and perfect timing, He will shape us accordingto His plan and we will overflow with love for Him. A silent'Thank You, Father' will resound in every fiber of our being.

Often the degree of extremity is the measure of the

degree to which God will fill us with His light and presence.When we come to see that this truly is a plain mark of God'sspecial notice of us, then we are ready to take comfort onlyin Him because we know He is the source and supply of allwe need. We are now more than ready to give Him thanksfor all.



3. God draws us near to Him in moments of solitude. Whenwe are free of outside distractions and receptive to thesacredness of silence, He will fill every space that we makeavailable to Him. Sometimes the power of His presence is sostrong as to be almost overwhelming. Sometimes Hispresence exceeds what we experience through our senses.

At these times, although we often feel that we shoulddo something or take some action, it is important that wesimply remain quiet. God's will is that we enjoy Hispresence. We greatly benefit by the advice of Francis of Assisi: "We must see nothing but the glory of God and baskin it." Basking in God's light and love is a completely selflessact that pleases Him above all else!

In the words of Brother Lawrence: "We should notwonder if, in the beginning, we often failed in ourendeavors, but that at last we would gain a habit whichnaturally produces its acts in us without our care and to ourexceeding great delight."

4. In the many ways God draws us to Him, in everythingfrom personal crisis to moments of sublime awareness of Him, Brother Lawrence said: "to form a habit of conversingwith God continually and referring all we do to Him, we mustat first apply to Him with some diligence. Then, after a littlecare, we would find His love inwardly draw us to Hispresence without any difficulty."

"I have no pain or difficulty about my state because I haveno will but that of God. I endeavor to accomplish His will inall things."... Brother Lawrence

Everlasting Treasure

1. "Judge by what content and satisfaction he enjoys. Whilehe continually finds within himself so great a treasure, he nolonger has any need to search for it. He no longer has anyanxiety about finding it because he now has his treasureopen before him and may take what he pleases of it." ...Brother Lawrence

Pause, Dear One, and take time to consider thesewords from one of Brother Lawrence's letters where hedescribes his own experience. God worked through the



example and words of Brother Lawrence in a way thatseems quite unique. In these three simple sentencesBrother Lawrence describes the entirety of our humanspiritual quest.

Notice the word "content" and recall how often BrotherLawrence uses that word and how often that word is used todescribe him. Content is the word we use for the quiet joy of being God-contained. Unlike earthly contentment, which is apleasant but fleeting experience, this is the contentmentthat is also referred to as the peace that surpasses allunderstanding. Our Lord, the very revealer of God, OurFather, freely gave this gift to His disciples when He said,"My peace I give to you, not as the world gives, give I toyou."

It is the sense of our being a vessel filled with thepeace and fullness of God. Our awareness is not on thevessel of self but rather on the sweetness of the contentswithin. Though we usually enjoy it best when we are in quietretirement with God, Brother Lawrence clearly shows us thatthe sense of being God-contained is independent of oursurroundings and activities. He got to the point where hewas as aware of God's presence while he was at work aswhen he was in formal prayer.

So it is with both contentment and satisfaction. Theygo hand-in-hand and are the result of being established inthe presence of God where the only sense we have of timeis the moment. The temporal awareness of past and futurefades into the background of our experience of God's time,the eternal. We may realize it in various degrees, differentintensities, and with or without the involvement of ouremotions, but the God-containment is a constant.

2. "Every one is capable of such familiar conversation withGod, some more, some less. He knows what we can do."... Brother Lawrence

This experience is unique in that we may each,

perhaps, describe it in different words and it is individualbecause of our unique relationship with God. There havealways been those who claim that this is a special, advancedstate one can only arrive at with special training or secret,often costly, methods and that it is an experience availableonly to an elite few. This is exactly what Our Lord meanswhen He speaks of false prophets and issues cautions about



those who make false claims.

The simple truth is that this experience of God-containment is the ordinary and usual experience availableto anyone who practices God's presence. Jesus makes itvery plain that this is the experience of discipleship. This isGod's will for each of us.

To the first disciples and all who come after, Jesus'promise is the same: Follow me in the way you see that I doOur Father's will in all things and I will be with you alwaysand in all ways until the end of the world.

In the Book of John, chapter fourteen, we find a verybeautiful message. Since Christ often mentioned all those

disciples who came after, we have every reason to believethat these words are directed at us today as well as whenJesus spoke them to the small group gathered around Him:

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you anotherComforter to abide with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth which the world cannot receive because it will not seeHim and will not know Him. But you will know Him for Hewill dwell with you and will be in you. I will not leave youcomfortless. I will come to you."

When we are grounded in the holy habit, Our Father,the Living God, dwells within our hearts and restscontinually in our awareness. Whether there is calm orstorm in the world around us, God is within. If we areinfluenced or become caught up in turbulence, God is within.As we have become established in His presence, He, also, isestablished within us.

Brother Lawrence said that, once the treasure of God'spresence is encased in the heart, "he no longer has anyneed to search for it". After all the searching and seeking,the heart thirsting and reaching out for sometimes we knownot what; after all the soul's discontent and restlessness,the yearning to fill the void within; Our Father draws us into

the clear reality of His gentle presence. Can there be anygreater testimony to the magnificence of God?

3. "I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfiedwithout the practice of the presence of God. For my part, Ikeep myself retired with Him in the depth and center of mysoul as much as I can." ... Brother Lawrence



It is difficult to imagine that anyone could miss thecompelling invitation to "Follow Me" and "Love one anotheras I have loved you" having read God's message revealedby Jesus Christ in The Gospel. It is equally difficult toimagine that anyone could miss the compelling invitation topractice God's presence after having been introduced to thewords of Brother Lawrence, especially since they echo OurLord's message of love for Our Father above all else.

Whether we choose to accept the invitations is anothermatter. In great part we know, from the words of the Son of God Himself, that we are called and chosen according toGod's will. Brother Lawrence clearly takes no personal creditand often comments that without God he can do nothing but

sin.

However, for those of us who practice the holy habit,there are two reasons why our greatest interest is in thesecond part of Brother Lawrence's comment: "For my part, Ikeep myself retired with Him in the depth and center of mysoul as much as I can."

First, "For my part" tells us that he minds his ownbusiness, the business of following Christ and of living in theFather's presence. This reminds us of the end of the lastchapter of the Book of John. This is where Our Lordresponds to Peter's question, "What about him (John)?", bytelling Peter, in effect, that his only concern is to follow Him.Essential to the practice of the presence of God is keepingour focus on our own business, our relationship with OurFather.

"I keep myself retired with Him...as much as I can" isthe second point of importance. Brother Lawrence had akeen appreciation for the quality of his relationship withGod. He placed the highest value on it. He realized that thetreasure of God's presence is precious and priceless. For thisreason he could not understand settling for anything lessand reminds others that, in this life, it is never too late.

With the practice of the presence of God, the search isover and the treasure is found. O, that we may never takeOur Father's gift for granted; and that in the midst of theenjoyment of contentment and satisfaction, we continue tofeel humbled by the enormity of the blessing.



4. "If sometimes he becomes a little distracted from theDivine presence, God gently recalls Himself by a stirring inhis soul. He answers with exact fidelity either by anelevation of his heart towards God or by such words as 'MyGod, here I am all devoted to You,' or 'Lord, make meaccording to Your heart'."... Brother Lawrence

When we become established in the holy habit of practicing God's presence, God's gentle reminders are sweetstirrings in the soul. Brother Lawrence suggests "We makean oratory of our heart so we can retire to converse withHim in meekness, humility, and love." With our treasureencased in our heart and soul, we always have direct accessto God.

Brother Lawrence shares the key to the everlastingtreasure with these words; "I maintain a simple attentionand a fond regard for God which I may call an actualpresence of God. It is an habitual, silent, and privateconversation of the soul with God. This gives me much joyand contentment."

Favor In Heavenly Houses

1. "The children of this world are better at dealing with theirown generation than the children of light. But, I tell you, usewhat you have wisely and do good with it and you shall findfavor in heavenly houses."

This is one of Our Lord's most encouraging statementsfor those of us who practice the presence of God. When webecome established in the practice we are Our Father'schildren of light. Found in chapter sixteen of the Book of Luke, these words preface Jesus' comments that end with:"You cannot serve God and mammon."

As children of light we consciously live in God'spresence. Our single focus is on knowing, loving, andserving God above all else. Children of the world know, love,

and serve the things of the world and, so, put mammonabove God.

The first sentence is, however, of far less importancethan the one that follows. It begins: "But, I tell you..." andis also often stated as 'Verily, verily, I say to you' or 'Truly, Isay to you'. Whenever we come to that phrase in The



Gospel, we know Our Master has something special to say tothose close to Him. We can almost hear His voice soften soas to draw His listeners closer. Then He says, "use what youhave wisely and do good with it and you shall find favor inheavenly houses."

How often Brother Lawrence uses that same wonderfulword: favor. Many times in his letters he writes that, despitehis unworthiness, God continues to shower favors on him. Atone point, he even writes that it seems as if God treats himlike His favorite.

As we become established in the practice of thepresence of God, His favors, such as grace, light, guidance,companionship, become both priceless and precious to us.

As we become established in the holy habit of knowing,loving, and serving God above all else, His favors of takingcare of our spiritual and, yes, material needs fills us tooverflowing with a resounding, 'Thank You, Father'.

As much as there are now and have always been thosewho would either dismiss this or abuse it by turning it intosome kind of selfish magical or mystical process, it is reallyquite simple when we keep in mind that Our Father's willand ways are always sensible and practical. If they seemotherwise, the fault lies in us and not God.

2. Our Lord tells us: "use what you have wisely and dogood with it ...". There is probably no subject morediscussed, more debated, or more cherished by God'sworldly children than the wise use of what we have and howto do good with it. The difficulty children of the light face inbeing surrounded by the atmosphere and influence of worldly children is that God -the love of God and doing thewill of God, is not the priority and sometimes is not even onthe list of the children of the world.

Yet, we are foolish and offend God if we reject or payno attention to sound and practical advice. There is a gooddeal of what is referred to as 'worldly wisdom' that, though

it is not really wisdom but information and facts, children of light can use to reflect the greater glory and true wisdom of God.

There are, however, advantages children of light haveover the children of the world. Those of us who practice thepresence of God have come to see and appreciate the value



of silent communion with God and the sense of living, inBrother Lawrence's words, "... as if there were none but Heand I in the world." We continuously offer all we have toGod and seek His counsel in doing good as He sees fit.

The advantage is, by God's grace, we focus on thelong-term of eternity which is everlasting while the worldlysee only the short-term of the temporal which perishestomorrow. This is not a matter of righteously 'having God onour side' but one of quietly and humbly putting God first.Since He knows us better than we know ourselves, surelyHe will lead us into wisdom and order our steps according toHis ultimate good purpose.

In practicing God's presence and conversing with Him

throughout the day, we also have the advantage of OurFather's acting as a filter for us. In dealing with things of theworld, He will screen out what does not respect Him andseparate the godly from the ungodly for us. Of this we canbe certain.

3. Many read: "favor in heavenly houses" to mean aneternal reward that comes after this life. Surely, we cannothelp but believe this is so. However, as we read The Gospelas God's living word that is as meaningful today as whenOur Lord first delivered the message, we see the presenttime in the phrase 'heavenly houses' as well as we see it inthe phrase 'the kingdom of God'.

O, the wonder and the beauty of The Gospel! Right atthe heart of The Holy Bible and the essence of The NewTestament are the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Johnthat record God's Living Way. God, the pure and perfectspirit sent His Son into the world of matter to show us howto live and delight in God's material creation and spiritual,heavenly houses. The phrases: kingdom of God, heavenlyhouses, presence of God, this generation, and so manymore mean today and right now as well as referring to thehistory of the past and the vision of the future.

In our practice of the present moment of God, usingwhat we have wisely and doing good with it is accomplishedwhen we engage in continual conversation with God; walkwith Him in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and donothing, say nothing, and think nothing that may displeaseHim because that is God's will for us.



The favor we find in heavenly houses is summed up inthese beautiful words of Brother Lawrence: "There is not inthe world a kind of life more sweet and delightful, than thatof a continual conversation with God: those only cancomprehend it who practice and experience it."

"God has infinite treasure to bestow. When He findsa soul penetrated with a lively faith, He pours intoit His plentiful graces and favors. There they flowand spread with impetuosity and abundance."... Brother Lawrence



Most Pleasing To God


"When we are faithful to keep ourselves in Hisholy presence, and set Him always before us,this hinders our offending Him, and doinganything that may displease Him."


Contents

The Way Living For God A Life That Makes Sense God's Will Through All Eternity

The Way

1. The Practice of the Presence of God is a way of life wherewe engage in continual conversation with God; walk withHim in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and think, say,and do what is most pleasing to Him; because that is God'swill for us.





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http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#living%23living

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#makessense%23makessense

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#will%23will

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#eternity%23eternity




http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#way%23way

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#living%23living

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#makessense%23makessense

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#will%23will

http://www.practicegodspresence.com/reflections/most_pleasing.html#eternity%23eternity



Our Lord's first disciples, teachers, and followers, aftera period of time in personal prayer, study, and guidancefrom the Holy Spirit, God's presence, started out by sharingall they knew of Jesus. They called their teaching The Way.

They explained that Jesus was the Christ, the PromisedOne, the Messiah, and the Son of God, whose example wemust follow in order to live in the Father's kingdom which isboth here and now and eternal. They taught The Way of OurLord, a way of love, simplicity, humility, faith, and living toplease Our Father by doing His will.

Does this sound familiar? The Way is the practice of the presence of God, pure and simple classic Christianity as

Our Lord showed us and as His first teachers presented it.

Down through the years, many have written beautifulworks about practicing God's presence. Some used thatphrase and some did not. Some wrote about differentaspects of the practice of the presence of God.

The little we have of the conversations and letters of Brother Lawrence, collected after his death in 1691 andfinally published under the title of 'The Practice of thePresence of God', is especially beautiful. His simple approachto beginning and becoming established in a life in God'spresence makes it possible for anyone to practice.

2. "Over time, by often repeating these acts, they becomehabitual, and the presence of God becomes quite natural tous."


Beyond firmly establishing ourselves in, what BrotherLawrence refers to as, the holy habit, there are no higherlevels, no additional steps, no further degrees to attain. It isalways this basic, rock solid foundation upon which we offerourselves to God for refinement. It is always this basic, rocksolid foundation to which we turn and return.

When we practice God's presence in the way of Brother Lawrence we become united with those firstdisciples of Christ who lived and shared The Way. We liveclassic Christianity.

Classic Christianity is the simple, clean, and pure way



of life God sent His Son to demonstrate to us. It is thiswholehearted, yet no-frills, approach to our living in Hispresence and kingdom that makes it possible for anyone topractice.

Though we do not often associate the two, anotherword for simple is elegant. Can there be a more appropriatedescription of this simple and humble way for each of us towalk with God as He intended than elegance? Dear One,please consider those lilies of the field, then thank Him rightnow.

Living For God

1. "After having given myself wholly to God, to make all thesatisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He, and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world." ... BrotherLawrence

When our chief aim is to live a life most pleasing toGod, every day takes on a quality of sacredness. We do allwe do for Him. All the little things become special offeringsto please God. A silent, heartfelt 'Thank You, Father' humswithin. We engage in a running conversation with Himthroughout the day.

As practicing God's presence becomes our habit, wediscover the pure delight that comes from every littleexchange with God. How gentle, how charming, how tenderit is to be in God's company.

As this becomes our habit, we also begin to discoverthings that are offensive to God. Sometimes we notice thatwe have changed a habit, an attitude, or a way of thinking.The change seemed to just naturally occur out of ourconversation with God.

At other times changing something that is offensive toOur Father requires diligent effort and prayer. We may feel a

bit shocked or embarrassed that we never saw before whatis so obvious now. This is when we need to rememberBrother Lawrence's caution: "We must work faithfullywithout trouble or disquiet, recalling our mind to God mildlyand with tranquillity."

Allowing ourselves to become upset serves no good



purpose. Instead, while we turn to the merciful God who isour only help, we call on His strength and power to changeus. And we thank Him. We thank Him because thesechanges, whether they come effortlessly or with muchstruggle, are ultimately His gifts to us. They always turn outto be a favor God grants us when we live in His presence.

We stumble. We stumble often. With Our Father's helpwe get up. Brother Lawrence speaks of the blessing thatresults from persistence: "by rising after my falls, and byfrequently renewed acts of faith and love, I have come to astate where it would be as difficult for me not to think of God as it was at first to accustom myself to it."

In time we begin to feel protective of this special

relationship. We treasure every moment with God. We relishquiet and stillness. We avoid empty entertainment andfrivolous distractions. We realize the importance of takingproper care of that private place of unceasing prayer andconversation with God that we ourselves have becomethrough the indwelling of His gracious presence.

We each really do become a temple of the Holy Spirit.We each really do become a monastery, a chapel, asanctuary. With this realization, we become more aware of the things that are not of God. With this realization, Godbegins to remove us from exposure to harmful influencesoften by inner promptings and often by His gently drawingus closer to Him.

When our chief aim is to live a life most pleasing toGod, worldly things and the ways of the world no longerhold any interest for us. We realize that we have only onebasic need: the need of a close personal relationship withGod. This is an important realization for us because it shiftsour entire focus. When God finally gets through to us that allwe need is Him, oh, Dear One, what a happy day!

When all the things we thought we needed, when allthe things the world tells us we need, when all the needs we

learned since childhood become as nothing compared to ourrelationship with God, our hearts become light as a feather.When we finally see that God is all we need because He isboth the Creator and Supplier of all things on earth and inheaven, the quiet joy that fills us is beyond description.

This is not only something that happens on the inside,



but it also extends to the outside and to our surroundings.We literally find ourselves living simply, gently, and lightly.

2. "For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depthand center of my soul as much as I can. While I am withHim I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him isinsupportable."... Brother Lawrence

When our chief aim is to live a life most pleasing toGod we realize how important it is to be "little known by theworld but greatly loved by God." This means the less visiblewe are in matters of the world, the more visible we are toGod. The less time we give to worldly things, the more timewe give to the things of God.

With great compassion, Our Lord said it would be fareasier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle thanfor a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. The samecan be said for the person who seeks recognition andnotoriety. It would be far easier for a camel to pass throughthe eye of a needle than for a person who seeks thelimelight to practice the presence of God.

The more compromises we make with worldly ways,the greater the distance we place between ourselves andGod's presence and kingdom. Brother Lawrence noted thatwhen the love of God was not people's main motive, theresults "appeared plainly by their works and was the reasonwhy we see so little solid virtue."

We cannot accommodate the ways of the world oryield to worldly thinking and fully practice God's presence.Only when we focus on God, make Him our priority aboveeverything else, and keep ourselves in His holy presence, doworldly habits, ways of thinking, and attitudes fall away.

3. "Brother Lawrence said we ought to act with God in thegreatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, andimploring His assistance in our affairs just as they happen.

God never failed to grant it, as he had often experienced."

If there is one thing Satan cannot stand, it isgodliness. The very idea of it makes him furious. Ourentertaining the slightest thought of it puts him into a rageand ready to seek revenge.



The longer we practice the presence of God, the morewe recognize the truth of Brother Lawrence's words that theleast turning from God is insupportable. The longer wepractice the presence of God, the more we recognize thatwe cannot now and never could match wits, overcome, orfight off the devil in our own strength. The longer wepractice the presence of God, the more we recognize that"The battle belongs to the Lord."

God will fight for us, and often through us, only whenHe has our complete surrender to His will and His way. Godwill fight only when we replace our pride and self-confidencewith obedience and trust in Him.

Many of us come to the practice of the presence of

God having gone a few rounds too many with the forces of evil. Bent, bloodied, and soundly defeated, we learned thatall our good efforts were wasted without true humility.Without true humility, the awareness of our powerlessness,though we may have the best intentions, we play God. Wetake on what is God's business and God's business alone.

When we discover that we are guilty of havingmeddled in God's affairs and how we have offended OurFather, who loves us beyond all measure, we may feeloverwhelmed. This is the time to repent by turning any guiltwe may have into gratitude. How can we ever thank Him forhumbling us enough to bring us to Him? We acknowledgethat "The battle belongs to the Lord." We surrender. Wegive up doing things our way. We say, "Father, do with meas You will."

4. Brother Lawrence said "that it was impossible not onlythat God should deceive but that He should long let a soulsuffer which is perfectly resigned to Him and resolved toendure everything for His sake."

The other thing that Satan cannot stand is The Gospel.The four books of The Gospel are the complete manual ongodliness. This is reason enough for Satan to detest The

Gospel since he hates godliness. But, there is more. To addinsult to injury, The Gospel is the complete manual onworldliness. Nowhere else are the workings of Satan and hisevil designs on God's green earth so clearly exposed.

The vivid description of Our Lord's forty days in thewilderness ending with the three temptations of Satan is an



excellent summary of Satan's most blatant ploys. Then wediscover throughout the remainder of The Gospel the vastarray of wicked and destructive tricks and deceptions heuses. We begin to see that, despite his huge assortment of lures and snares, all means are rooted in the same appeals:pride and greed.

When we consider that The Gospel is the greatestthreat to Satan's worldly power, is there any wonder he hasalways used every means at his disposal to discredit,confuse, and twist Christ's message? Can there be anyquestion that he has always used his worldly influence tokeep us away from The Gospel and all of Holy Scripture?

Can there be any doubt that he uses everyone and

every thing to portray The Gospel as an outdated, irrelevanttext, even though the world, as viewed through The Gospel,looks much like the world of any time in history includingtoday?

For those of us whose chief aim is to live a life mostpleasing to God, The Gospel details the dangers of worldliness and the benefits of godliness. Most importantly,The Gospel, through the living example of Our Lord, showsus the way to live in the world without being worldly.

We learn that Our Father's will for us is to live in Hispresence, engage in continual conversation with Him, walkwith Him in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and think,say, and do what is most pleasing to Him. The victorybelongs to God. Our job is simply to obey and, with fullnessof heart, say, 'Thank You, Father' as He shares the bountyof His victory with us, His own children.

5. "When an occasion of practicing some virtue was offered,Brother Lawrence addressed himself to God, saying, 'Lord, Icannot do this unless Thou enablest me', and then hereceived strength more than sufficient."

When our chief aim is to live a life most pleasing to

God our entire focus is on the first and greatestcommandment. We realize that if we put God first and loveHim with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, all else -the other commandments, virtue, and every good thing,flows and cascades from our living the commandment of total conformity to God's will.



We live in private prayer. We quietly go about OurFather's business. We do what we do prayerfully. We haveHim always in mind. We do everything we do for Him. Dayby day, moment by moment, our one and only desire is tolove and please Him.

When we practice the basics of engaging in continualconversation with God; walking with Him in love, humility,simplicity, and faith; and thinking, saying, and doing what ismost pleasing to God, we find that things not only seem toget simpler, but many things actually do get simpler.

Our thinking becomes much clearer because it is nolonger cluttered with "trifles and fooleries". We know whereto turn for answers. The Gospel becomes more

understandable than we ever thought possible. We see inBrother Lawrence's words a reflection of the original wordsspoken by Our Lord. And, in constant consultation with OurFather, we weigh, measure, and view things in light of TheGospel.

Yes, the beginning is difficult. Many people fall away.Many say, 'this is not for me' or 'this is not for me, rightnow.' But for those of us who wholeheartedly embrace thepractice of the presence of God and rely on His strength toget us through, we come to a point where we simply cannotimagine living any other way. And we thank Him over andover and over again.

A Life That Makes Sense

1. "I do not say we must put any violent constraint uponourselves. No, we must serve God in a holy freedom. Wemust work faithfully without trouble or disquiet, recalling ourmind to God mildly and with tranquillity as often as we findit wandering from Him." ... Brother Lawrence

The way of life dedicated to pleasing Our Father bydoing His will is a life that makes sense. When we come tothe realization that the only reason God gave us life and set

us down on this planet was simply to love and honor Him,The Most Loving of Loving, everything seems to gently slipinto place.

It is not what we accomplish. It is not what we have. Itis not who we are or even who we become. It is simply allabout loving Him. We exist to love Him. He made us to love



Him.

We may very well say, 'Yes, but doesn't any of the restof it count?' Yes, it does. However, the rest of it, no matterthe quantity and quality, no matter how much and howwonderful are the things we do unto others, no matter theamount of time and space we give God; if we do not loveHim above all else, it all counts for nothing. He will say, "Ido not know you."

Our love for Him is His number one priority. Everythingelse is a distant second with Him. Our love for Him is theonly thing that gives value to any of the rest of it. Our loveis so valuable to Him that if that is the only thing we areable to give Him, the sum total at the end of this life, it is

enough and more than enough.

2. "We are made for God alone, who can only be pleasedwhen we turn away from ourselves to devote ourselves toHim."... Brother Lawrence

Why am I here? What is my purpose? What is thepoint of living? When we understand that His primary reasonis to love Him and when we see how important that love isto God, we need never struggle with those questions again.

Our love, imperfect as it is, keeps Our Father'screation in balance. We are a part of His plan. That is whywe may be completely penniless, alone, and unable to moveand still be of great value to Him because of our love. If allwe have is love, then by our love, we serve Him. The merelifting of one heart is priceless to Him.

We are here because this is where He needs us to befor Him. God has many reasons. Some additional reasonswe may understand through our personal relationship withHim. Some additional reasons we may never know. But itdoes not matter.

When we live for Him, when we dedicate our lives toHim, when we live day by day in His presence, we live toplease Him here until He needs us there, where the end of life is not a dead end but His doorway.

3. "But the hour comes, and is now, when the trueworshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth.



The Father seeks such people to worship Him." ... Our Lord,Jesus Christ

Our Lord gave one of His most profound answers to aquestion posed by the woman at the well. Her question wasabout where to worship God. It seems that place, the properplace, has always been, and still is, a divisive issue inreligious worship. This may be due to the fact that ourearthly affairs are ordered along the boundaries of time andspace.

Our Lord, ever ready to share His mission of openingour eyes to the larger, divine kingdom, lifted the issue of worship out of the mundane by introducing differentconcepts: spirit and truth. He, in effect, said it is not about

when and where we worship. The Father is more interestedin how we worship. Look beyond the earthly notions of timeand space and see that the greater matter is the manner of worship.

Spirit and truth have no proper time. Spirit and truthhave no proper place. Our Lord's point was that, if worshipin spirit and truth is what really matters to Our Father, thentime and place are matters not worth arguing about. Moreimportantly, if worship in spirit and truth is what reallymatters to Our Father, then anyone, anywhere can worshipHim.

Time and again, Our Lord urged people to get out of their vain forms and traditions of worship. Jesus pointedout, over and over again, that outward appearances meantvery little to Our Father and often greatly offended Him.

No matter the place, no matter the time, what is allimportant to God is the quality of our worship. We worshipin spirit through our unceasing prayer, the continuousconversation that is unseen by anyone but Him. We worshipin truth by making every effort to think, say, and do thatwhich is most pleasing to Him. We worship in spirit and intruth by following in the footsteps of Our Lord, Jesus Christ,

and by living His Word.

For anyone who wants to live a life that makes sense,Our Lord made it perfectly clear. He said, "I am the way, thetruth, and the life" ... "Follow me".

God's Will



1. "God knows best what we need. All that He does is forour good. If we knew how much He loves us, we wouldalways be ready to receive both the bitter and the sweetfrom His Hand. It would make no difference. All that camefrom Him would be pleasing." ... Brother Lawrence

God's will is for us to know Him, love Him, and serveHim; to place nothing or no one before Him; to live as Hischild according to the earthly life and manner of His Son,Jesus Christ. God's will is to constantly share Himself through His presence alive within us.

How we so often struggle with God's will. Sometimes itseems perfectly simple and perfectly obvious. Sometimes,

God's will seems like a giant ancient volume that sits beforeus but is glued shut to prevent our prying eyes. At othertimes, the will of God just does not seem to coincide with,what seems to us, our unique, exceptional, or specialsituation.

As long as we continue to view God's will as separatefrom our own will and at odds with our desires, we remain ina state of confusion and frustration. The longer we secretlyinsist that we know best, the greater the distance we placebetween ourselves and God and the closer we alignourselves with the corrupt and unpredictable ways of theworld.

When we realize that our free will is a gift from God tobe returned to Him, the struggle ends as soon as we actupon it. Often the struggle with God's will ends with asimple and sincere, 'Yes, Father', doing what we do not wantto do or do not feel like doing, or, perhaps, thanking Him forthe condition in which He has placed us.

Contrary as it may seem, we discover our truefreedom when we give our free will back to God. When wereach the point where, like Brother Lawrence, we cansincerely say that we have no will but God's will, we have

become established in God's presence and are living in OurFather's kingdom.

2. "We need to beg God's assistance for knowing His will inthings doubtful and for rightly performing those which weplainly see He requires of us, offering them to Him beforewe do them, and giving Him thanks when we have



completed them."... Brother Lawrence

Until we make a determined effort to practice thepresence of God, His will is most likely to continue to be apuzzle and, at once, clearly appear, then as quicklyevaporate in our clouded minds. Without the benefit of establishing the holy habit, God's will is most likely tocontinue to be something we understand in our mind but arenot able to act upon because of conflict in our heart.

When we read The Gospel to discover God's will,something wonderful happens. Because our intention is asincere desire, God begins to favor us with newunderstanding. The words come alive. The New Message

really is new to us, fresh with meaning and vibrant withfeeling. We experience a sense, perhaps for the first time,that The Gospel is whole and complete. We realize there isno other book and we need nothing more; but, oh, how weneed The Gospel!

3. "In his trouble of mind, Brother Lawrence contentedhimself with directing all his actions to God. He dideverything with a desire to please Him and let what wouldcome of it."

We need, from time to time and in God's presence, tolook closely at our strengths and weaknesses. We need todiscuss with God and ask His help in seeing clearly. BecauseHe knows us better than we know ourselves, we need Himto show us what we cannot objectively see.

To God, both our strengths and weaknesses areimportant. Our strengths are for His glory. Our weaknessesare for His sake. We should take care not to overvalue ourstrengths because God may ask us to foresake them fromtime to time. We should take care not to underestimate ourweaknesses because God may use them for His specialpurposes as is His manner to often work through them. Wecan only be truly His when we offer both our weaknesses

and strengths to Him to do with as He sees fit.

In both our strengths and weaknesses, we need tolook closely at the many ways we are subject to temptation.On what do we "pride ourselves"? In what ways are we vainand vulnerable to flattery? Conversely, in what ways do we"hide ourselves", act falsely, rationalize, or minimize? What



are the things we are inclined to overlook? For which of ourfaults do we blame others? About what are we most likely tomake excuses or become defensive?

"Brother Lawrence said he was very sensible of hisfaults but not discouraged by them. He confessed them toGod and made no excuses. Then he peaceably resumed hisusual practice of love and adoration."

The practice of the presence of God is an exercise thatinvolves our action and cooperation with God. We must, inconsultation with Him, remove those sources of temptationof which we are aware and able to remove, then,wholeheartedly, rely on God to take care of the rest. Inconversation, it is very helpful to say to Our Father, "Not my

will but Yours be done."

A very powerful expression of practicing God'spresence is The Silent 'Thank You, Father'. Spoken from theheart, we repeat this phrase at all times and in allcircumstances -no matter what. The Silent 'Thank You,Father' brings us into awareness and communion with God.It also helps bring us into alignment with His holy will.

4. "Brother Lawrence found that the shortest way to gostraight to God was by a continual exercise of love anddoing all things for His sake."

Living according to God's will requires a great deal of calm, quiet, peace, tranquility, gentleness, meekness, andmildness. These things are not readily found in the worldand what is available is of a poor and temporary quality.When we look to the world and those in the world to supplythese needs, sooner or later, we are bound to bedisappointed.

Nor do the qualities of calm, quiet, peace, tranquility,gentleness, meekness, and mildness naturally reside withinourselves in amounts enough to sustain us. We are not self-sufficient. Try as we might to develop these qualities

through any means that depend on our own strength andeffort, we will eventually discover that our abilities are quitelimited. Sadly, at this point, many people stop. Resigned tomaking the best of things, they never get to experience thereal gifts of life, those gifts that can only come from arelationship with God.



sweet and delightful than that of a continualconversation with God. Only those cancomprehend it who practice and experience it."




Simple FaithReflections On

Practicing God's PresenceSecond Edition

"In continuing the practice of conversingwith God throughout each day and quicklyseeking His forgiveness when I fell orstrayed, His presence has become as easyand natural to me now as it once wasdifficult to attain."


ContentsKnow, Love, And ServeGraceOn CourseRest

Know, Love, And Serve

1. "The more one knows God, the greater one desires toknow Him. Knowledge is commonly the measure of love.The deeper and more extensive our knowledge, the greateris our love."... Brother Lawrence

Through the practice of the presence of God, theexercise of the holy habit of continually conversing andwalking with God, we discover that knowing, loving, andserving God are seamlessly bound together. They are threefacets of the same basic approach to our unique relationship




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with Our Father. Knowing, loving, and serving God flow intothe one expression we call faith, simple faith. Knowing,loving, and serving God in simple faith is the way we fulfillthe requirements of the Greatest Commandment.

We come to know God by being with Him and openingour hearts to the impulse of His indwelling presence. Wecome to know Him by our dwelling in His word as revealedto us through The Gospel. We come to know and love Godthrough the ordinary experience of the practice of thepresence of God.

Our love follows a rhythm of beginning, growing, andripening as our desire to know God ever increases. As wecontinue in the practice of the holy habit, we experience the

awareness of God's presence within us and all around us. Heis always on our mind.

Service is the sibling of knowledge and love. It comesfrom our desire to please the one we know to be ultimatelylovely and true. It follows that the more we know God, themore we love God, then the greater is our desire to serveHim.

We must be careful to realize the oneness of knowing,loving, and serving. They are inseparable and complementeach other. Knowing, loving, and serving act together in thebalance of simple faith.

Of the threefold command: know, love, and serve, theone that is often misunderstood and overemphasized,especially in the beginning, is serve. However, if we try tobegin fulfilling the Great Commandment through anemphasis on service, we inevitably place too much stress onknowing God's will. We upset the balance of simple faith byattempting to get ahead of knowing and loving God. Inthose dear words of Brother Lawrence we try to go "fasterthan grace."

We generally think of serving God through actions and

deeds. We see service as performance and doing things. Butthis is a limited approach. We must come to see a broaderview of service that includes our engaging in continualconversation with Our Father and our constant lovingawareness of Him. We must come to see a broader view of service that includes prayerful reading of His Word so wemay continue to know Him more and more. We must come



to see a broader view of service that includes patience whichis an act of obedience.

When we are careful to view service alongsideknowledge and love, we see that service means our growinginto the role of a humble servant so we may live "at Hisservice." As the good and faithful servant's will issurrendered to the master, we, then, "wait on God" down tothe last detail.

As a good servant, we continuously desire to learnfrom Our Master so we may be ever ready to attend to Him.As a good and faithful servant, we stay in constant contact.In other words, we practice God's presence.

Dear One, let us take time to appreciate that thepractice of the presence of God, the way of life where weengage in continual conversation with God; walk with Him inlove, humility, simplicity, and faith; and do nothing, saynothing, and think nothing that may displease Him, is reallyGod's very own gift to us for knowing, loving, and servingHim. We have but to receive this precious gift and humblysay, 'Thank You, Father'.

2. Unlike His human creatures, God always listens. Healways hears us. God understands every language and hasperfect hearing. To God's ears there is no differencebetween a word thought and a word spoken. In a letter to asuffering friend, Brother Lawrence wrote, "You need not cryvery loud. He is nearer to us than we are aware."

This certainly runs counter to the way the worldoperates. We do not have to search very far to see that,usually, wherever God is acknowledged He is also containedin a separate compartment and given an assigned place inthe culture.

In most societies God is often associated with abuilding that is a church or a place of worship. Buildingsneed to be protected with locks and hours of access must be

established. Along these customary lines, it is easy to seehow we fall into the habit of thinking of God in terms of access to a building or a place outside ourselves.

Overall, God is treated like a light switch to be turnedon and off. We see it all around us; in customs, ininstitutions, and in everyday life. That is the way of the



world. Whether we look around us today or read TheGospel, that worldly way of treating God runs throughouthistory.

However, to practice God's presence, we need toovercome the common and worldly treatment of Our Father.He cannot be contained nor can He be switched on and off.We need to embrace the truth that God is a being and themost important being in our lives. We need to place Godabove all else in order to see that He is with us always andin all ways.

3. "We only deceive ourselves by seeking or loving God forany favors which He has or may grant us. Such favors, nomatter how great, can never bring us as near to God as can

one simple act of faith."... Brother Lawrence

The best cure for self-deception, of which we are all, tosome extent, familiar, is absolute surrender to God's will.When we place ourselves completely in God's hands, we canbe certain that whatever comes our way or whateverhappens is Our Father's will for us.

This in no way implies or is an excuse forirresponsibility, recklessness, or passiveness on our part.Quite the opposite. Born of faith and love, absolutesurrender means our obedience to God in everything. Itmeans obeying commandments, laws, rules, regulations,and authority. Ignorance is no excuse when we have God'sword in The Gospel and His actual presence to guide us in allthings down to the smallest detail.

God does hold those who practice His presence to ahigher standard. He is far more exacting with those He callsHis Own. It is quite useless and even offensive to God for usto compare ourselves with anyone else. Our business is togive every last bit of ourselves to God to do with as Hepleases.

When Brother Lawrence wrote that, since he was

prepared to lay down his life for God, he suffered no fear of danger, he expressed the wonderful freedom from the bondsof self that comes from knowing, loving, and serving God.

4. Dear One, when we are weary and frustrated or angrywith God, or feel that God has turned away from us, ascontrary as it seems, this is the time for a simple act of



faith.

A simple act of faith, a silent 'Thank You, Father',seems contrary to us because we think a simple act of faithis not possible while we are weary, frustrated, or angry withGod. Many of us have an almost superstitious idea that it isan unthinkable sin to be angry with God. The sin is not inbeing angry with God. The sin is in staying angry with God!

We think we have to take it upon ourselves to resolveour weariness, frustration, or anger before we can utter thenecessary act of faith. But God wants our act of faith theway we are so He can resolve us!

Once we finally recognize that it is our false pride that

is standing in the way, a simple act of faith then comesnaturally. To silently and humbly say, 'Thank You, Father'now is a blessed relief.

Often great moments in our relationship with Godcome when we finally tell Him how angry we are with Him.Even though He already knows this, God patiently waits forour plain and frank admission so He can wash away ouranger with His peace in that way only God can accomplish.Often great moments in our relationship with God comewhen we finally do what we most do not want to do butknow He requires of us.

Also in weariness, frustration, or anger, we may forgetthat God always hears us. God never, for one moment,stops. While we are suspended in an agonizing state of hopelessness, God is at work behind the scenes. He isarranging things according to His exact plan for us. Onesimple act of faith, a silent 'Thank You, Father', in times of trial and suffering will bring a refreshing remembrance thatdraws us right back into His comforting presence.

5. Simple faith means we stop questioning God and justfollow His directions. A most beautiful example of this isfound in The Gospel. Recall the scene in John, chapter nine,

where the apostles asked Christ if the young man was blindbecause of his own sin or the sins of his parents. Jesusanswered, 'Neither has this man sinned nor his parents; buthe is blind so the works of God may be made manifest inhim'.

Above all else, Dear One, that is the answer to all our



questions and the very reason for surrender in a simple actof faith. God wants to reveal Himself through us. He wantsto make our hearts like His heart. He wants to shape us inHis image.

Yes, this scene includes one of Jesus' powerful physicalhealings. However, that is only the surface of this Gospelaccount. We also read in the very beginning that thequestion of whether it was the man's own sin or the sin of his parents is beside the point. Our Father always has amuch higher purpose and a greater reason.

Jesus, in the gentle way He takes with those close toHim, points out a higher purpose. He explains that thereason the condition of the man is as it is, is so the work of

God may be revealed in him. O, that we may see theapplication of this in our own lives!

Our Lord chose to give sight to this young man whowas born blind to present us with one of the most powerfulacts of simple faith recorded in The Gospel. A young blindman is approached by a stranger who puts moistened clayon his eyes and tells him to go to a certain place to wash itoff. Without question and in his blindness, he gets to thelocation, washes off the clay, and now has something he hasnever known, vision, which is the result of his act of simple,unquestioning faith.

It is wonderful to read the rest of this scene where theyoung man's faith is immediately tested and he now speakswith the vision and clarity of God's indwelling presence tothose who try to belittle and intimidate him. When theauthorities throw him out of the synagogue he becomes freeto fully follow Christ!

This account of the young man's act of simple faith isthe origin of the expression 'blind faith' and the effects of ithave reverberated throughout history. Only God knows theexact number of those who have experienced the impact of this one example. However, we can call to mind a most

wonderful case that happened shortly after the time of Brother Lawrence.

In the mid-eighteenth century, God reached out to tapJohn Newton, who, in his own way had been without vision.The outcome is a hymn that clearly expresses Newton's ownidentification with the young blind man. Even greater, the



outcome is a hymn that is probably the most universallyunderstood explanation of God's "Amazing Grace."

6. "You will tell me that I always say the same thing. It istrue, for this is the best and easiest method I know. I useno other. I advise all the world to do it." ... BrotherLawrence

May we all say 'the same thing' as Brother Lawrencewho, through simple faith, God gave the gift of not only Hisconstant presence, but the gift of sharing 'the best andeasiest method' of simply knowing, loving, and serving God.

Brother Lawrence makes it easy to see, through hisconversations and letters, that the practice of the presence

of God really is available to anyone, at any time, and in anycircumstance. He also demonstrates something else that weall long for and is available to anyone who seeks God'spresence: success.

This is not the success sought and prized in worldlyterms but that of a more enduring kind. Brother Lawrencedescribed it as the satisfaction that comes "only in thefulfilling of God's will. Whether He led us by suffering or byconsolation all would be equal to a soul truly resigned."

The only possible way to fail at the practice of thepresence of God is to not practice God's presence. DearOne, it truly does not get any simpler than this.

Grace

1. "Brother Lawrence often experienced the ready succorsof Divine Grace. And because of his experience of grace,when he had business to do, he did not think of itbeforehand. When it was time to do it, he found in God, asin a clear mirror, all that was fit for him to do."

Grace is the one thing that belongs to God exclusively.Only God possesses grace and only He can bestow it. It is

Our Father's generous nature to shower His grace plentifullythroughout His creation.

Grace comes in all forms, shapes, and sizes. It is bothmeasurable and immeasurable. It is material and spiritual.Grace is God's special coin and the treasure of His kingdomon earth and in heaven.



God's grace is the essential power, the life force andcurrent that moves all things and gives being, both spiritualand physical. Without His grace all ceases to exist.

Our Father's grace flows through all His creation,though many do not perceive it. Because they do notperceive it, they cannot appreciate it. Nonetheless, thecurrent of God's grace continues to flow.

Dear One, the difference between darkness and light isa matter of simple faith. When we silently say, 'Thank You,Father', we can be confident that we, too, will experience"the ready succors of Divine Grace."

2. "Ah! knew we but the want we have of the grace andassistance of God, we would never lose sight of Him, no, notfor a moment."... Brother Lawrence

As part of our practice of the presence of God we needto develop simple ways and habits of dealing withdistractions, wandering thoughts, and the worldlytemptations that threaten to come between us and God.

Worldly temptations are a fact of life on earth. Nomatter how long we practice God's presence, we will still besubject to worldly temptations. The self, self-will, and thedevil in his countless, slick disguises are always lurking andwaiting for even the smallest opening. However, our earnestand humble practice of the presence of God is the way,perhaps the only way, to live in a constant habit of strongdefense against subtle and surprise intrusions.

Through The Gospel we discover Our Lord's words of guidance and caution to His disciples and any of us who arecalled to follow Him. An example is found in chapter thirteenof the Book of Mark: "False Christs and false prophets shallrise and show signs and wonders to seduce, if it be possible,even the elect. But take heed. I have warned you of these

things."

Our Lord's intent is certainly not to scare us but ratherto prepare us for the realities of being in the world but notof the world. There are surely as many deceptions anddeceivers trading on God's name today as there have everbeen. This gives additional weight to the importance of our



solidly establishing the holy habit and constantly fortifyingour relationship with God. How greatly we are in need of Hisgrace!

3. "If the mind is not sufficiently controlled and disciplinedat our first engaging in devotion, it contracts certain badhabits of wandering and dissipation. These are difficult toovercome. The mind can draw us, even against our will, toworldly things. I believe one remedy for this is to humblyconfess our faults and beg God's mercy and help." ...Brother Lawrence

These words of Brother Lawrence are very important.We cannot overcome our deeply entrenched habits andattitudes without the assistance of divine grace.

Furthermore, perhaps Brother Lawrence's most practicaladvice is what we may call his words of prevention: "Oneway to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, andpreserve it more in tranquility, is not to let it wander too farat other times. Keep your mind strictly in the presence of God. Then being accustomed to think of Him often, you willfind it easy to keep your mind calm."

This draws us back to the essentials of our practice.We must make our main goal the forming of the habit of staying constantly in communion with God. It is easy to seehow this not only applies to wandering thoughts but also tothose distractions and worldly temptations that jeopardizeour relationship with God.

4. "Useless thoughts spoil all. Mischief begins there. Weought to reject them as soon as we perceive theirimpertinence and return to our communion with God ... Wemust hinder our spirits wandering from God on all occasions.We must make our heart a spiritual temple so we canconstantly adore Him."... Brother Lawrence

The most powerful help we have at our disposal is thebody of teachings of the very Son of God in The Gospel. Not

only is prayerful reading a wonderful way to stay incommunion with God but The Gospel is also our completeguide to understanding what is worthy of our attention.

The Book of John opens with, "In the beginning wasThe Word." We know that word includes both that which isthought and that which is spoken. In other words, in the



beginning was the mind and will of God. All truth and allcreativity was and ever will be in Him and is made clear tous through God, the Son.

How, then, can we ever overstate the importance of following the living example of the very Son of God?Through the Son, we live in the presence of God. Throughthe Son, we draw down the grace of Our Father.

5. "The greater perfection a soul aspires after the moredependent it is upon Divine Grace ... To arrive at suchresignation as God requires, we should carefully watch overall the passions that mingle in spiritual as well as temporalthings. God gives light concerning those passions to thosewho truly desire to serve Him."


Simple faith, light, grace. These are the gifts of thepractice of the presence of God. If, for even a moment, weare drawn into any insupportable, ungodly region, may wequickly call to mind Brother Lawrence's invitation: "Let usseek Him often by faith. He is within us. Seek Him notelsewhere."

On Course

The Practice of the Presence of God, which BrotherLawrence often referred to as the holy habit, is a way of lifewhere we engage in continual conversation with God; walkwith Him in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and donothing, say nothing, and think nothing that may displeaseHim; because that is God's will for us.

We see that the holy habit of the practice of thepresence of God is a way of life. In other words, it is not anaspect of life or one of the compartments in which lives areoften divided, but it is the complete framework andstructure on which our life is unified and centered in God.

We speak of the holy habit as a way of life and we may

also see it as a series of little habits we develop over timeand through practice. These little habits finally cometogether as a unified holy habit that becomes our naturalway of being and our way of thinking, saying, and doing.

It is very appropriate to look at our lives as a series of habits and attitudes that influence everything we think, say,



and do. We come to think of ourselves as that combinationof habits and attitudes. We believe 'this is the way we are'.This is so because all our habits form around what we thinkof as a sense of self or 'identity'.

The big change we make, then, is a change in personalidentity. The practice of the presence of God changes 'theway we are' to the way God wants us to be. At the core it isreally an exchange. We exchange our personal identity, thatcombination of habits and attitudes we believe we are, foran identity that is of God's fashioning.

When we adopt the practice of the presence of God asa way of life we immediately begin to cooperate with God'scoordinating our thoughts, words, and deeds into the holy

habit. As we turn to Him and turn away from ourselves westart to live God's way.

As a way of life, the practice of the holy habit is privateand personal. And it would not be inaccurate to call itmonastic insomuch as it represents the original meaning of the word describing one whose way of life is dedicated toGod.

More importantly, the practice of the presence of Godis the essence of the life Our Lord lived. It is the messageHe taught. As He came to earth to do the will of Our Father,His message was that His way of thinking, saying, and doingwas the Father's will for each of us.

This way of life consists of three parts: (1) we engagein continual conversation with God, (2) we walk with Him inlove, humility, simplicity, and faith, and (3) we do nothing,say nothing, and think nothing that may displease God.

Through the practice of the presence of God, we seethat these three parts operate in unison. Whenever wesense that something is out of balance, we need only referback to these three essentials to see where we need tomake a correction.

As we become more attuned to the gentle promptingsof Our Father, we often only need to call to mind the verythought of the three essentials and, without effort, weregain our balance. We become so sensitive to God'spresence that we automatically and naturally draw close toHim.



There are three helps or tools that support our holyhabit of the practice of the presence of God: (1) theconversations and letters of Brother Lawrence known as'The Practice Of The Presence Of God', (2) the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John known as The Gospel in theNew Testament of the Holy Bible, and (3) The Silent 'ThankYou, Father', the prayer of the heart we say to God at alltimes and in all situations -no matter what. We repeat thisphrase until it becomes like breathing God's nearness.

These three helps provide us with an abundance of learning, comfort, and nourishment. Boredom, discontent,and restlessness only set in when we wander off course.When we immerse ourselves in the three parts of practicing

God's presence using the three helps, we immediatelyexperience the fullness of Our Father's gentle presence.

It is easy to see how Brother Lawrence, who wasgenerally quiet and reserved, could express so muchenthusiasm in his letters. The gentle joy experienced bythose of us who practice God's presence bubbles up andspills over!

Rest

1. The words of the Son of God: "Come to me, all who laborand are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take up myyoke and learn from me. I am meek and lowly in heart. Youwill find rest for your souls because my yoke is easy and myburden is light."

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and Iwill give you rest." This is the invitation of Our Lord, JesusChrist. It is an open offer to anyone and everyone. Ouracceptance of this invitation will lead us into the presence of God. If we open ourselves to the words of the Son they willdraw us like a magnet into the very heart of Our Father.

We are weighed down with material and spiritual

burdens. We are laden with cares and worries, grief andsadness, shame and guilt - sometimes to the point of despair. We search and search for relief. Yet the things of this world offer only short term numbing and masking of pain but no real or lasting relief. The rest and refreshmentwe long for is not of this world because we long for rest andrefuge from the world and its burdens. Then we read the



words of the very Son of God, "Come to me ... and I willgive you rest." Is this not, after all, what we honestly want,what we so desperately need?

"Take up my yoke and learn from me." But how canwe possibly do that when our burdens are already too muchand too many for us? How can we take up another yokewhen our own is choking us? How can we take up anotheryoke when we feel ready to collapse from the weight of ourall too heavy burdens?

The yoke of Jesus Christ, the Son of God is single.Over and over throughout The Gospel, He states it gentlyand humbly. Our Lord tells us through stories andillustrations, sometimes in a subtle manner and often in

plain and direct statements. Jesus tells us that His yoke, Hisone and only care, purpose, burden, is to do the will of theFather who sent Him. What is the will of the Father who sentHim? The will of the Father is for the Son to invite us, showus, and teach us how also to live according to Our Father'swill. In His own words Jesus says: "I am the Way. ... Followme."

The offer, then, means we take our many heavy andworldly burdens to the Son, God come to earth, and learnfrom Him how to trade them in for the one and only yokethat matters -the yoke of doing the will of Our Father. WhenChrist says, "Take up my yoke and learn from me," Heoffers us the only real and lasting way to consolidate ourmany debts under the one plan of God's will. He offers toteach us a way that puts our burdens in their trueperspective. He offers to teach us how to order our earthlyaffairs according to the way and manner that pleases OurFather. He offers us a place at His side where He will teachus and, at the same time, He offers to take a place at ourside so we may always consult Him.

If we will pray to be made meek and lowly in heart, if we will pray to be humbled, if we will pray to be stripped of our pride and all the falseness we take for knowledge, and

beg God to make us willing to be taught anew, He will do it.When we come to Him with open heart and mind, helplessand defenseless little ones, He will gladly and ever so gentlyguide us according to His plan for each of us.

"You will find rest for your souls because my yoke iseasy and my burden is light." In the beginning we must take



this statement on faith. As we continue and becomeestablished in the practice of the presence of God and forma habit of staying with Our Lord, we come to see that this isthe rest and peace that surpasses all understanding.

We come to see that this is the only yoke worth takingup. In fact, over time, we come to see that it is not a yokeat all, but the garland of light, grace, and truth that sets usfree. Only when we live in God's presence, according to Hiswill, do we discover the true meaning of rest.

2. "It then seemed that, all at once, I found myself changed. My soul, which until that time was in trouble, felt aprofound inward peace as if she were in her center andplace of rest."

Brother Lawrence wrote those words after describingthe first ten years when he suffered from severe depression,despair, and guilt. Through these years "it seemed that allcreatures, reason, and God, Himself, were against me andfaith alone for me."

Then Brother Lawrence turned to God with the thoughtthat if this was the way it was to be, he would continue tolove Him with all his heart as he had always done. It hadbeen ten long years, but to Brother Lawrence it seemed thatthe change came all at once and the ten years of greatsuffering were as nothing.

After years of practicing the presence of God, havingtaken up the yoke of Christ, and happily being taught byOur Lord and Master, Brother Lawrence described the 'easyyoke' and the 'light burden' this way: "Sometimes I feel allmy spirit lifted up without any care or effort on my part.This often continues as if it was suspended yet firmly fixedin God like a center or place of rest."

Take comfort, Dear One, in having found the practiceof God's presence. Better yet, speak a silent 'Thank You,Father' for God's having found you and drawing you into His

presence. Stop not for one second. Pay close attention tothese wonderful words of Brother Lawrence: "I make it mypriority to persevere in His holy presence. I maintain asimple attention and a fond regard for Him. It is an habitual,silent, and private conversation of the soul with God." OurFather does come through for each of us. Of that we can becertain!



God, He will prepare the soil; He will plant, water, andnourish the little seed, so its roots are deep and healthy;and He will breathe His life into it.

In this act, which we repeat as often as necessary,there is no ceremony, no public show, or opendemonstration. As all things we do in practicing God'spresence, we offer the little seed in private because, OurLord explained, what we offer in private is of the greatestvalue to Our Father. In this way, God will reveal Himself tous. He will enlarge His image in our heart. He will share Hisvision sufficient for us to think, say, and do what is pleasingto Him.

2. The gift of God's vision is one of the most wonderful

aspects of becoming established in the practice of thepresence of God. In The Gospel we read these words, "I amthe light of the world. He who follows me will not walk indarkness, but will have the light of life." Is this not the sameas we experience, moment by moment, in His presence? Aswe go about our day in gentle joy, God's presence is thelight of our life. His presence becomes our vision.

We have two indispensable tools that enable us tobecome receptive and open to God's vision. 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' is our handbook for practicing God'spresence. All we need is found in the conversations andletters of Brother Lawrence.

The Gospel is our guide to knowing God and livingaccording to His will and way. The four books of The Gospelgive us the complete and perfect whole, even as each bookis complete in itself. What a generous gift God makesavailable to us!

Brother Lawrence was well grounded in The Gospel. Helived in a religious community that had been refocused toreflect more closely the basic teachings of Jesus Christ. Infact, the leading figure in reforming the society was John of the Cross, whose many beautiful writings attest to his well

known devotion to The Gospel.

As we read Brother Lawrence's words, we see thatmany of his phrases and references call to mind wholepassages and descriptions from The Gospel. BrotherLawrence's words especially mirror those words Our Lordshared with those closest to Him.



The more we read 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' and The Gospel, the more we see how each, in simpleand direct words, is synchronized to the other. Theimportance of this is, the more we recognize and becomereceptive to God's way, the deeper and stronger grow theroots of faith and the mustard seed begins to flourish.

3. When Our Lord said, "Blessed are they who have notseen and yet believe," He referred to physical sight and Heblessed those willing to believe in the spiritual seed of faith.Brother Lawrence, when he was well advanced in age andhis eyesight was failing, brings us full circle with thesewords: "I see Him in such a manner as might make me say,sometimes, I believe no more, but I see." The practice of

the presence of God leads us to a level of seeing that is fargreater than physical sight and exceeds even the full grownplant of faith.

"He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but willhave the light of life." It is God's light of life, as stated bythe Son of God, that are the words to which BrotherLawrence refers. This is the sight that surpasses faith. InGod's presence, our seed of faith grows and becomesspiritual vision, the light of Our Father's dwelling within us.

A Willing Heart

1. "Brother Lawrence noted that there was a greatdifference between the acts of the intellect and those of thewill. Acts of the intellect were comparatively of little value.Acts of the will were all important."

In the beginning was the word, the thought, the idea,the concept, the complete plan; the very Mind, Heart, andSpirit of God. It ever was, is now, and ever shall be. OurFather sent His Son into human being with the message thatall things shall pass away except the pure and perfect willand way of God. All came from God, belongs to God, andreturns to God.

Of all God's creatures, He gave each of us a mind withthe ability to think and reason and, in Brother Lawrence'swords, "some more, some less." However, even the best of human minds have their blind spots of faulty thinking andreasoning. This is something of which Brother Lawrence waswell aware both from personal experience and observation



of others.

"People seek methods of learning to know God. Is itnot much shorter and more direct to simply do everythingfor the love of Him?" This statement is not really a question,but a conclusion Brother Lawrence made as a result of theway God drew him into His presence. This way of love, theway of faith and willingness to trust ourselves completely toGod's care, is a way that anyone can follow. Anyone,regardless of intellectual ability, can live in God's presence.

Brother Lawrence certainly does not dismiss thethinking and reasoning acts of the intellect. However, as away of getting to know God, these acts are time consumingand unpredictable. As with everything else, our time is not

our own. It belongs to God and we must use it wisely. Evenour reasoning tells us, if there is a shorter and more directway to know God, we must take it. Our Lord said, 'FollowMe'. We must trust and obey.

Brother Lawrence calls the will the mistress of all ourfaculties because it is in the will, not the intellect, where thepower to choose resides. Perhaps it is also the seat of ourarrogance and self-pride. God gave us free will and thisability to choose is often a snare.

It is very easy to trap ourselves in our own free will.We can become locked into a position, a stand, or anattitude that not only colors the intellect but affects all of our senses. For example, when we choose to be contrary

just because we can and then make a habit of it, sooner orlater, the heart hardens, whether we are aware of it or not.When we choose to question God's rules or demand anexplanation from Him before we act, we become unfocused,confused, and rebellious.

Only an act of the will, a definite choice that comesfrom the heart, such as a 'Yes, Lord' or a silent 'Thank You,Father' can begin to open the door of communication withGod. As soon as that door is open, we must ask Him to

show us the truth. We must beg Him for a thoroughcleansing of the heart. We must ask Him to change any of our offensive attitudes and turn our self-will into His will.

Just as our positions, stands, and attitudes becamehabits as a result of acts of the will or choosing, so, too, wemust turn our new acts of choosing God's will into habits.



Once again, we cannot do this alone. It can only happenthrough our complete cooperation with God and 'Father, dowith me as You will'.

One simple and sincere act of the will, one choicemade to lift the heart to God, one resolution to put God first,pleases Him very much and brings His refreshment andrenewal. With repetition comes the habit. With the habitcomes a new way of life, God's way.

2. "You search the scriptures and think that in them youhave eternal life. They testify of me. Yet you will not cometo me for that life!"

These words of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, found in

chapter five of The Gospel Book of John, are meantespecially for those who focus on the acts of the intellectrather than the will, those who value the head more thanthe heart, those who 'think' but 'will' not.

How well the Son of God sees through us when wetake the intellectual approach to Him but do not choose togo to Him humbly from the heart. He is asking, 'How canyou believe you have eternal life when you find the wordsbut do not heed them by opening your heart and coming tome? The words you find in scripture all point to me and sayyou will find eternal life in me. The words alone do not giveeternal life. For eternal life, you must choose to follow me.Give yourself to Our Father and obey Him as I obey Him andyou will share the divine eternal life.'

The difference is between knowing what to do andbeing willing to do it. Brother Lawrence wrote: "We search inreasoning and in sciences, as in a poor copy. What weneglect to see is God's painting Himself in the depth of oursoul." Through the practice of the presence of God we seethat God is real and present in each and every moment.

With faith and a willing heart we realize the search foreternal life is over. When we become established in the

practice of the presence of God, we have arrived. When weacquire what Brother Lawrence called 'the holy habit', weare where we belong. Through our conversation with Godand walking with Him in faith, love, humility, and simplicity,we daily experience the eternal life of His presence, becauseeternal life is in His holy presence.



3. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." With thesewords Our Lord shared with those close to Him the personaland private way to pray to Our Father. The words, above allelse, express a sincere desire that all be done God's way onthe physical, material earth the same way all things aredone in the larger spiritual, non-material heaven.

In a very personal way we affirm that, by doing God'swill, the physical mirrors the spiritual. In a very personalway we offer a heart willing to be a reflection of His perfectspiritual presence, a little flame that projects the kingdom of heaven.

The only way we can do this is by surrendering our willand desires to God. We must be willing to give up our selfish

and worldly ways for God's ways. We must be willing to giveall for the All. Imperfect and unworthy as we are, ourwillingness and ready-heartedness leaves us open to God'sworking within, around, and even through us.

When we give all our attention to faith, humility,simplicity, and love; talk to God plainly and honestly, andlive to please Him in everything, we become established inthe holy habit of the practice of the presence of God. As aresult we discover that in this way we do surrender. We alsodiscover that in turning the will over to God, we lose nothingof any lasting value.

In fact, through our choosing God's will in all things,we gain something we all greatly desire but can neverobtain through our own will. Try as long and as hard as wemight, it is only through habitually choosing God's will thatwe ever find real freedom, what Brother Lawrence called'holy freedom.' By living according to God's will and way, wefind the true and lasting freedom of Our Father's love.

God Is Within

1. "Let us seek Him often by faith. He is within us. SeekHim not elsewhere." ... Brother Lawrence

Nothing this side of heaven comes close to theexperience of our fully and finally realizing the true meaningof 'God is within'. Yet, the idea that God is within us, unlessunderstood in a framework such as the practice of thepresence of God, is one of the most individually confusingand generally misused concepts in the broad category called



modern spirituality.

Misuse and misunderstanding seem especiallynoticeable today, though we can easily trace the difficultieswith 'God is within us' back to the time of Our Lord whenChrist met with much resistance, especially from those of influence and authority.

One of the reasons for the personal confusion andgeneral misuse of 'God is within us' in contemporary timeshas been the rapid growth and emphasis on instant accessand immediate availability. Though many good things havecome out of this trend, it has taken its toll on the godlyvirtue of patience. We want it now; we want it fast; and wewant it in three easy steps or less.

This, coupled with a blurring of the lines between thespiritual and material, where worldliness has spilled into anddiluted all spirituality, has resulted in much misuse of theidea that God is within us. Yet, again, this is only a surfacedifference from what we read in The Gospel. In fact, mostlikely the chief reason for so much of today's difficulty withunderstanding 'God is within' is simply the low value placedon The Gospel and just reading The Gospel.

In the book of Luke we read that, when the Phariseesdemanded to know when the kingdom of God should come,Jesus answered, "The kingdom of God does not come byobservation. No one will say, Look here! or, look there! for,behold, the kingdom of God is within you."

Few Pharisees, the authorities on religious correctness,behavior, and laws, were able to comprehend this in theleast. This statement of Our Lord made about as muchsense to them as did all His other references to and parablesabout the kingdom and the Father's presence.

The Pharisees were focused on form and outwardappearance and the importance of their rightful need toassume authority and control over others. Any idea that God

and His kingdom might be within His individual humancreatures was a stretch that the imagination of many of them was incapable of making and many others unwilling tomake.

Yet, is that really any different from today? ThePharisees then were a distinct and highly visible group.



Today, the distinctness and visibility are gone because ThePharisee, the attitude of The Pharisee, is commonplace. Theleaven of the Pharisee, about which Our Lord warned Hisdisciples, is worldliness. Worldliness sees self as the centerof all and values pride, status, power, and riches above allelse. Through the leaven or yeast of worldliness, self expands and becomes so inflated that God has no place inHis creature. Yet, whether we look back in history or lookaround us today, we need to look with compassion, becausefew of us, if any, could cast the first stone.

When we understand how this yeast spreads andpoisons, we see that there is nothing harmless aboutengaging in even a little worldliness. We recognize thatwithout a willingness to live according to God's will and way,

the Pharisee within remains active and grows stronger. Godwill always give us courage, strength, and patience; lead usfrom temptation; and deliver us from evil when we turn toHim.

When we resolve to cultivate a personal relationshipthrough practicing God's presence; surrender our will toGod's will and way; and learn to walk with Him through TheGospel way of love, faith, humility, and simplicity; we beginto discover the true God who dwells within. His presence isbeyond compare!

2. "I say again, let us enter into ourselves. ... We mustalways work at it, because not to persevere in the spirituallife is to go back." ... Brother Lawrence

Referring to the practice of the presence of God,Brother Lawrence points out the obvious; yet what we may,from time to time, forget. Unless we persevere, persist, andcontinue our practice, we lose ground in the kingdom. Weneed to stay on the path we know to be the only path worthtraveling. We need to remember that it is a path. This pathleads us ever closer to God, even when we think we cannotget any closer than our current place.

The work Brother Lawrence speaks of is not hard workand does not require much physical exertion. Nonetheless,like any habit, we can slip into an unconscious mode wherewe might begin to take it for granted. This is especially apossibility in the early years, when we see the profounddifference practicing God's presence has had on us. We maywish to stay, spiritually, right where we are, without



realizing, that the next small steps on the path will deepenand enhance our experience of God's holy presence. Wemust see every next step as an opportunity to fortify God'sdwelling place within us.

Yet, so sweet and delightful is the holy habit, that,once we become established in Our Father's presence, it isdifficult to imagine going back to anything other than thepresent moment. When love for God is our only motive, wewelcome His continuing to refine us to His satisfaction. Wecontinually ask for Our Father's refreshment and renewal.

Another way of looking at Brother Lawrence's words isto consider the result of persisting. With God, when wepersist, knock and keep knocking, He answers us with His

holy presence. In this sense, then, the result of persistenceis attainment.

Once we have persisted and attained, or becomeestablished in the practice of the presence of God, we thenneed to be consistent in all we think, say, and do. This,again, seems obvious; but there seems to be a quirkcommon to most of God's human creatures: we stop orslack off doing a thing only to later wonder why we everstopped doing it!

While it seems highly unlikely that, once established inthe practice of the presence of God, we would or couldcompletely break the holy habit, not one of us is completelyfree of laziness. We all have a tendency to get lax orcomplacent.

Unless we are consistent, which greatly pleases Godand brings His support, we can lose bits and pieces of Hiskingdom and presence. Rather than erode our holy groundthrough neglect or inattention, we must continuously askOur Father to enliven our faith. When we do this we will seeHis generosity and the quickness of His response!

Brother Lawrence ended one of his letters with words

that are a perfect summary: "I have taken the liberty toimpart to you these good sentiments that you may comparethem with your own. May they serve to re-kindle them, if atany time they may be even a little cooled."

Little Things



1. "In the beginning of the spiritual life we ought to befaithful in doing our duty and denying ourselves and then,after a time, unspeakable pleasures follow." ... BrotherLawrence

What, in the beginning, we call doing our duty anddenying ourselves, becomes, when we are established in thepractice of the presence of God, a habit of simple acts of love. When we have surrendered ourselves to God's will andways; when we think, speak, and act to please God aboveeverything else; and go about our days putting Him first inall we do, we experience God's pleasures in a thousandways!

The worldly view of 'duty' often prompts negative

attitudes, because it implies that duty is something otherthan what we would do if left to our own choice. This is thecase for everything from day-to-day living to moral andreligious training. We are conditioned to associate duty withsomething unpleasant and, sometimes, even something tobe avoided. Thus, the world offers an ever-growing array of convenience, time-saving, and work-saving devices andmethods; and mountains of books and information on howto avoid doing just about everything.

Be that as it may, in the practice of the presence of God, we come to Our Father with a great sack full of attitudes and, on faith alone, ask Him to help us sortthrough this weighty sack and make changes andcorrections according to His will and way. In our sack is ourattitude about 'doing our duty', both spiritual and otherwise.

What better time is there for us, while we are learningto be honest with God, to examine our conscience in view of His commandments? Revisiting and reviewing the originalTen Commandments becomes an eye-opening experiencewhen we hold them up to the light of the Son of God'smessage. Jesus said that He did not come to earth todestroy the commandments of old but to fulfill them. He wassent to complete and perfect them. Then Our Lord goes on

to deliver Our Father's exact meaning and clears up a greatdeal of confusion and misunderstanding.

The four books of The Gospel come to life for us in anew way. We have only to read chapters five through sevenof the Book of Matthew to bring our understanding of God'sbasic requirements of faith, love, humility, and simplicity



into focus. Here, the Son points out the difference betweenthe old way and the new way, which is Our Father's purposein sending His Son to us. Only through the words andexample of the Son can we understand our duty to OurFather. It is this to which Brother Lawrence referred whenhe said that we ought to be faithful in doing our duty.

In the practice of the presence of God, whether wehave a crystal clear understanding of 'doing our duty' ornot; whether our attitude is changed or not; in faith, wesincerely set out on a path of discipline, obedience, and self-control. In the beginning it is far better to err on the side of being too strict with ourselves than too lenient.

2. "Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain

rules or particular forms of devotion. Instead, act in faithwith love and humility." ... Brother Lawrence

It is very easy for us to get caught up in details, lists,and rules. In fact, it is so natural to us that, if there are nospecifics given, we make them up! This is not necessarily abad thing in itself. However, the minute our own rulesbecome the priority, we are headed for trouble of our ownmaking, because God, and not our self-made rules, must beour primary focus.

Too often man-made rules are given a higher prioritythan God's rules. Sometimes the complexity of man-maderules nearly prevents living by God's simple rules and oftenseparates God's children from each other.

Even though the practice of the presence of God hasbeen called 'the methodless method', by the very nature of continually conversing with God; walking with Him in faith,simplicity, humility, and love; and making every effort not tooffend God in our thoughts, words, and deeds; we build areliance on Our Father's guiding us in all things. In this waywe come to understand that God's way and manner of simply doing our duty is the same for all His children.

If we keep in mind, as much as possible, that we arenot alone, because Our Father is guiding us every step of the way; if we can commit ourselves to the phrase of theheart, The Silent 'Thank You, Father;' it will not be longbefore we begin to experience the unspeakable pleasuresreferred to by Brother Lawrence. We will find the peace thatsurpasses all understanding. We will begin to enjoy the



benefit of obedience, holy freedom.

3. "This practice does not tire the body. It is, however,proper to deprive it sometimes, nay often, of many littlepleasures which are innocent and lawful." ... BrotherLawrence

Acts of self-denial are important in order to overcomeself-indulgence, that worldly idea that we should treatourselves well and, in fact, have a right to special care.'After all', says the world, 'if we don't, who will?' 'How canwe treat our neighbor well if we do not treat ourselves well?'Despite the fact that this is totally upside down, when wehear it and see it constantly, we cannot help but start tobelieve it.

It is not until we begin to be really honest with OurFather that we realize the extent of our self-pride and self-righteousness. The way out of our selfish ways and habits isby forming a new habit through the exercise of denyingourselves 'many little pleasures which are innocent andlawful.'

We usually think of 'little pleasures' as material thingsand this is a very broad category. As to what and when todeny ourselves these things, we must look to Our Father forguidance. The things that may please Him for one of us togive up or deny, may offend Him for another. Sometimes itis more a matter of changing our attitude from self-rewardand self-indulgence to sincere and humble gratitude for agift God chooses to bestow on us. However, if we know athing to be pure self-reward or self-indulgence, we shouldnot hesitate to deny ourselves these foolish vanities.

There is another category where a habit of self-denialreaps major and multiple benefits. We may call this category'self expression'. It includes the non-material ways of indulging and pleasing ourselves by emphasizing ourindividuality over God's image and likeness. These are theways we use to get recognition and attention.

Some of the things we can do to tame our self-servingdesires include: refraining from making complaints, voicingcriticism, rendering judgment, offering opinions, andvolunteering comments and observations; as well asavoiding emotional outbursts and self-righteous behavior.The effort we make to deny our selfish desires pleases God



greatly and goes a long way toward building a solidfoundation in Our Father's presence and kingdom.

There is no point in going to extremes because goodhabits are only built in God's way and time. Step-by-step,little thing by little thing, He gently guides us and we calmlyand silently say, 'Thank You, Father.' Then, what in thebeginning we call 'denying ourselves', becomes, when weare established in the holy habit of the practice of thepresence of God, a simple act of love.

4. Once upon a time there was a man traveling by camelacross a great desert. Night fell. The darkness became thickand heavy. The desert night grew cold. The traveler becameweary and started to look for a place to take rest until

morning.

After many miles of searching, he finally came to asmall inn. He praised God and slid down from his camel.Just inside the door he found the innkeper who had seenhim approaching. Having but one bed left that night, theinnkeper apologized for the poor accommodation he wasable to offer him. The weary traveler said he was only toopleased to find any warm place to sleep.

As he started for the stairs to the loft, the innkepersaid, "Sir, I could not help but notice that you did not tieyour camel?" The traveler hesitated for a moment, thensaid, "I trust in God," and proceeded up the stairs.

In the morning, after paying the innkeper, the travelerwent outside and, having looked everywhere, realized,indeed, that his camel was nowhere to be found.

There is, of course, a very simple moral told at the endof this story: Trust in God and tie your camel!

However, there is much more we can learn from thistale. In addition to using the common sense God gave us, itis a story about listening to good advice. There is a lesson

about letting pride and selfishness get in the way of doingwhat we ought to do. This is also a tale about the need forgood stewardship.

Most importantly, this story is a mighty lesson aboutfaith and trusting God in little things. If the traveler had fullfaith, he would have trusted God to give him just a little



more strength for the few extra seconds it would take to dothe prudent thing and tie his camel.

When Our Lord was in the wilderness being sorely triedby Satan, one of His retorts to the foul tempter was that wemust never test God. When we dare put Our Father to a testwe place pride between ourself and God. This is a greatoffense and justly incurs His wrath. Any time we test Godwe automatically lose. We lose to the degree of the testwhich may well be much more than a camel; it may be ourvery soul.

5. "We ought not grow tired of doing little things for thelove of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, butthe love with which it is performed." ... Brother Lawrence

What a different place is the presence and kingdom of God from the world! The world operates on pride, power,greed, and competition, generally presented in respectable,often noble, clothing. Worldly ways, the common ways of mankind, seem inevitably to lead to an insatiable hunger formore and greater; and quantity, often at the expense of quality.

It is difficult to imagine that anyone would not beattracted to the presence and kingdom of God if they couldbut get a glimpse of the difference. Living in the world toglorify God and take pleasure in all His creation is absolutelydelightful. Living to please God is so much easier andimmensely more satisfying than living to gratify one's self.

We have a Father who is Goodness beyond words andwants nothing more than for us to share in His Goodness. Toserve a Master "who regards not the greatness of the work,but the love with which it is performed," is the holy freedomfound plentifully in God's presence and kingdom and israrely, if ever, found in the world.

Dear One, consider this: If God was not pleased withthe little things, when we come to love Him deeply, we could

easily become caught up in the same 'more and greater'trap of the ways of the world. Even the tiniest bit of faithtells us that this cannot be. Among the countless reasonsGod's kingdom is greater than the world is God's emphasison the small, pure, true, and simple.

Consider how difficult it would be for us to continually



do great things without drawing attention to ourselves,especially when Our Father wants our relationship with Himto be personal and private. If God requires great things of us, we must, of course, be willing to do them at all costs,but always aware that all praise belongs to Him.

With regard to both little things and great works, theSon of God not only taught but lived these words: "Let yourlight so shine that others see your good works reflectingonly your Father in heaven."

6. "I will always continue to act purely for the love of God. Ishall have this good, at least, that until death, I have doneall that is in me to love Him." ... Brother Lawrence

This is the essence of the holy habit of the practice of the presence of God. It is the simple secret to a happy lifeand a happy death. It is the way to live a life of quiet joyand be peaceful and content.

Brother Lawrence acted purely for the love of God dayby day for almost forty years. Even as he was dying, whenasked about his final acts, he said he was praising andloving God as he hoped to do through all eternity.

Dear One, if we can begin our day by asking God toguide us to do what is pleasing to Him and continue to stayclose to Him, moment by moment, we will soon becomeGod-contained. God will be always on our mind and in ourheart. If at the end of each day, like Brother Lawrence, wecan say, "I have done all that is in me to love Him," OurFather will bless us with His peace and contentment.

This is why it pleases God when we read, reflect on,and then live The Gospel. God cares very much for ourdesire to learn and understand how to please Him. He caresvery much, because The Gospel is the complete source forliving the way He created each of us to live. The message of the Son is the direct word of Our Father. Jesus said, "If youknow me, you know my Father also."

What a wonderful Father we have! He creates us out of love so we may reflect that same love back to Him. Insteadof keeping us in the dark and having to guess what mightplease Him, He sends His Son to leave, forever recorded,the complete guide for us. Then, as if that were not enough,He promises enlightenment through His presence and spirit



to anyone who sincerely desires to live according to TheGospel guide. He gives each of His children understandingsufficient for the day, little thing by little thing.

7. The Gospel has special significance for those whopractice God's presence. As God's children of light, who arein the world but not of the world, Our Lord's special remarksmade to those close to Him are as meaningful today as theywere when He spoke the words as they were given Him byOur Father. Those words are meant for us, here and now.

When we come to understand this through our dailycommunion with God, we begin to take Christ's words verypersonally. For example, as we prayerfully read chapterfourteen of the Book of John, the words come alive in God's

holy presence. No matter how many times we read theopening words, "Let not your heart be troubled," weimmediately draw closer to Him as we prepare to receiveanew the gift of comfort and consolation God gives Hischildren of light.

Each day and through all life's phases, in God'spresence we are always peaceful and content. In the simpleand quiet way of practicing the holy habit, in each little thingwe do, our delight is to do all that is in us to love Him.

Take Comfort

"Comfort yourself with the Sovereign Physician of both souland body... He is the Father of the afflicted and alwaysready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we canimagine... Comfort yourself with Him, and give thanks forall."... Brother Lawrence

Dear One, take comfort. In God's presence, He is ourstrength and all the courage we ever need. He holds ourhand, puts His arm around our shoulder, guides our steps,quiets our mind, orders our thoughts, and soothes ourheart. Always, He wants to give us comfort. Always, He

wants to nourish us from His fountain of grace. As we fix ourinner gaze on Him and speak a silent 'Thank You, Father',we take comfort.

Our Lord said: "Let not your heart be troubled. Youbelieve in God. Believe in me also. In my Father's housethere are many mansions. ...I will come again and receive



you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also.And where I go you will know, and you will know the way."

Take comfort. Through the practice of the presence of God, we fully experience Our Lord with us right here andright now. Jesus Christ, Our Lord, reveals to us Our Father'smansion within. Through the message of the Son of God wediscover the way to Our Father. All we need to do is simplybelieve and He comforts us from His unlimited bounty of peace.

Then said Our Lord: "I am the true vine, and myFather is the husbandman. ...Every branch that bears fruit,He prunes and purges so it may bring forth more fruit."

Dear One, take comfort. Our Loving Father cradles usin the palm of His gentle hand while He trims and cleansesus so we may reflect more of Him. As a little branch, werelax as we call to mind the perfect love expressed in Hiswill and way. In simple faith we give thanks for all.

"In continuing the practice of conversing withGod throughout each day, and quickly seeking Hisforgiveness when I fell or strayed, His presencehas become as easy and natural to me now as itonce was difficult to attain." ... Brother Lawrence



The Fullness of JoyReflections On


"Brother Lawrence said that his soul hadbeen filled with joy and delight so continual,and sometimes so great, that he was forcedto find ways to hide their appearingoutwardly to others who may notunderstand."









ContentsThe Actual Presence Of GodThe Gift Of HumilityAt One With GodIn Spirit And In Truth

The Actual Presence Of God

1. "I make it my priority to persevere in His holy presence,wherein I maintain a simple attention and a fond regard forGod, which I may call an actual presence of God."... Brother Lawrence

How light the life that dwells in God's presence! Whenwe engage in continual conversation with God; walk withHim in faith, humility, simplicity, and love; and think, say, ordo nothing that may displease God, we live in His kingdomon earth as we hope to live with Him in heaven.

When we often speak a silent, 'Thank You, Father' andmake the words and example of the Son, God made visibleto us, our own words, our will becomes Our Father's will.

The days flow by because we are in harmony with allof Our Father's creation. He refreshes us each day and,whether in suffering or consolation, the richness of holy

freedom and the peace that surpasses all understanding isenough and more than enough. When we live in this simpleway, we experience an actual presence of God. Aided by theright use of the imagination that God gave us, we live in away that is more real, more clear, and more practical thananything we have ever known before.

We cannot help but look around us and, as BrotherLawrence sometimes commented that he could notunderstand why so many settled for so few of the favorsGod wanted to give, we, too, may wonder. Yet, knowing OurFather has His ways and reasons and He is always moving inhearts, whether we see it or not, our part is to simply letHim work through us in any way He sees fit. Above all else,we are even more humbled and grateful that He called us toHim.

Who would ever have thought that God would usesome letters and a few conversations from gentle and quiet

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Brother Lawrence to deliver one of the simplest explanationsof God's will for each and every one of His children? As wecan easily see from his own comments and remarks, BrotherLawrence certainly had no idea of this.

Brother Lawrence focused his entire attention onpleasing God in little everyday matters just as theyhappened. His earthly reward was living in God's actualpresence. Yet, through his desire that God use him as Hepleased, we have a legacy that can be claimed by anyone,at any time, and in any circumstance. Simple, direct, andno-nonsense, the practice of the presence of God works!

May God open the eyes of the skeptics and cynics, whowant so much to believe, but are enslaved by their own

intellect and worldly thinking. May Our Merciful Father touchthe hearts of those who are prisoners of the mind, so theymay experience His fullness of joy.

2. When we live in the actual presence of God, our wish, aswas the wish of Brother Lawrence, is to be able to say that,in the end, we have done all that is in us to love Our Father.When we live in the actual presence of God, we naturallyand constantly look for ways to please Him. The thoughtthat we can never do enough is not a worry to us but ahappy thought that keeps us joyfully looking for little extrasand new ways to please Him. Though we cannot surpriseGod, we can delight Him; and that is always a happythought.

Our Lord said: "Does the servant deserve thanksbecause he did what he was obliged to do? Likewise, whenyou have done all the things which are required of you, say,I am an unprofitable servant. I have done that which wasmy duty to do."

In God's kingdom and presence we are held to ahigher standard. In the book of Matthew, chapter five, wefind Our Lord's words to those who would be Our Father'strue children, "Unless your righteousness exceeds the

righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no wayyou shall enter the kingdom of heaven." In the beginning of our practice, we discover, often for the first time, our realduties to God. As we perform our duties, tasks,assignments, jobs, and chores in fresh faith, we rise to thelevel of unprofitable servant.



Though becoming an unprofitable servant is a firststep, an achievement in overcoming our worldliness, we alsosee that we deserve no thanks for doing what God expectsof us. The thanks, the praise, the credit, and the glorybelongs solely to God.

How different this is from the ways of the world wherethanks and praise are not only expected but demanded andoften for mediocre or shoddy performance. Worldly peoplelook to be served and look down on serving. The world of man boasts of service and quality but frequently delivers thesubstandard calling it 'good enough'. When we make Godour priority and persevere in His holy presence, we will soongladly part with our old worldly and selfish ways.

As we become established in the practice of thepresence of God we have new hope. We also have newopportunities to become more than an unprofitable oradequate servant. When we become established in thepractice of the presence of God we no longer think along thelines of duty because we do all we do, in the words of Brother Lawrence, "without any other view than purely forthe love of God, and because He deserves infinitely more."

In this way, we may move beyond the level of unprofitable servant when we live, "for the love of God,seeking Him only, and nothing else, not even His gifts."Most important to us in our daily practice of the holy habit,however, is to simply do all that is in us to love Him, lettingOur Father do with us as He pleases. This is ever our dailysource of joy.

3. The actual presence "is an habitual, silent, and privateconversation of the soul with God". ... Brother Lawrence

A continual conversation of the soul with God is theway to experience life at its highest spiritual quality. This isthe purest form of worship and is available to each andevery one of God's children. Nothing is more personallydelightful to us or more pleasing to God than an habitual,

silent, and private conversation of the soul with Him.

This conversation means far more than we mightconsider it today. Far greater than an exchange of wordsand thoughts, it is a deep involvement and sharing of thesweetness of God's nature. No ordinary conversation, theconversation of the soul with God, whether we are aware of



it or not, is the true, clear, and fresh air that sustains ourlife. The presence of God is actual. It is real. To live in acontinual conversation of the soul with God is to experienceGod's kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

The difference between life and death is that, in whatwe call life, we experience God's presence in a temporal andearthly way; whereas, in death, His presence is everlastingand heavenly. Granted, the divine and heavenly way mustbe superior to anything we can comprehend while on earth.However, our experience of the actual presence of God isenough to fill us with peace and gentle joy on earth andhope for heaven.

4. Habitual. Silent. Private. These three characteristics are

what make the actual presence of God possible. They arethe only way to have an authentic and ongoing conversationof the soul with Our Father. And when we notice that theyinvolve no special knowledge or training, we understandhow living in the presence of God is available to anyone andeveryone. In fact, when we merely glance at the words -habitual, silent, private, does it not seem natural andevident that this should be God's will for each of Hischildren?

That the conversation is habitual is the direct result of becoming established in the practice of the presence of God.The essential simplicity of the practice of the presence of God is this: instead of focusing on all our bad habits andattempting to correct them through our own self-disciplineand will power, we turn our attention exclusively to Godand, in faith that amounts to total reliance and trust in Him,let Him do with us as He sees fit.

When we banish our pride and accept that He knowsus better than we know ourselves, when we take that giantstep into humility, we acknowledge that He is the only onewho knows what is best for us. He brought us into being. Heloves us. He will bring us into His image and likeness.

During this time of becoming established in thepractice of the presence of God, we have three things wemust faithfully do: cooperate, persist, and persevere. If allwe can do is silently repeat, 'Thank You, Father' -no matterwhat and in the face of what seems utterly hopeless, thenthis is perfectly acceptable in His sight. As long as wecontinue to turn our attention to God, we fortify the holy



habit -no matter what!

When we become established in the practice of thepresence of God, cooperation, persistence, andperseverance bring us into conformity with God's will and wewant what He wants. When we become established in thepractice of the presence of God, the conversation of the soulis the fabric of our physical and spiritual nature. The onlyway we think about the conversation of the soul with God, inthe sense of using our mind to consciously examinesomething, is, perhaps, to contemplate the misery andhorror of life without His presence.

Another way of describing the habitual aspect of theconversation of the soul with God is by using the words

constant and natural. Whether God's work in us has beenrapid or gradual, we come to feel that the practice of Hispresence is completely natural and constant. The holy habitis ongoing and becomes so integrated into our being that itis the unifying principle of who we are.

5. The practice of the presence of God, the ongoingconversation of the soul with Him, is silent and private. Morethan anything else, these two aspects are what make ourrelationship with Our Father personal, unique, and exclusive.Though each of us who practice God's presence share thesame goal of becoming wholly His, because of the uniqueand exclusive nature of the practice, no two relationshipsare the same. The benefit for each of us is that God usesour individuality in the way that best pleases Him and,united with His will, if it delights Him then it delights us.

When we thoroughly comprehend that eachrelationship with Our Father is unique, we understand thatwe can never judge another's practice without greatlydispleasing God and jeopardizing our own relationship withHim. This gives us tremendous personal freedom to beourselves with God because we no longer have the enslavingneed to compare ourselves with others. We have but onetrue, loving, and real Master to please.

Our ongoing conversation of the soul with God, theholy habit of living in His presence is private. O, Dear One,take a moment to consider this astonishing fact: No one ornothing on this earth can violate the privacy of ourrelationship with God.



The conversation of the soul that comes from our habitof practicing God's presence is confidential and, set with Hissacred seal, belongs wholly to Him. At all times, in thesedays, and at this moment, our conversation of the soul withGod is secure. Silent and private, with no outward ritual orceremony involved, our relationship with Our Father iscompletely reliable and true. Let us take all the comfort andassurance God intends for us in this most wonderful fact!Thank You, Father' and 'Thank You, Father'.

The Gift Of Humility

1. "When an occasion of practicing some virtue was offered,Brother Lawrence addressed himself to God, saying, 'Lord, Icannot do this unless Thou enablest me' and then hereceived strength more than sufficient."

Every virtue, every good thing, and every worthythought, word, and deed is made so by humility. As webecome established in the practice of God's presence, wecome to see that, without humility, there is no center orsolid foundation because humility is the very nature and wayof God.

Humility is to stand in awe of a Creator of the entireuniverse, all that we know of it and all that we do not knowof it, and be caught up in wonder as He continuously createsat every moment and every pause between moments.Everything that ever was, is now, and ever will be exists atthe Hand of One Maker.

Humility is the surprise, shock, and delight that thisMighty Creator, of whose work we are made spellbound andspeechless, is Our Father. In fact, His sole intention inbringing us into earthly being is to have a personalrelationship that is and always will be, like the magnificenceof His creation, greater than we can possibly comprehend.

It is this same humility, ever a mystery, that takes usbeyond faith, hope, and charity; beyond this earthly life;

and beyond our human gifts and abilities, into the mightyarms of Our Father in His kingdom. As He gives His gift of humility, He reveals His presence. As we accept His gift, weare filled with joy.

2. Our Lord said, "Learn from me because I am meek andlowly of heart." He said that the only way to know Our



Father was through Him and "If you know me, you know theFather." How it all comes together when we begin tounderstand this!

Only through the practice of the presence of God andliving in the world but not of the world do we understand theattraction, wholly compelling, to learn from the Master of Meekness and Humility. Only through the narrow gate of humility, following in the footsteps of Our Lord can we trulylearn to know the joy of Our Father's kingdom.

As we learn to know, love, and serve God throughsimply practicing His presence, the words of Our Lord revealthe extent of the gift of humility we receive: "blessed areyour eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. Many

prophets and righteous men have desired to see the thingsyou see and they have not seen them. They have desired tohear the things you hear, and have not heard them."

3. Brother Lawrence said, "as far as the miseries and sinshe heard of daily in the world, he was so far from wonderingat them, that, on the contrary, he was surprised there werenot more considering the malice sinners were capable of.For his part, he prayed for them. But knowing that Godcould remedy the mischief they did when He pleased, hegave himself no further trouble."

Meek, humble, tender, gentle, mild, kind. These wordsfind no welcome in a world that associates them withweakness and impotence. These words find no welcome in aworld that values, instead, words such as power,persuasion, cleverness, cunning, force, and winning at allcosts. Yet, where there is no meekness, no humility, notenderness; where there is no gentleness, mildness, orkindness; there is no peace. There is no joy. There is no life.

If ever we should feel surrounded on all sides,pressured, or tempted to doubt, we must beg Our Father tohelp us see things as they are and not as we wish them tobe. We must ask Him to show us the truth. We must beg

God to cleanse us of any of our own selfish worldlinessbecause Our Lord said that offense must be, but thegrevious sin clings to the one who gives offense.

We must ask Our Father to give us that which comeswith His gift of humility -the strength and courage to stepaway and stand apart. We must quietly slip away and enter



into His presence. Like Our Lord, who took every availableopportunity to go off alone with Our Father, we, too, mustseek every available opportunity to be alone with Him. LikeOur Lord, who, in the midst of the multitude, constantly andsilently communed with Our Father, we, too, mustconstantly and silently commune with Him.

Brother Lawrence said: "We cannot escape thedangers which abound in life without the actual andcontinual help of God. Let us pray to Him for it constantly."When we remain consciously and purposefully in God'spresence we find His meekness, humility, tenderness,gentleness, mildness, and kindness, in the words of BrotherLawrence, "more than sufficient."

4. "Let us generously renounce, for the love of Him, all thatis not Himself. He deserves infinitely more. Let us think of Him perpetually. Let us put all our trust in Him." ... BrotherLawrence

Humility is the key to surrender, losing our selfishnessand worldliness, and turning from everything that does notglorify God. When, through the practice of the presence of God, we find, like Brother Lawrence, that "the least turningfrom Him is insupportable," we start to experience truehumility. We begin to understand, in a deep way, that wecannot do anything without Our Father's grace and blessing.

Our initial fear of loss of identity by surrenderingourselves to God is very real because it involves theunknown. This fear is only overcome by humble faith whenwe recognize our own insufficiency. Through humble faithwe come to see the truth simply stated by BrotherLawrence: "We are made for God alone, who can only bepleased when we turn away from ourselves to devoteourselves to Him."

We persist in practicing His presence. We continue toengage in conversation with Him. Then God moves and weknow something big has happened. For a time we may

grieve the loss of our old self. For a time we may feel like afaceless wanderer. Yet, when we become established in thepractice of the presence of God, we realize that, for the firsttime, we have a true identity; the lasting identity of God'schild of light.

By simply practicing God's presence in the manner of



Brother Lawrence, we now really understand what Our Lordmeant by: "He who loses his life for my sake will find it."

At One With God

1. When God calls us to come to Him, often throughsuffering, affliction, and privation, we begin to look aroundus for the true way, the lighted path. Sometimes we becomeaware that we have been on a lifelong quest and our searchtakes on heightened intensity. We are done with methods,courses, and theories that promise all and deliver little. Nowwe must have nothing short of simply knowing how tobecome wholly God's.

Brother Lawrence reached this point. He could nolonger accept the mediocre and unnecessarily complicatedprocedures found in the books he read. God turned BrotherLawrence's utter frustration into strength to break throughand he wrote:

"This made me resolve to give the all for the All. Afterhaving given myself wholly to God, to make all thesatisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not God, and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world."

These are often the very words, when we read BrotherLawrence's letters for the first time, that create an instantbond of friendship, because we have found a kindred spiritin this gentle man who lived over three hundred years ago.And, perhaps, we begin to see that this truly is God's way.When God compels us to come to Him it is as if He says,'Enough, My Child. Enough. Put all else aside and simplycome to me. I am right here.'

2. "I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that wasnot God." Brother Lawrence renounced -quit, gave up,stopped doing anything that did not clearly reflect the imageand likeness of God and the right-this-moment awareness of Him. When we do this we simply decide to stop doing

anything that could possibly displease or offend God;anything of which we are aware and anything He brings toour attention.

This is why we must engage in continual conversationwith God. It is also the reason why, at the same time, wemust become deeply involved in His word. Especially in the



beginning, when we are unclear whether our thoughts arefrom our own habits of thinking or from the spirit of God, Hisword, as faithfully recorded by Matthew, Mark, Luke, andJohn, provides the way to sort out our thoughts and calmour confusion.

In time, as we form a habit of conversing with God andbecoming immersed in His word, we find our mind morenaturally takes on the thoughts of God. The words of OurLord, parables, mental pictures, and the atmosphere of theentire message colors our every thought and enlivens ourimagination and creativity.

As we empty our mind of thoughts of self and fill themwith thoughts of God, so, too, our heart opens to Him. At

this point we come to know the voice of the Good Shepherdand are no longer deceived by the voice of self, false gods,or the hirelings described in the parable.

Brother Lawrence wrote: "I began to live as if therewas none but He and I in the world." This is trulysomething that only one who experiences it can understand.The sense of calm and tranquility that fills us is beyonddescription. We are at one with God. We come to love all Hiscreation in a way we never knew before. All is His and it isgood.

When we live from this perspective, we become sounited with Our Father that we need never experienceloneliness again. Each day, as we bring this awareness intoour thoughts, words, and actions, we experience a growingappreciation for His Divine Companionship. United with theLiving God, we are ever humbled.

3. "I know that for the right practice of it, the heart mustbe empty of all other things; because God will possess theheart alone. As He cannot possess it alone, withoutemptying it of all besides, so neither can He act there anddo in it what He pleases unless it be left vacant to Him." ...Brother Lawrence

Dear One, notice that it is God who does theemptying: 'He cannot possess it alone, without emptying itof all besides'. How often God does this to draw us to Him!He will do the emptying in the way that is best andaccording to His will for each of us. He has to weaken us inorder to rid us of any small, mean, lazy, or tyrannical ways.



He has to bring any of our weak, petty, lying, conceited,hypocritical, selfishness into obedience.

If left alone, this is the little self we would ratherreserve for our defense 'in case of emergency'. What wecannot see is that this is the emergency and the ways of ourlittle self, if left unchecked, would soon rob us of God'stender care. They would ultimately prevent our experiencingGod's fullness of joy. So it is and must be God who clearsthe way so that all we finally need to say is, 'Yes, Lord'.

Sometimes, by the time He leads us to these words of Brother Lawrence, our heart has already been emptied.Then we discover that Brother Lawrence describes what wethought no one else ever experienced. And now we begin to

comprehend the words of Our Lord to His disciples especiallynear the end of His earthly life.

Our eyes are also newly opened to the truth that onlyChrist, God made visible, can reveal. This is the truth givento Him by Our Father to reveal to those He chooses. Werealize that we can only begin to understand when we aremade ready. And each day our understanding is enough andmore than enough.

God cannot possess the heart alone without firstemptying it of all else. These words speak of the promise of the fruit that is to come of the seeds God has planted withinour heart. When a heart is left vacant, though we may feeltotally bereft; filled with physical, mental, and emotionalpain; overcome with spiritual anguish; God is at work.

God acts in the heart that He has emptied, the heartthat is open to Him. We cannot see Him. We cannot hearHim. His manner is quiet and quite invisible to us. His waysare incomprehensible. Only the faith that we do not think wehave, that tiny little mustard seed, somehow keeps us afloatwhile we feel utterly lost at sea.

We now hold fast to the truth about Our Father: God

wants us. He loves us. Yes, unworthy as we are, He wantsto finish making us into His child of light and joy!

In Spirit And In Truth1. "It is a great delusion to think our times of prayer oughtto differ from other times. We are as strictly obliged tocleave to God by action in the time of action as by prayer in



the time of prayer." ... Brother Lawrence

In spirit and in truth. To those of us who practice God'spresence in the manner of Brother Lawrence, this is themost lovely of phrases used by Our Lord. 'In spirit and intruth' appeals to the poetic and refined part of our nature aswell as the simple and practical aspect. This lovely conceptis the foundation of all of Brother Lawrence's letters andconversations because it is the very foundation of thepractice of the presence of God.

Our Lord used this phrase in His conversation with theSamaritan woman He met at Jacob's well. The entireexchange took place in a matter of minutes and was endedby the return of Jesus' disciples from their errand. Yet, there

is so much nourishment in this conversation, which includesChrist's reference to living water, that we find a completefeast that ends with the exquisite concept of worshippingOur Father in spirit and in truth.

That Our Lord held the conversation with thisparticular Samaritan woman is, in itself, most interestingand shows the contrast between the prevailing base andworldly attitudes and Our Lord's new message about a godlyattitude. Here was a woman, a Samaritan who differed inreligious practice from the Jews, and a confessed sinner,whom Jesus befriended and showered with His words of grace.

The world would say He cast his pearls before swine.Our Lord saw an honest child with an open heart. Thoughshe probably did not understand 'in spirit and in truth' at theinstant He used the phrase, Our Lord knew that He hadcaptured one heart forever. In fact, just like the meaning of the phrase itself, 'in spirit and in truth', this is God's wayand manner of drawing us to Him -one precious child at atime.

Brother Lawrence noted that, in practicing God'spresence, there is no difference between the time of prayer

and the time of action. They are not mutually exclusive. Onthe contrary, prayer time and work time flow togetherseamlessly, often overlapping and to the point where thereis no visible difference between works and worship.

If, in the practice of the presence of God, we do all wedo for Him, then we live in the rhythm of Our Lord's most



lovely phrase: "But the hour comes, and is now, when thetrue worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and intruth. The Father seeks such people to worship Him. God isa Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in spiritand in truth."

2. "The most excellent method of going to God is that of doing our common business without any view of pleasingpeople but purely for the love of God." ... Brother Lawrence

Here, again, we find more insight into the concept of 'in spirit and in truth'. When we do our common business,perform our daily tasks, carry out assignments, go throughour usual routine, undertake something different or new,work on something large or small; by simply doing it to be

holy and pleasing to God, we are practicing His presence inspirit and in truth.

When we do all we do, wherever we are, with God inmind, and engaging in silent, affectionate conversation withHim; we practice His presence in spirit and in truth. Whenwe live so that our will melts into and becomes the will of God, we practice His presence in spirit and in truth.

3. "I have ceased all forms of devotion and set prayersexcept those to which my state requires. I make it mypriority to persevere in His holy presence, wherein Imaintain a simple attention and a fond regard for God,which I may call an actual presence of God." ... BrotherLawrence

At first, those of us who are used to a great deal of structure, ritual, ceremony, and methods for worship, oftenhave difficulty with this direct and personal approach. Atfirst, those of us who are accustomed to associate worshipwith particular places and locations are often uncomfortablewith this way of worshipping God. Yet, overcoming oursense of the unfamiliar is as liberating as the first realizationthat we can converse with God directly. It is as freeing asdiscovering that worshipping in spirit and truth is what really

pleases God and draws down His grace.

4. "We must lay aside all other cares and even some formsof devotion, though very good in themselves, yet such asone often engages in routinely. Those devotions are onlymeans to attain to the end. Once we have established ahabit of the practice of the presence of God, we are then



with Him who is our end. We have no need to return to themeans." ... Brother Lawrence

Throughout His earthly life, Our Lord showed respectfor civil law and religious customs and traditions. He showedrespect for civil law to the point where He even had Peterpay a questionable tax for them so as not to give offense.This is an important point we must keep in mind. We mustremember that our practice centers around not givingoffense; to offend others is to offend Our Father. No longerare we concerned with our personal rights. The will andways of God are all that matter to us now.

We see this awareness in Brother Lawrence's words"except those to which my state requires." As a member of

a particular religious community, Brother Lawrence fullyaccepted and was obedient to the society's requirements. Aspart of worshipping in spirit and in truth, we see that ourouter behavior must be a reflection of our inner bond withGod.

5. Brother Lawrence explained that much of what we callformal prayer, services, and devotion are tools forestablishing our relationship with God. Some of these toolswe may use for a lifetime, because they enhance ourrelationship with Our Father. Some of the tools we mayoutgrow or no longer need. In any event, there is no causefor concern, because God will guide us as He orders oursteps in all we do.

As we begin to let go of those forms that we haveoutgrown or now block our drawing closer to God, we moveinto a new level of freedom with Our Father. BrotherLawrence wrote: "We may simply continue with Him in ourcommerce of love, persevering in His holy presence with anact of praise, of adoration, or of desire; or with an act of resignation, or thanksgiving, and in all the ways our spiritscan invent."

Our Lord came to live among us to deliver a new

message and a new perspective about worship. In TheGospel we read that the new message and new perspectiveis: above all else, we should worship God in spirit and intruth. In other words, worship is no longer a separate act. Itis all and everything we do. Thus, the practice of God'spresence, the walk with Him in faith, humility, simplicity,and love; is worship in spirit and in truth.



6. Brother Lawrence wrote: "If, in this life, we might enjoythe peace of paradise, we must accustom ourselves to afamiliar, humble, and affectionate conversation with God."

The peace of paradise is a special aspect of God'spresence and kingdom. This is the peace that surpasses allunderstanding. Compared to any earthly peace, it isinfinitely greater, higher, and truer because it is peace inspirit. In spirit we are most alive.

God is spirit and, in the peace of paradise, He dwellswithin us and we are wonderfully aware of His presence. OurLord said: "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you,not as the world gives, give I to you."

When Brother Lawrence wrote that the peace of paradise might be enjoyed in this life, he clearly meant thatGod's presence and kingdom is available in the here andnow. In describing his own experience, Brother Lawrencewrote: "My soul, which, until that time was in trouble, felt aprofound inward peace, as if she were in her center andplace of rest." For the rest of his life, Brother Lawrenceknew the peace of God's presence.

Through these words of Our Lord: "in the world youwill have tribulation; in me, you will have peace," we seethat the way of real peace, the peace that is 'not of thisworld', is through the personal relationship that comes fromthe practice of the presence of God. Through the holy habitof engaging in a 'familiar, humble, and affectionateconversation with God," we establish an ongoingrelationship where we live in both His spirit and truth. Inother words, the peace of paradise becomes real to us. Aswe experience this actual peace, we reflect it in everythingwe think, say, and do.

When God grants us His peace, we no longer haveroom for evil intruders such as anger, resentment, hostility,envy, jealously, and bitterness. When any of these enemies

attempt to creep back into their old grooves, as they mayfrom time to time, we beg God to fill all the old spaces in uswith His precious peace.

From the prayer of Our Lord, we ask God to 'lead usfrom temptation'. Daily, and as often as necessary, we askHim to secure and fortify His temple and holy dwelling place



in our heart.

When we are still, the silence of peace is so full andsweet that we may actually say we feel God's embrace. Hiscloseness is more real than any physical or earthlycloseness. In this nearness, we know we are loved by theFather who is All Loving.

Our Lord's message to those close to Him:"If you keep my commandments you will abidein my love as I have kept my Father'scommandments and abide in His love. I tell youthis so that my joy will remain in you and your

joy will be full."



For His Love


"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweetand delightful... Yet I do not advise you to do it from thatmotive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek... Letus do it from a principle of love" ... Brother Lawrence

ContentsUplifting PrayerAbout Our Father's BusinessGod's WayThings Of GodBlessedComfortedGoverned By Love

Uplifting Prayer




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1.. The practice of the presence of God puts prayer at thevery center. Brother Lawrence called practicing God'spresence the holy habit of prayer. More specifically, the holyhabit of prayer is a continual conversation of the soul withGod. We might say, then, that we live prayerfully or ourlives become a prayer.

"One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let itwander too far at other times." ... Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence made a distinction between the timeof prayer and other times to make the point that we can becalm and tranquil at all times when we stay close to Godand engage in an ongoing conversation with Our Father.

Time set aside for prayer, scheduled, or formal prayertimes, are important. As a foundation for the lifelong habitof practicing God's presence, this is when we learn to speakhonestly and openly with God. Out of the habit of scheduledor set times of prayer, we, then, more easily and naturally,extend our prayerful conversation into what BrotherLawrence meant by other times.

When we employ our time of prayer in simple andopen communication with Our Father, the experiencebecomes so sweet that we find the conversation not onlydifficult but unnecessary to close. In other words, we simplycontinue our conversation with God from prayer time toprayer time.

2. "Sometimes to pray for His grace. Sometimes to offerHim your sufferings. Sometimes to return Him thanks forthe favors He gives you. The least little remembrance willalways be pleasing to God." ... Brother Lawrence

What we do in the time of prayer may be more formalor structured than at other times. We may recite or readcomposed prayers. Our prayers may be quietly spoken orunspoken. What we carry over into other times will usually

grow to be more plain and conversational; such as shortremarks, words of affection, and a silent 'Thank You, Father.

Brother Lawrence's use of the word remembrance,which we may take to mean consciousness or awareness of God's presence, highlights the very nature of prayer.



Without our recognition of the person of God and ourrelationship to Him, there is no prayer. Without our wordsand thoughts directed to Him personally, there is no prayer.

The difference between meditation, reflection,contemplation, and prayer is that, in the first three we thinkabout God; in prayer we speak to God. Prayer is a personaland private conversation of the soul with Our Father, theLiving God.

3. Then Our Lord said: "Pray like this." As a response toHis disciples' request to teach them to pray, Jesus, ratherthan instructing them in steps, concepts, and principles,gave them the perfect word example, The Lord's Prayer.Also known as the Our Father or Pater Noster, this prayer

perfectly addresses Our Father about the needs we all havein common and it applies universally and equally to all God'schildren.

The Lord's Prayer begins by acknowledging God as aperson, Our Father, and by affirming His perfect will. Thencome the simple but comprehensive requests including: therequest that He supply our daily bread and basic needs, therequest that He forgive our sins as we forgive others, therequest that He lead us away from temptation, and therequest for Our Father to deliver us from evil.

Without God, none of these things are possible.Without God, not even one of these things can beaccomplished in our own strength. It is, was, and willforever be His kingdom, His power, and His glory.

In addition to this first instructive example, The Lord'sPrayer, we find everything else we need to know aboutprayer in The Gospel. As we read, we notice a gradualbuilding of remarks and examples. As Jesus taught Hisdisciples and followers, so too, through the words of the fourbooks of The Gospel, He teaches us today. Chapterseventeen of the Book of John contains Jesus' most eloquentprayer to Our Father spoken aloud for the benefit of His

disciples. In this prayer He said: "Neither do I pray for thesealone. But I pray also for those who will believe in methrough their word so that they all may be one, as You,Father, are in me, and I in You."

Our Lord, the Son of God, closed the prayer with thesewords: "And I declare that the love, with which You have



loved me, be in them, and I in them." Through Jesus Christ,the Living Word of The Gospel, we learn to pray to OurFather. Through Jesus' way of loving Our Father, we learn tolove Our Father. This is how we experience, at the veryleast, a glimpse of the divine unity of God's presence andkindgom.

4. Brother Lawrence wrote: "Sometimes, when I applymyself to prayer, I feel all my spirit lifted up without anycare or effort on my part. This often continues as if it wassuspended yet firmly fixed in God like a center or place of rest."

When we make a habit of prayer, engage in anongoing conversation of the soul with God, and think, speak,

and act in the awareness of His holy presence; weexperience times when we are freed from all sense of earthly concern.

Unaware of anything except the sense of beinguplifted, we know this is the gift for which there are nowords, the gift indescribable. We know this is the gift of OurFather's divine love.

About Our Father's Business

1. "Our sanctification does not depend on changing ourworks. Instead, it depends on doing, for God's sake, whatwe commonly do for our own." and "doing our commonbusiness purely for the love of God." ... Brother Lawrence

Something very wonderful happens when we do all wedo purely for the love of God. Little things take on a sacredquality. The most common tasks now have a sweetness andlightness as we perform them in God's presence. Whateverwe do out of love for Him keeps us mindful that we areabout Our Father's business.

We gain a new and heightened ability to appreciateordinary things as God continually reveals Himself anew. In

both the familiar and the unfamiliar, we feel a blessedassurance. When we are about His business, God's strengthis all we need and He supplies it in full.

When we make a shift in attitude and offer all we do toGod, we begin to live in the world but not of the world . Thissharpens our focus and frees us to see that, in all matters,



great or small, we are always "about Our Father's business."In God's presence, with Our Father at our side, and incontinual conversation with Him; He leads and we follow.

2. Brother Lawrence said "God always gave us light in ourdoubts, when we had no other design but to please Him."

Doing God's will with gladness is most pleasing to Him.The more we prayerfully read The Gospel, the better we areable to walk in the obedient ways of the Son of God. Yet,'Thank You, Father', we will always have times when weneed His personal guidance.

Sometimes we find the words in The Gospel but needto look to Our Father for the meaning and the way He wants

us to apply the words. We live in the world where things arenot always what they seem. The devil, in countless ways, isconstantly cranking out new deception and more complexity.Even the children of God, who seek truth and simplicity, canget caught up in confusion unless we remember to stayclose to Our Father all the time.

Sometimes our doubts stem from a habit of resistancethat prevents our singleness of purpose. Much of our growthin the practice of the presence of God comes fromobedience; much of our growth comes from patience; andunderlying everything else is humility. If we are willing tosee and let go of any secret selfish reasons or motives, Godwill clear the clouds of confusion or doubt. A 'Yes, Father' or'Thank You, Father' then brings happy and holy results whenwe follow through and do His will.

As we become more open and honest with God, turn toHim at the first shade of doubt, and acknowledge thatobedience to His will is always the best way; we oftenaccomplish things with greater ease and less effort. Inobedience to Him and with gladness, we calmly and quietlygo about His business.

God's Way

The practice of the presence of God is a way of lifewhere we engage in continual conversation with God; walkwith Him in love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and donothing and think nothing which may displease Him,because that is God's will for us.



In becoming established in the practice of the presenceof God, what Brother Lawrence called the holy habit, we livesimply according to God's will and way. When we live theway of God rather than the way of self, we become free of selfish pride, power, and greed - the ways of the world. Inchoosing to live God's way, according to His will, we becomeHis own and live in His kingdom and presence.

After Jesus' disciples had been at His side for sometime, He said to them: "... it is given unto you to know themysteries of the kingdom of heaven ... whoever hasunderstanding, more shall be given him." Understanding isthe ability to see and hear God's way. The "mysteries of thekingdom of heaven" are the ways of God. Just like Jesus'first disciples, our understanding begins with a tiny mustard

seed of faith and grows to something much greater. This iswhat Brother Lawrence meant when he wrote: "Sometimes,I might say I believe no more, but I see."

Understanding is a gift given to those who give uptheir worldly ways to walk with God in faith, love, humility,and simplicity. Understanding is given to those who heedJesus' call of 'Follow Me'. In The Gospel we read thatunderstanding was given not only to the twelve, but also tomany other men and women who, though less prominentlymentioned in the record, followed Our Lord in countlessways behind the scenes.

When Jesus was betrayed by Judas, who arrived with"a great multitude who were armed with swords andstaves."..."They laid their hands on Him, and took Him."Only in chapter fourteen of the account of Mark ismentioned the following: "There followed Him a young manwho had a linen cloth cast about his naked body. When theygrabbed him and laid hold of him, he left the linen cloth andfled from them naked."

This once mentioned event is an example of the depthof understanding God gives those who do His will. Thisyoung follower of Christ later wrote the book of Mark, a

most concise and important book of The Gospel.

Throughout history, there are many known examplesof those who have been given God's gift of understandingbecause His will for them was to reveal it to others. Also,because God readily grants His gifts to those who would belast and go unnoticed, there are countless others who might



be described, in the words of Brother Lawrence, as "littleknown by the world, but known and extremely caressed byGod." Through the practice of the presence of God we, likethose first followers of the Son of God, also receive theunderstanding Our Father shares with His own.

This understanding can only come from an opennesson our part to listen and see. More importantly, we must bewilling to hear and perceive. In explaining to His discipleswhy so many people had such little and shallowunderstanding, Jesus referred to the words of the prophetIsaiah: "...the people's hearts are hardened. Their ears aredull of hearing. They have closed their eyes." These wordsend with the reason for so much general apathy andunwillingness: "They do not see or hear for fear they will be

converted and have to change their hearts."

Two thousand years ago, yesterday, or today - whenwe are willing to hear and look at a point of view, we riskhaving to change our minds. We may even have to put asideour own way and begin to do things God's way! BrotherLawrence said: "Perfect resignation to God was a sure wayto heaven, a way in which we have always sufficient light forour conduct. In difficulties we need only have recourse toJesus Christ and beg His grace with which everythingbecame easy."

God has many ways of drawing us to Him. SometimesHe has to bring our lives to a crisis point in order to show usthat there are really only two ways of living, God's way andour own way; and our own way simply does not work. At thesame time He begins to open our eyes to see something of His way and the possibility of living in His presence.

God prepares us. Though the process may seempainfully slow, it is always perfectly suited to His good planfor us. As God guides us into willingness, He begins toreveal to us "the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."

Things Of God

"The more one knows God, the greater one desires toknow Him. Knowledge is commonly the measure of love.The deeper and more extensive our knowledge, the greateris our love."




1. When we first read that Brother Lawrence renounced,for the love of Him, everything that was not God, we may bepuzzled. Our first thought may be, 'What exactly does hemean by that?' or 'Okay, so where is the list?'. This seemsto be a perfectly normal first reaction. And at the sametime, we may also have an instinctive sense of his generalmeaning. Yet, for many of us, 'everything that is not God'sets us in a new direction where we begin to do somesearching.

The idea of 'let your conscience be your guide' is aboutas helpful as 'let nature take its course'. Why? Withoutbecoming established in the practice of the presence of God,these are two empty phrases. Without practicing God'spresence, they are both vague and subject to countless

shades of meaning.

With regard to 'let your conscience be your guide',even with a strong sense of right and wrong, we cannot helpbut see how our ability to rationalize, excuse, blame,minimize, and downplay our own faults, can result in somedistortion. We, alone, even with the best intentions, simplyare incapable of being objective about ourselves. Unless anduntil we develop a strong relationship with God, who knowsus better than we or anyone else knows us, our consciencewill continue to be an undependable guide.

The same is the case with 'letting nature take itscourse'. Through nature we may experience much of thesense of the kingdom of heaven. Yet, sadly, many stopthere, confusing nature with the Creator of nature, theperson of God, who is also our Creator.

As God has many ways of drawing us to Himself, oneof His main ways is through the attraction of His endlesslyfascinating and wonderful natural world. We discover thatnature is of God , but the course of nature is directed by thesame supernatural person and power of God who createdeach of us. To 'let nature take its course' without enjoying apersonal relationship with the Creator of All is to miss out on

the true delight of all creation.

Brother Lawrence attributed his turning to God, hisconversion, to a nature experience he had at the age of eighteen. It was an experience of the divine through naturethat drew him to the indescribable providence and power of the person of God. In other words, nature is a pathway to



God; but we must keep in mind that nature is only apathway and not an end in itself. God is so much more thannature, as a creator is more than his creation.

Another avenue we may search, in looking for'everything that is not God', is the path of law. Surely, if weplay by the rules and follow God's ten commandments wecan avoid 'everything that is not God'. But Our Lord, JesusChrist, said we must do better than that. He explained thatto live by the letter of the law is the way of the Pharisee.These were not bad people, but their approach to living bythe law made them slaves to the law.

In other words, they put the law above God, adangerous practice then and a dangerous practice today. To

be enslaved by the letter of the law prevents us fromhearing and seeing Christ's essential message: "...the hourcomes, and is now, when the true worshippers will worshipthe Father in spirit and in truth." Real worship is beyondlegal boundaries. When we put God first in everything and inall ways; when our attitudes, motives, words, and actionsare pure; spirit and truth merge into living a life of divinelove.

2. It seems that God sometimes leads us on a path of discovery through ruling things out. This is called lifeexperience. Many a spiritual journey seems, to the seeker of truth, like a series of blind alleys and wrong directions. Itmay seem like a waste of time, and failure upon failureleads us to the conclusion that we have tried all, ruled it allout, and have gotten nowhere.

While it may seem we have taken the hard way andGod has dealt harshly with us, no one knows better thanOur Father the value of each of His children's experience.Very often this is the time, when the stage is set, for God tointroduce us to the simple approach. If it is not BrotherLawrence's 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God', it will besomething similar. It will be an approach that leads us toThe Gospel, which is called the living word because it is

alive, changeless, and truth incorruptible.

If God, in His mercy and goodness, leads us to BrotherLawrence's approach to practicing God's presence, He hasgiven us an everlasting gift, which, the more we use it, thegreater its value. In our search to determine 'the things thatare not God', we find our answers not only in the words but



also in the example of Brother Lawrence's life in God'spresence.

A little flame reflecting the message of the Son of God,Brother Lawrence lived by the one law that enables us toseparate the things of God from the things not of God: thelaw of love.

Blessed

When we become established in the holy habit of thepractice of the presence of God, we live in a love that wasnever known by any of us before. God's love is higher,deeper, purer; more constant, vital, and tender than it ispossible for us ever to have humanly imagined. It is so farbeyond ordinary human experience that the only way wecan truly know it, understand it, or even hint at adescription of His love is by engaging in the all for the Allrelationship.

Brother Lawrence wrote that it seemed God treatedHim as His favorite. When we live in Our Father's presenceand our sole endeavor is to do His will, we, too, feel thatOur Father treats us as His favorite. We become, like John,a 'beloved' disciple.

When we live in the all for the All relationship, we areblessed. The meaning of the word 'blessed' is 'favored byGod's special love' which, like grace, only He can bestow.Blessing is entirely within the province of God, The MostLoving of Loving. We need only read The Beatitudes inMatthew's record of Christ's Sermon on the Mount to findexamples of those who are 'favored by God's special love'.

Favored by God's special love are the poor in spirit, those of humble heart. Favored by God's special love are those whomourn yet suffer loss for His sake; those who are meek -thegentle who gladly go last in order to put Him first; and thosewho hunger and thirst after righteousness in spirit and intruth.

Favored by God's special love are the merciful, the pure andsimple of heart, the peacemakers, and those who arepersecuted for righteousness' sake. And favored by God'sspecial love are those who are reviled and spoken of falselyor maliciously for His sake.



Our Father said, "This is my Beloved Son in whom Iam well pleased. Hear Him." Thus, to follow in the ways of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, brings the favor of God's speciallove. In the words of Brother Lawrence, to be blessed is to"walk before God simply, in faith, with humility and withlove."

We are often faced with the limitations of languageand words to express ideas, especially a concept such aslove. With regard to the blessing or favor of the special lovethat comes from practicing God's presence, BrotherLawrence wrote, "those only can comprehend it who practiceand experience it."

Only when we live in the all for the All relationship

does this concept become clear. Only when we live in OurFather's presence does the notion of love become simple butnever shallow. Only when we engage in a continualconversation of the soul with God does He reveal themeaning of love to us.

Comforted

As seekers of truth, weary pilgrims, souls hungry andthirsty, some of us are brought to that small opening that isnearly imperceptible in the dense, high wall of the world.Any number stop there. Only God knows how many stopand for what reason they stop. But, for those of us whocannot or do not stop, who recognize this opening as a gate,or who perceive the glimmer of possibility that there isrescue and comfort on the other side; we push the gateopen.

Somehow, in the pushing it open, we have passedthrough and are on a pathway. Often we experience amomentary sense of well-being, as if a preview of things tocome. God has countless ways of leading us to the gate,but, there is truly only one way to proceed on the path. Nolonger can we settle for an arm's-length relationship withGod. No longer can we put off His kingdom for later. Right

now, right where we are on the path, we must embraceGod's will and way. Right now, we must live, move, andhave our being in His presence. The way to proceed on thepath is by living the practice of the presence of God.

In the practice of the presence of God, what BrotherLawrence called the holy habit, we live with God in the



sweetest way possible: the all for the All relationship. Incomplete surrender to Our Father, we forsake the worldlyways of the self so He may work His perfect will for us.

We engage in a continual, silent, and affectionateconversation with Our Father. We walk with God in faith,love, humility, and simplicity. Out of love, we strive to donothing and think nothing which may displease Him. CallingGod to mind at every possible moment, every opportunity,we focus our attention on Him and silently say, "Thank You,Father" throughout each day.

This path of the practice of the presence of God, thisway for being in the world without being worldly, this delightin God and the things of God, is the result of opening the

gate to which Our Father led us. Somehow, through Hismercy and goodness, we did not stop. We pushed it open.We said 'Yes, Father'. We left the world behind and enteredHis kingdom.

What may have seemed strange and uncomfortable tous at first, now seems more natural and normal than wecould possibly have imagined. We could no more entertainthe idea of going back to the ways of the world than wecould envision a day, or even an hour, without God.

Yet, from time to time, we may have occasion togrieve those we left outside the gate. From time to time wemay feel a sadness over how little change we see in themean and petty ways of the world. We are heartsick overthe lack of true humility and genuine love for God.

Brother Lawrence's Tenth Letter begins, "I have had agood deal of difficulty bringing myself to write to M_. I do itnow purely because you desire me to do so. Please addressit and send it to him." In this private and personal comment,Brother Lawrence shared with his friend the grief and painhe experienced in writing to someone from his past who wasstill living in the ways of the world. This is the kind of sadness we experience when we recognize the gulf between

our past and present life. And, for a little while, we grieve.

We see in The Gospel how often Our Lord experiencedthis kind of grief and disappointment. His lament over Hischildren of Israel and His sadness at the young man whocould not forsake his worldly possessions to follow Him arebut two of many such occasions of grief and pain. He shared



these feelings freely with His disciples as He shared themwith Our Father.

Yet, Our Lord also offers the ultimate words of comfortto those close to Him. These words are beautifully presentedin the sixteenth chapter of John where Jesus explains how,"You will be sorrowful but your grief will be turned into joy."

Through the practice of the presence of God, we cometo understand the second beatitude: "Blessed are those whomourn for they shall be comforted." We see that our comfortand joy is not a promise for some distant time but a presentmoment experience. In God's presence and living accordingto His will and way, Our Father turns our grief into joy andour sorrow into comfort just as they happen. In His

presence darkness can never overcome His light. And wesay, 'Thank you, Father'.

Governed By Love

1. "Is it not much shorter and more direct to simply doeverything for the love of Him? There is no finesse about it.One only has to do it generously and simply."


This remark of Brother Lawrence is a summary of TheGospel. This is the message delivered, taught, and lived byJesus Christ. God sent His Son to both reaffirm the old andestablish the new. Our Father sent His Son to clarify, refine,and fulfill the ten commandments; and to deliver the newmessage: love is the power, the energy, and the frameworkof Our Father's kingdom.

God, the Creator, and His kingdom are one and thesame. As we are His children of light, He is our AlmightyKing and He is our holy dwelling place and sacred realm. Heis All. Jesus Christ said that to abide we must: "love theFather as I love Him and love eachother as I love you."

Our Father loves each of us without reservation. His

Son, sent in the person of Jesus Christ, was utterly selflessand completely obedient to Our Father. He said, "If youknow me, then you know the Father who sent me." Whenwe come to know the Son of God, we, then, see the Fatherwho is all-loving and created us to share Himself and Hisglorious creation with us.



2. Brother Lawrence said he had always been governed bylove without selfish views. Sometimes this is not the casewith only children; but we need to keep in mind that hegrew up in a small village of family and relatives. Even in hisboyhood he set a positive example and was a spiritualinfluence on his family, some of them following him and hisuncle, also a lay brother, into religious communities.

When, as a young soldier, he had to return home,critically wounded, and unable to contribute to the familyvillage welfare, we can well imagine this was quite ahumbling experience for him; one of the ways God draws toHimself those who love without selfish views.

"Love without selfish views" is love most pure. To love

selflessly is to share, to give with no strings attached, noexpectations, no hidden motives, or thought of return. It isthe love with which we were created. To love without selfishviews may be more difficult for some than for others. Somesay it is impossible and give up or never even try. Thesepeople, perhaps the majority, are strong proof, indeed, thatloving without selfish views is humanly impossible.

Though Brother Lawrence said he had always beengoverned by love without selfish views, it was when hefinally "resolved to make the love of God the end of all hisactions," that he began to experience the first taste of OurFather's holy freedom. When we place ourselves under thegovernance of this highest form of love, our tiny mustardseed of faith opens to the words of Jesus Christ: "With Godall things are possible."

When we come to really know God as the Fatherwhose nature is love, so compelling is the discovery, itseems we cannot move fast enough to bring ourselves intosubmission. We beg God to be governed by His love and Hislove only because we see that this is Christ-love, this is pureand true love.

3. "The whole substance of religion is faith, hope, and

charity. In the practice of these we become united to the willof God. Everything else is indifferent and to be used as ameans that we may arrive at our end and then be swallowedup by faith and charity." ... Brother Lawrence

When we accept God's will that we be governed by Hislaw of love, we agree to live by a high standard, an



enlightened standard of thought, word, and deed. As Godreveals Himself to us, as we begin to receive understanding,as we come into the way of God's will, we are on that paththat Our Lord told His close ones: "many seek and find, butfew enter upon." We are on the path from which turningback would be a most serious offense against Our Fatherand would result in our lonely return to darkness, torment,and utter misery.

In chapter twelve of Luke, we find the parable of thegood steward. Jesus uses this parable to explain, in plainterms, how the standard of the law of love works.

Jesus told His disciples: "The servant who knew hislord's will but did not prepare or act according to his lord's

will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that did notknow and committed things worthy of stripes, shall bebeaten lightly. To whomever much is given, of him much isrequired. To whomever much is entrusted, of him evenmuch more will be demanded."

While ignorance is no excuse, a first offense from onewho knows no better, is of less consequence than from onewho knows and willfully disobeys. The more Our Fathergives of Himself to us, the greater the degree of ourresponsibility and stewardship.

Dear One, consider this: The laws of man, flawed andoften unjust, serve worldly purposes only. Is it not better tolive, right here and now, under God's higher law of love?

The worldly view of love is quite different from God'slaw of love. Worldly love is arbitrary, often shallow, andbased largely on attractions, likes and dislikes. In the worldthe word love is used and misused to the point of beingmeaningless.

God's love, the law of love, is no fickle or idealisticnotion. It is built on a solid foundation of faith andobedience to God's perfect will. The only way for us to live

under man-made laws, which we must do, is to obey themin the spirit and truth of Our Father's kingdom law of love.The only way for us to love eachother is with this selflesslove. The only way for us to love Our Father is with thissame love, Christ-love.

Will we be misunderstood? Probably. Will others take



advantage of us? Possibly. Will we be persecuted? Perhaps.But, let us keep two things in mind. First, our practice of thepresence of God is quiet, private, and personal. Truehumility never draws attention to the self. The light we shineshould reflect only Our Father.

Second, when we place ourselves under thegovernance of God's law of love, become united to Hisperfect will, and live in His sacred presence and kingdom;"whether God leads us by suffering or by consolation all willbe equal to a soul truly resigned."

Absolutely nothing compares to Our Father's gift of theholy freedom we experience through obedience to His will.No other relationship compares to the love relationship we

establish by practicing God's presence. 'Thank You, Father'.

"I renounced, for the love of Him, everythingthat was not He, and I began to live as if therewas none but He and I in the world."




God's PresenceReflections

In the practice of the presence of God wecall Our Father to mind at every possiblemoment. At every opportunity, we focusour attention on Him and silently say,"Thank You, Father" throughout each day.

Contents

High Notions Of GodThe Living GodThe Shortest WayIn His Name




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High Notions Of God

"We should feed and nourish our soul with high notionsof God which yield us great joy in being devoted to Him."... Brother Lawrence

1. Living in God's presence is the ultimate gift of God.Better than anything in the world, living in God's presencecombines the greatest features of earthly existence with allwe can understand of heavenly existence. We live in theworld but are not of the world, because we are of God'skingdom . Right here. Right now.

When we live in God's presence, we are not whatothers usually mean by other-worldly but, rather, we are

heavenly-minded. We die to selfishness and become emptyof worldliness to be God-enlivened and God-contained.

God is everything and all we need. Perfect parent,faithful friend, delightful companion; God is the only onewhose guidance is always completely in our best interest. Heis the only one whose counsel is always practical andreliable. God's very nature is self-giving, wholly loving andcompletely fair.

When we live in God's presence, when we are in the allfor the All relationship, and surrender our own will and waysto God's will and ways, only then, no matter our physicaland material circumstances, are we truly and fully alive.Only in God's presence are we able to enjoy the uniqueexperience of holy freedom.

2. Many who claim a belief in God do not know Him. Theirview of God is based on information and impressions fromearly learning, training, and education; then colored byworldly and cultural influences. Many accept this kind of learning about God and call it belief. And, of course, manyreject it and call it unbelief.

Those who claim a belief in God but do not know Him

sometimes pay a kind of lip service to a being they perceiveas the God in whom everyone else believes. Those whoclaim a belief in God but do not know Him often attempt tobring God down to the worldly level.

In other words, many attempt to fashion God in theirown image! The result of this often leads to anger and



hostility toward that worldly God. When we are, oftenunknowingly, caught in this snare, it is very easy to,likewise, treat God in worldly ways. We may be unkind. Wemay use cleverness and manipulative ploys. We may ignore,neglect, and even abuse God. Or, caught in this trap, wemay conclude we just do not need this God of man'smaking.

While these approaches may seem successful, theyare, though very common, shallow and worthless. Theysimply do not work. Instead, they create the void that weattempt to fill with more worldliness.

God, the Good and Merciful God, the ever-patient God,who wants His children to personally know Him, has many

ways of drawing us to Him. He also has many ways of showing us that we have to take the time to let Him revealHimself to us.

When we, at last, arrive at the realization thateverything we think we know about God is only hearsay;when we arrive at the realization that no one, except God,can reveal the true God to us; when we arrive at therealization that we can and must have a personalrelationship with God; we discover that all else is irrelevant.

Where before we thought we did not have the time,resources, energy, or even, interest in knowing God; now, infresh possibility, we find we have an abundance of everything we need and our only desire is to personallyknow God, who has been patiently waiting for us with openarms.

The constant feeding and nourishing of our soul withhigh notions of God is essential. The moment He draws us toThe Gospel, we need to drink deeply of this best of allpossible resources. This is especially so when we read thebooks of The Gospel as personal letters to us. In this way,we easily see that The Gospel is a mirror image of today andits application to each of us as individuals almost jumps off

the page and into our heart. Now engaging in a continualconversation with Our Father becomes very natural.

At the same time, we must renounce all that is not of God. We have to rid ourselves of things, avoid places, anddistance ourselves from people that distract us from ourfocus on God. We must renounce those things, places, and



people that enslave us or rob us of the time and energy thatbelongs to God. This, of course, happens only with God'shelp and in His time. Our care and feeding also happens inGod's way, because we seldom see clearly and usuallyunderestimate the impact of outside influences. We are eachfar more impressionable and far more sensitive to thepeople, places, and things around us than we are aware.

Also, we may have responsibilities, obligations, andties that seem impossible or unthinkable to break. Here,again, we must trust God and accept His will just as itcomes. As we begin to speak plainly and openly, we learn tohonestly share our troubles and pain with Him.

In suffering, He comforts us. In our troubles, He brings

us peace. As we become better able to put self aside, wegradually come to see that in our pain, in our suffering, andin our doubts, God gives us His light.

For as difficult or complicated as it may appear, we canlook at it in a simpler way. Brother Lawrence's approach of turning our attention to God, conversing with Him, andkeeping God as our primary focus demonstrates a basicprinciple.

The principle is simply this: if we turn toward something, we turn away from something else. When weturn to face God, we turn our backs on that which is notGod. And, in this way, Brother Lawrence's holy habit can bepracticed by anyone, at any time, and in any circumstance.

3. "The end we ought to propose to ourselves is tobecome, in this life, the most perfect worshippers of God wecan possibly be, and as we hope to be through all eternity."Brother Lawrence, who held God in such lofty esteem,beautifully states the goal of practicing God's presence. Thisis a key to understanding the words of Our Lord to Hisdisciples recorded in Matthew, chapter five, "Be ye asperfect as your Father in heaven is perfect."

Our Father is perfect. He is the whole and completeGod. He is all and needs nothing added. His will issupremely holy and good. Thus, Jesus told His close ones,that, as Our Father is the perfect God, whole and complete;we must become His perfect children, whole andcomplete.



As to how we accomplish this, Brother Lawrence saidthat "faith was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection. We ought to give ourselves up to God withregard both to things temporal and spiritual and seek oursatisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will."

In faith, we must learn to rely completely on God. Infaith, we must learn to simply and humbly obey Him. Inother words, we go about our day, conducting our commonbusiness and ordinary tasks simply for the love of OurFather. We do all we do to please Him and Him alone.

The longer we practice God's presence, the more weunderstand the difference between worldly perfection andOur Father's heavenly perfection. Worldly perfection

revolves around getting and having. Heavenly perfection isbased on giving and being. The difference between worldlyperfection and heavenly perfection is the difference betweenmammon and God.

Our early time in the practice of the presence of God isa period of adjusting our views, attitudes, and actions to Hiswill and way. Over time, as we continue living in God'spresence, we regularly offer ourselves to God for refinementto His satisfaction. We discover that God's way of fine-tuning us is to our great satisfaction, also.

The Living God

1. Through our conversation with God and walking withHim in faith, love, humility, and simplicity, we dailyexperience life in God's kingdom, because that life is OurFather's presence.

We come to see that God is a living God, an everydayGod for anyone, at any time, and in any circumstance. If Heis a presence for each of us, He is a presence for all of us.

Our Father sent His Son with a most importantmessage, even, to many, a revolutionary message: Our

Father is the Living God. This one message marked a majordeparture from the Old Testament, pre-Christian view of God. Jesus introduced the notion of God as Father; a LovingFather whose presence is within each of His children; thePerson Divine whose will is for us to live in close relationshipwith Him right here on earth.



Some who first heard this message were,understandably, confused. They were used to a fathernamed Abraham and the great deliverer of God'scommandments named Moses. Others were shocked and

judged as blasphemy Jesus' message of a living, personal,and loving Father of all. Our Lord met with great resistanceeven unto physical death.

Yet, for many others, Christ's message that the Fatherwas accessible to each and every one of His children, thewords were welcomed and embraced. For many, whoawaited the fulfillment of what was foretold by the prophets,Christ's message was new life. We see this in both Simeonand Anna, who immediately recognized that the babybrought to the temple was the Promised One.

Many of God's children realized that truly Jesus wasthe Son of God. Many of God's children realized thatfollowing in the ways of the Son brought their lives into theunspeakable peace and gentle joy of Our Father's kingdom.They heard and understood when Jesus said that if we knowHim, we know Our Father.

Brother Lawrence wrote that he could not understandhow one could live without practicing the presence of God.When we, too, understand the Son of God's message, wecannot help but share Brother Lawrence's sentiment. When,two thousand years after Our Father sent His Son to liveamong us, so many are still living the arms-lengthrelationship of the Old Testament God, how can we everthank God enough for drawing us into His presence?

A most beautiful phrase that expresses God's presenceis the secret place of the Most High. In the Old Testamentthis was often associated with the Holy of Holies, a placereserved for only an elite few. At Christ's physical death thecurtain that served as a covering and boundary was tornfrom top to bottom. The Holy of Holies, the secret place of the Most High, was opened to all.

The secret place of the Most High is no longer hiddenbehind a curtain and reserved for the elite. Within each of usis the secret place, the personal and private place of theMost High. With the Son of God came the new possibility-the opportunity to live a life that is hid with Christ in God.

When we follow the simple approach of Brother



Lawrence, we recognize Our Father wants His children tomake His presence a home. There is no need to save thesecret place of the Most High as a last resort or refuge fordire need when Our Father's will is for His children to beconstantly with Him. Through the practice of God'spresence, we enjoy this place as our dwelling place, oureveryday living space.

While many of us first found the secret place of theMost High in our own time of dire need, we learned, throughGod's compelling gentleness, that His presence is ourpermanent shelter. In practicing God's presence, we cometo see that God is within when we want nothing but to doHis will. As we live in God, so He lives in us.

2. "I know that some charge this state with ... delusion.Yet, I cannot see how this could be called delusion, becausethe soul which enjoys God in this way wants nothing butHim. If this is delusion, then only God can remedy it."... Brother Lawrence

In the beginning of our practice of God's presence it isnot at all unusual to experience an occasional sense of unreality. We may feel at odds with what is going on aroundus. This may be described in many ways, but, overall, weare troubled, disturbed, and shaken-up. Sometimes it seemsthe more we develop a distaste for worldly ways, the morewe are confronted or surrounded by them. We becomeanxious, irritated, and impatient. Our worldly conditioning isstrong. The shell of our identity is difficult to shed.

Many of us have learned to place more value in theconcrete, material, and physical than the non-material andspiritual. We may have come to believe that if we cannotsee, hear, taste, touch, or smell a thing; then it is just afigment of the imagination. Or we may display an oppositetendancy to daydream and dwell on the fanciful andfantastic.

Perhaps we have come to look at things by their

money or financial value. How much is it worth? Or we maythink about investing, not only time and money, butourselves, so that, the longer we invest ourselves in certainways, the more importance we place on the investment.

Most of us come to the practice of the presence of Godwith various combinations of these worldly attitudes. None



of these views are necessarily bad or wrong. However, theyare also not necessarily real. In fact, our confusion and acrisis in our preconceived notions and cherished beliefs helpsus to turn to God in search of the truth.

When Our Father calls us to participate in His largervision, we will almost certainly have to go through a majorand painful period of adjustment. After all, it takes time tobegin to know His will and see with His vision, before weunderstand how to live in the freedom of obedience to OurFather. As Brother Lawrence wrote, "One does not becomeholy all at once."

When we persist in our practice of the holy habit,eventually a shift occurs. Now the only thing that seems real

is that which is of God. Here, in His kingdom and presence,we find all that is lasting, solid, and practical.

Brother Lawrence wrote, "I know my weakness is sogreat that, if He left me one moment to myself, I would bethe most wretched man alive. Yet, I do not know how Hecould leave me alone because faith gives me as strong aconviction as reason. He never forsakes us until we havefirst forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us alwaysbe with Him."

In a world that so often seems upside-down, a world of illusion, deception, and trickery, where appearances are notwhat they seem, God is real. He created, and allows toexist, all of it, both good and bad, so we may learn todepend on Him alone for all our needs.

When we are established in the practice of thepresence of God, we feel compassion for those who viewthis state as delusion, because we have been in both places.The gift of God's presence is seeing, knowing, andunderstanding that only His will and ways are real.

3. Chapter eleven of the Book of Luke contains manyinsights into God's will and ways. In it we find these words

of Our Lord: "No one with a lighted candle, puts it in asecret place or under a bushel. It is put on a candlestick sothose who come in may see the light. The light of the bodyis the eye. When your eye is single, your whole body is alsofull of light. But when your eye is evil, your body is full of darkness."



"Take heed, therefore, that the light that is in you benot darkness. If thy whole body is full of light, with no darkparts, the whole shall be full of light, and, like the brightshining of a candle, it gives off the light."

In our human understanding, we can say that Godcreated two kinds of light and darkness. The first kind isnatural and the second is supernatural or spiritual. Thenatural darkness, the color of the night, is infinitely divineand beautiful. The spiritual darkness of sin is most ugly andrepulsive. It is, of course, this second kind of darkness towhich Christ refers.

Just as the moon, which has no light of its own, canonly reflect the natural light of the sun; we have no spiritual

light of our own and can only reflect the light of God. Thelight of God's spirit is essential to our well-being. When theeye, the human reflector of light, is single; when our focus isconcentrated on the things of God; when our only aim is todo His will; Our Father, the Living God, radiates His spiritthrough us and we become reflectors of His well-being.

"Take heed, therefore, that the light that is in you benot darkness." At first, this part of Our Lord's words mayappear a bit puzzling. How can light be darkness? Can wemistake one for the other?

Light becomes darkness and we confuse one for theother when we perceive ourselves or act in a way that isseparate from God. Light becomes darkness and we confuseone for the other when we act on our own behalf withoutregard to Our Father. Light becomes darkness and weconfuse one for the other when we begin to believe in ourown power and strength.

Our light becomes darkness when we begin to valueour virtues and strengths as our own, when we begin tocompare ourselves to others, when we begin to congratulateourselves or begin to feel deserving, or when we start tocount ourselves worthy. Our light very quickly becomes

darkness when we act out of any of these attitudes. Howeasy it is to confuse this artificial light of self with the truelight of God!

Self-love and worldliness, sin and evil, have myriadand very subtle ways of sneaking up on us. Thus Christreminds us that we must take heed. We must remain alert.



We must continually surrender our little self to Our Fatherbecause, in the words of Brother Lawrence, "the leastturning from Him is insupportable."

Brother Lawrence practiced God's presence for almostforty years. In a letter, written near the end of his earthlylife, he wrote, "I am sometimes filled with shame andconfusion when I reflect, on the one hand, on the greatfavors God has done and continues to do for me; and, onthe other, on the ill use I have made of them and my smalladvancement in the way of perfection."

May each of us often experience that same realizationand ask Our Father to rid us of any dark parts. May each of us often express that same sincere sentiment as we

recognize that the only light is the light of the Living God.

4. "I am praising God. I am thanking God. I amworshipping Him as I hope to do throughout all eternity."These words of Brother Lawrence were softly spoken at thevery end of the physical part of his life. In God's presence,the greater part of us, the indwelling spirit of Our Father,lives on. We do not have to know the details. In allprobability, the scope and quality of the afterlife, thekingdom of heaven, is beyond our understanding.

Yet, Our Lord said that, for those who seek to do thewill of Our Father, the hereafter is good. And, from ourearthly experience of living in God's presence, can we haveany doubt that it must be very good? We now understandthat, if God is the God of the living, and our spirit neverdies, our hope is for the continuance of our intimate andsacred relationship with Him for eternity.

The Shortest Way

Brother Lawrence found that the shortest way to gostraight to God was by a continual exercise of love anddoing all things for His sake. He said "the greatest pains orpleasures of this world were nothing compared to what he

had experienced of both kinds in a spiritual state. As a resulthe feared nothing, desiring only one thing of God - that hemight not offend Him."

When we have a good and loving relationship withGod, we have a light and happy way with ourselves andeverything around us. If the world is in discord, we know



God brings balance. If there is outer confusion or chaos, inOur Father's presence we find harmony and peace.

Our Creator has every right to interrupt our lives forHis purposes. When we surrender ourselves to Our Father,in simple faith, we trust and obey. In humility, we givethanks for showing us His will.

Sometimes, despite our best intentions, old habitsintrude and lure us away from God's direction. We may tryto act based on our own past experience. We may try tospeed up or slow down the pace. It is easy to get on an oldtrack. If we find ourselves spinning our own wheels or goingin old familiar circles, it's because we are attempting to dothe impossible. We are trying to get ahead of God!

If we go back to the basics of practicing God'spresence when we find ourselves on the wrong track, OurFather will gently return us to His way. He will bring us backinto the rhythm of His graceful steps.

As we practice God's presence, we become veryfamiliar with the ways God reveals Himself to us, especiallythrough His Living Word of The Gospel. If an interruption, achange, is the working of God's will in us, we clearly knowit. We do not need to see or understand every last detail. Inobedience, we take what He gives now and depend on Hisinstructions just as He needs us to have them. In this waywe remain steady in God's will and flexible to His ways.

How often God interrupts us only to show us an easierway. This often happens with something we have beendoing the same way for a long time. It often happens withlittle things we do routinely. Suddenly He shows us a newway, a way that is so simple we wonder why we never sawit before. Dear One, we have a Father whose nature is topresent us with serendipities, those surprises that makedoing the little things for Him so delightful.

Short and sweet. Simple and direct. When we adopt

this way of living in God's presence, Brother Lawrence's holyhabit of continual conversation with Our Father, we findpeace, joy, and gentleness in each day. As did the men andwomen who were close to Christ when He was on earth, andthose who, over the last two thousand years, we, today,enjoy the companionship of Our Lord and Teacher and the



radiant love of Our Father.

Lord, you are my life and joy.Nothing else deserves the name.

Lord, you are my life and joy.No one else is near the same.

All in All, forever be,Lord, you are the life of me.

All I care for, all I do,Centers on the joy of you.

Lord, you are my life and joy.

In His Name

"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet anddelightful, than that of a continual conversation with God;those only can comprehend it who practice and experienceit."... Brother Lawrence

Practicing God's presence is dwelling in the kingdom,being in the all for the All relationship, and living in God'sname. As we mature and become established in the practice

we do begin to comprehend this because we haveexperience and a personal history with God.

In the beginning, most of us have a very superficialunderstanding of 'in God's name'. Part of the problem is oneof language. There simply is no way to get a precisecorrelation to the original. Like the opening of John's gospel,"In the beginning was the Word," to which the Greek term'logos' has a far broader meaning than our literal use of 'word'; so, too, " in His name " is inadequate to express thetrue meaning of this phrase.

Also, through the centuries, 'in God's name' has beenused carelessly and inappropriately. History chronicles allmanner of ungodly things done 'in God's name'. Today, 'inGod's name' is all too commonly misused. Often, we take itfor granted that we know what 'in God's name' means untilwe stop and try to explain it. However, though we may notbe able to put it into words, we recognize when someone



else misuses the phrase. In practicing God's presence, webecome careful of thinking, saying, or doing anything thatmay displease God. If we are uncertain, we wait for Him toenlighten us.

Only through the individual experience of a personalrelationship with God do we come to discover that 'in Hisname' means "in Him" as in 'He is in us as we are in Him'.We begin to see in practicing God's presence and ourexperience in the continual conversation of the soul withHim, that God acts within us. God is within us. As our littleself shrinks and decreases, God's presence expands andincreases.

In the beginning and in our initial steps in practicing

God's presence, our belief is based on faith alone. Wedemonstrate our trust through obedience. One of thebiggest stumbling blocks we face in obeying God is doubt.This is a very busy time for the evil one to work on us tocreate complication and confusion. He will try every trick towork his way into our mind. He will use everything possible,including other people, to get us to hesitate and questionGod. In obeying Our Father, the devil knows how effective itis to get us to ask 'why?'. The sinister one is even morepleased if he can get us to selfishly ask, 'If I obey, what's init for me?'.

In practicing God's presence, it is very helpful to knowthat this is not the working of God within us, but the voiceof the devil operating on our worldly self. This is the time toturn away from the evil one and turn to God with, "Lord,increase my faith." This is the time to vigorously repeatsilently, "Thank You, Father." until our mind and heartbecomes filled with God's light. As we develop the habit of faith and obedience to God, we become increasingly able todistinguish God's voice and really know Him.

Our actual knowing God and becoming established inthe practice of God's presence is based on experience in ourrelationship with Our Father. We comprehend, over time,

the experience of God's presence and living in His namewhen we realize we have no will but God's will. We think,say, and act in a way that is pleasing to God because Histhoughts, words, and actions become our thoughts, words,and actions.

Dear One, consider this: Our Father does not only give



us life, He is our life. Not only is God all we need, but thevery nature of God, His boundless and self-giving love,assures us that there is always more of Him at the nextstep, in the next hour, over the time to come. Just as it isimpossible for darkness to overcome His light, so it isimpossible for us to exhaust or deplete His love.

The longer we practice God's presence, live in Hisname, and engage in the continual conversation with God,the more we comprehend Brother Lawrence's saying that,"There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet anddelightful ..."

As we practice, what Brother Lawrence called

the holy habit, we engage in a continual,silent, and affectionate conversation with OurFather. Out of love for Him, we strive to donothing and think nothing which maydisplease God.



Words Of Brother Lawrence

Each time we read the conversations and letters of Brother Lawrence in The Practice Of The Presence Of God, we move a little closer to Our Father and strengthenthe unique relationship each of us has with Him.Sometimes, just a few words or a special quote fromBrother Lawrence refreshes, enlivens, and sparks anew

the flame of love.~~~~~~~~~~~~

I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility and withlove; and I apply myself diligently to do nothing andthink nothing which may displease Him ... and this









without any other view than purely for the love of Him,and because He deserves infinitely more.

People seek methods of learning to know God. Is it notmuch shorter and more direct to simply do everything forthe love of Him? There is no finesse about it. One onlyhas to do it generously and simply.

It is the Creator who teaches truth, who in one momentinstructs the heart of the humble and makes himunderstand more about the mysteries of faith and evenabout Himself than if he had studied them for a long termof years.

God alone is capable of making Himself known as He

really is. We search in reasoning and in sciences, as in apoor copy. What we neglect to see is God's paintingHimself in the depth of our soul.

Pay little attention to the beautiful words and subtlediscourse of the wise of the earth. Woe to those who lookto human knowledge to satisfy their curiosity. It is theCreator who teaches the truth and instructs the heart of the humble.

In continuing the practice of conversing with Godthroughout each day, and quickly seeking His forgivenesswhen I fell or strayed, His presence has become as easyand natural to me now as it once was difficult to attain.

We are made for God alone, who can only be pleasedwhen we turn away from ourselves to devote ourselves toHim.

I know that for the right practice the heart must beempty of all other things; because God will possess theheart alone; and as He cannot possess it alone, withoutemptying it of all else besides, so neither can He actthere and do in it what He pleases, unless it be leftvacant to Him.

We ought to give ourselves up to God, both in temporaland spiritual things, and seek our satisfaction only infulfilling His will. Whether He leads us by suffering orconsolation, all is the same to one truly resigned.

We only deceive ourselves by seeking or loving God for



any favors which He has or may grant us. Such favors,no matter how great, can never bring us as near to Godas can one simple act of faith. Let us seek Him often byfaith.

Whatever becomes of me, whether I be lost or saved, Iwill always continue to act purely for the love of God. Ishall have this good at least, that until death, I shall havedone all that is in me to love Him.

Comfort yourself with the Sovereign Physician of bothbody and soul.

Those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forwardeven in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with

winds and storms, let us awake the Lord who reposes init. He will quickly calm the sea.

Let us think often that our only business in this life is toplease God.

The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become,in this life, the most perfect worshippers of God we canpossibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity.

The most excellent method of going to God is that of doing our common business without any view of pleasingpeople but purely for the love of God.

We ought not to grow tired of doing little things for thelove of God, who regards not the greatness of the work,but the love with which it is performed.

God has infinite treasure to bestow, and we take up witha little sensible devotion which passes in a moment. Blindas we are, we hinder God and stop the current of Hisgrace. But when He finds a soul penetrated with a livelyfaith, He pours into it His grace and favors plentifully.

How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How

can we be with Him without thinking of Him often? Andhow can we think of Him but by a holy habit we shouldform of it?

The more one knows God, the greater one desires toknow Him. Knowledge is commonly the measure of love.The deeper and more extensive our knowledge, the



greater is our love.

We must know before we can love. In order to know God,we must often think of Him. And when we come to loveHim, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heartwill be with our treasure.

I see Him in such a manner as might make me saysometimes, I believe no more, but I see.

God does not ask much of us. But remembering Him,praising Him, asking for His grace, offering Him yourtroubles, or thanking Him for what He has given you willconsole you all the time ... lift up your heart ... littleremembrances please Him.

We should establish ourselves in a sense of God'spresence by continually conversing with Him. It is ashameful thing to quit His conversation to think of triflesand fooleries.

Useless thoughts spoil all; mischief begins there. Weought to reject them as soon as we perceive theirimpertinence and return to our communion with God.

One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer and preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let itwander too far at other times.

When the mind, for want of being sufficiently reduced byrecollection at our engaging in devotion, has contractedcertain bad habits of wandering and dissipation, they aredifficult to overcome. They commonly draw us, evenagainst our will, to the things of the earth. I believe oneremedy for this is to confess our faults and to humbleourselves before God.

It is a great delusion to think our times of prayer oughtto differ from other times. We are as strictly obliged tocleave to God by action in the time of action as by prayer

in the season of prayer.

We should, once and for all, heartily put our whole trustin God and make a total surrender of ourselves, securethat He will not deceive us.

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and



delightful, than that of a continual conversation with God;those only can comprehend it who practice andexperience it.



In Others' Words

On Practicing God's Presence

"Let us think often that our only business inthis life is to please God. Perhaps all besidesis but folly and vanity."


~~~~~~~~~

One of the purest souls ever to live on this fallen planetwas Nicholas Herman, known as Brother Lawrence. He wrotevery little, but what he wrote has seemed to severalgenerations of Christians to be so rare and so beautiful as to

deserve a place near the top among the world's great booksof devotion. The writings of Brother Lawrence are theultimate in simplicity; ideas woven like costly threads tomake a pattern of great beauty.... A.W. Tozer

A truth which constantly recurs in Holy Scripture is thatthe arm of God is not shortened, since His mercy cannot beexhausted by our miseries. The power of His grace is no lessgreat today than it ever was. God wished to keep saints forHimself... These saints would pay Him a respect worthy of His grandeur and majesty and would be models of virtuebecause of the holy example they set.

God was not content to have these extraordinary peopleborn in the early centuries only. He still raises up those whoperfectly fulfill the duties of a saint, and who guard the fruitsof the Spirit in themselves, transmit them, and make themlive again in others.... Joseph de Beaufort









The Lord walks among the pots and pans.... Teresa of Avila

Brother Lawrence is well established in the affection of

spiritual souls of all denominations and every shade of Christian thought. As a cook he learned to turn the modestservice into a kind of worship. "We can do little things forGod," he said. "I turn the cake that is frying on the pan forlove of Him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me,I prostrate myself in worship before Him who has given megrace to work. Afterwards I rise happier than a king."... A.W. Tozer

There are in this world human beings in solitary placeswho have answered the Lord's call to make of their lives alittle flame, always bright, always attentive to His Presence.... Conrad De Meester

Practicing the presence of God is not on trial. Countlesssaints have already proved it. Indeed, the spiritual giants of all ages have known it. The results of this effort begin toshow clearly in a month. They grow rich after six months,and glorious after ten years. This is the secret of the greatsaints of all ages. 'Pray without ceasing,' said Paul, 'ineverything make your wants known unto God.' 'As many asare led by the spirit of God, these are the sons of God.'... Frank Laubach

Dear child, cast yourself down before God in the depths of your humility, and say in your heart, "Lord, I am the least of all the creatures that Thou hast made." Hold yourself inmeekness of spirit; and then you will know that God is ashort word which has a long meaning. Exercise yourself diligently, grow not weary; and then you shall perceive thatwhich before was hidden from you.... John Tauler

I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God.God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existencedepends on the nearness and the presence of God.... Meister Eckhart

Some people, having been dealt with by God, livebefore Him in weakness and trembling. They have not theslightest tinge of pride for they have touched the Lord andare fully fed. They are in possession of a satisfaction in thepresence of God, and this satisfaction is their strength.



... Watchman Nee

There is one vice of which no one in the world is free;

which every one in the world loathes when he sees it insomeone else; and of which hardly any people ever imaginethat they are guilty themselves.

The vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. All other vices are merefleabites in comparison. Pride leads to every other vice. Aslong as you are proud you cannot know God.... C. S. Lewis

The least known among the virtues and also the mostmisunderstood is the virtue of humility. Yet, it is the verygroundwork of Christianity. Humility is a grace of the soulthat cannot be expressed in words and is only known by

experience. It is an unspeakable treasure of God, and onlycan be called the gift of God. "Learn," He said, not fromangels, not from men, not from books; but learn from Mypresence, light, and action within you, "that I am meek andhumble of heart, and you shall find rest to your souls".... William Bernard Ullathorne

I do not know whether anyone has ever succeeded in notenjoying praise. And, if he enjoys it, he naturally wants toreceive it. And if he wants to receive it, he cannot help butbeing distraught at losing it. Those who are in love withapplause have their spirits starved not only when they areblamed off-hand, but even when they fail to be constantlypraised.... John Chrysostom

If we would completely rejoice the heart of God, let usstrive in all things to conform ourselves to His divine will. Letus not only strive to conform ourselves, but also to uniteourselves to whatever dispositions God makes of us.

Conformity signifies that we join our wills to the will of God. Uniformity means more. Uniformity means that wemake one will of God's will and our will. In this way we willonly what God wills. God's will alone is our will.... Alphonsus De Ligouri

Father, we ask for nothing beyond what Thy Son hastold us to ask. We beg for no signs or wonders, but for Thybreath upon our souls, Thy spirit in our hearts. We pray forno cloven tongues of fire, for no mighty rousing of brain orimagination; but we do, with all our power of prayer, pray forThy spirit. We do not even pray to know that it is given to us.



Let us, if so it pleases Thee, remain in doubt of the gift foryears to come but lead us nonetheless.... George MacDonald

Man has no peace in the world, but he has no disturbancewhen he is with God.... Bernard of Claiveaux

Experience has told us that good resolutions are notenough. We need to discipline our lives to an orderedregime. So many of us have found the idea of turning toChrist once every minute to be enormously helpful. It is apractice as old as Enoch, who walked with God . It is a way of living which nearly everybody knows and nearly everybodyhas ignored.

... Frank Laubach

Sometimes the only way the good Lord can get into somehearts is to break them.... Fulton Sheen

Put to death the parts of you that are worldly;immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and all idolatrousgreed. By these you once conducted yourselves, when youlived in that way. But now you must put them all away;anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene talk. Stop lying toone another, since you have taken off the old self with itspractices and put on the new self which is being renewed forknowledge of Our Father and Creator.... Colossians 3:5-11

Those who, in a day of peace, set themselves at Christ's feetto be taught by Him, may, with comfort, in a day of trouble,cast themselves at His feet to find favour with Him.... Matthew Henry

For those who live according to the world are concerned withthe things of the world, but those who live according to thekingdom of God with the things of the kingdom of God. Theconcern of the world is death, but the concern of thekingdom of God is life and peace. For the concern of theworld is hostility toward God; it does not submit to the law of God, nor can it; and those who are of the world cannotplease God.... Romans 8:5-9

There is no master so large-minded, so generous, who



is so well acquainted with you and your requirements asGod; no father so loving and bountiful; no friend so free fromall jealousy; none who so completely loves you for your

greater good.There is no tyrant so narrow-minded, so proud-hearted,

so exacting, so suspicious, so utterly bent on keeping you toyour own littleness, as the one we all know so well, of whosetyranny we have had such bitter experience, and who goesby the name of Myself. Yet God or yourself you must choosefor your master.... William Bernard Ullathorne

It is good that we sometimes endure contradictions and areharshly and unfairly judged when we do and mean what isgood. These things help us to be humble and shield us fromvain-glory. When others speak falsely of us and give us nocredit for good, then we earnestly seek the witness of God.... Thomas a Kempis

The proud seek every means imaginable to obtain forthemselves an advantageous place in the eyes of others. Thehumble make every effort not only to avoid applause andpraise of others, but even withdraw from the honorableestimations people could have of them.... A.W. Tozer

We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wantsit to be our first line of defense. We pray when there'snothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before wedo anything at all.

Most of us would prefer, however, to spend our timedoing something that will get immediate results. We don'twant to wait for God to resolve matters in His good timebecause His idea of "good time" is seldom in sync with ours.... Oswald Chambers

Prayer is an upward leap of the heart, an untroubled glancetoward heaven, a cry of gratitude and love which I utter fromthe depths of sorrow as well as from the heights of joy. Ithas a supernatural grandeur which expands the soul and

unites it with God.... Therese of Lisieux

Those who give themselves to prayer shouldconcentrate solely on the conformity of their wills with thedivine will. The more fully they practice this, the greater thegifts they will receive from God and the greater their



progress in the interior life.... Teresa of Avila

We pray to God urgently that He may do what is pleasing toHim, as if He were to say, "How could you please me morethan by entreating me, urgently and sincerely, to do thething that I want to have done?" In this way the soul, byprayer, is made of one accord with God.... Juliana of Norwich

There is no better thing than to pray for what God alreadywants to give.... John Calvin

Prayer is so simple. It is like quietly opening a door and

slipping into the very presence of God. There, in the stillness,to listen to His voice, perhaps in petition or only to listen. Itmatters not. Just to be there in His presence is prayer.... author unknown

Instead of talking to yourself, form the habit of talkingto Christ. Some of us who have done this find it so muchbetter that we never want the other way again. No practicewe have ever found has held the mind as much as this:making all thought a conversation with the Lord. When evilthoughts of any kind come, say, 'Lord, these thoughts arenot fit to discuss with you. Lord, you do the thinking. Renewmy mind by your presence.'... Frank Laubach

To pray truly means to direct the thought and thememory, without relaxing, to the recollection of God, to walkin God's divine Presence, to awaken oneself to God's love bythinking about God, and to link the Name of God with one'sbreathing and the beating of one's heart.... The Russian Pilgrim

My soul wait thou only upon God, for my expectation isfrom Him. He only is my rock and my salvation. He is mydefense. I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation andmy glory. The rock of my strength and my refuge is in God.Trust in Him at all times, ye people. Pour out your heartbefore Him. God is a refuge for us.... Psalm 62:5-8

Prayer covers the whole of life. There is no thought,feeling, yearning, or desire, however low, trifling, or vulgar



we may deem it, which, if it affects our interest or happiness,we may not lay before God and be sure of His sympathy. Hisnature is such that our often coming does not tire Him. The

whole burden of the whole life of every man may be rolledonto God and not weary Him, though it has wearied the man.

... Henry Ward Beecher

The first thing to be done after taking the narrow way is toshut the world out of consideration and look only to theapproval of God.... William Bernard Ullathorne

The condition of God's blessing is absolute surrender of all into His hands. If our hearts are willing for that, there is

no end to what God will do for us and no end to the blessingsHe will bestow. God does not ask you to give the perfectsurrender in your own strength or by the power of your will.God is willing to work it in you and for you. The EverlastingGod Himself will come in and turn out what is wrong,conquer what is evil, and work what is well pleasing in Hisblessed sight. God Himself will work it in you.... Andrew Murray

The readiest way to escape from our sufferings is to bewilling that they should endure as long as God pleases.... John Wesley

When one reaches a point where he seeks no solace fromany creature, then he begins to relish God perfectly. Thenalso he will be content no matter what may happen. He willneither rejoice over great things nor grieve over small ones,but will place himself entirely and confidently in the hands of God, Who is All in All.... Thomas a Kempis

God makes men aware of their misery before He reveals Hismercy and love.... Jonathan Edwards

Though the harrow go over and over thy soul, and the deepplow cut into thy very heart, though thou be maimed andwounded, and left for dead, yet if the Spirit of God does it, itis a blessing indeed..... Charles Spurgeon

If we believe, everything is illuminated and takes shape



around us, risk no longer exists, and success takes on anincorruptible fullness; pain becomes a visit and a caress fromGod.... Pierre Teilhard de Chardin

Children, seek ye not after great science. Simply enterinto yourself and learn to know what you are, spiritually andnaturally. Do not dive into the secret things of God, askingquestions about the efflux and reflux of the Aught into theNaught or questions about the essence of the soul's spark.

For Christ has said: "It is not for you to know the timesor the seasons which the Father hath put in His own power."Therefore, let us maintain a true, entire, and simple faith.

... John Tauler

He who runs from God in the morning, will scarcely find Himthe rest of the day.... John Bunyan

Live in a way that pleases God. This should be yourambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business, andworking with your hands.... 1 Thessalonians 4:1 and 11

When we live in harmony with the Lord, it is joy anddelight to linger in His presence.... Charles Dickens

The carpenter can do better work if he talks quietly to Godabout each task, as Jesus surely did when He was acarpenter.... Frank Laubach

We often try to help God along. Many times we eventry to answer our own prayers. If we can just help Godspruce up His image a little, we can get more people on Hisside. And that's what He wants us to do, right?

Wrong. He wants us to pray. Always and abouteverything. During times of joy as well as sorrow. He wantsus to talk to Him, not about Him. He even wants us to talk toHim about unbelievers before we talk to unbelievers about

Him.... Oswald Chambers

Love is not the cause of forgiveness. Forgiveness causeslove..... William Tyndale



Purity of heart is not achieved by brute force or bybecoming tense about it. We must simply lose ourselvescompletely. Sweep away everything, even the sharp

perception of our distress. We must make room for God. Wemust accept our poverty. We must renounce all that weighsus down, even the weight of our own faults.

We must see nothing but the glory of God and bask init. God is . That suffices. The heart then becomes bouyant. Itno longer feels its own weight but becomes as light as thelark in the sky. Then we have abandoned all care, all worry.Our desire for perfection has changed into a simple and purewill for God.... Francis of Assisi

I do not desire consolation that robs me of contrition. Nordo I care for contemplation that leads to pride. For not allthat is high is holy, nor is all that is sweet good. Every desireis not pure. And not all that is dear to us is pleasing to God. Iaccept willingly the grace to become more humble, morecontrite, and more willing to renounce myself.... Thomas a Kempis

Father, knowing ourselves only as poor and feeble,aware only of ordinary and common movements of mind andsoul, may we yet be possessed by Thy spirit, led by Thy willin ours. All things in a human, even those that seem thecommonest and least uplifted, are the creation of Thy heart,and by the lowly doors of our wavering judgment, dull

imagination, luke-warm love, and palsied will, Thou canstenter and glorify all. Give us patience because our hope is inThee, not in ourselves. Work Thy will in us, and our prayersare ended.... George MacDonald

We cannot offer God anything more pleasing than to say:Take us, Lord, we give thee our entire will. Only let us knowthy will and we will carry it out.... Alphonsus De Ligouri

When thou prayest, it is better that thy heart be without

words than thy words be without heart.... John Bunyan

Troubles and pain come to those who practice God'spresence, as they came to Jesus, but these seem not soimportant as compared to their new joyous experience. If wehave spent our days with Him, we find that when



earthquakes, fires, famines or other catastrophes threatenus, we are not terrified any more than Paul was in time of shipwreck. 'Perfect love casteth out fear.'

... Frank Laubach

If we are to live unto God at any time or in any place,we are to live unto Him at all times and in all places. If weare to use anything as the gift of God, we are to useeverything as His gift.... William Law

What does God ask of us? Not that we should be strongerthan we are, but that we should confess our weakness andaccept His strength.... William Bernard Ullathorne

The true Christian conception of property isstewardship; the holding of the gifts of God for His service,and subject to His direction, and for His glory.

This is the sovereign remedy for avarice and thegrasping spirit of the world, and we are never consecrateduntil all is laid, absolutely and forever, at His feet, and heldthere, subject constantly to His will.... A.B. Simpson

At a time when you did not know God, you became slaves tothings that are not of God. But now that you have come toknow God, or, rather, to be known by God, how difficult itwould be to turn back again to the weak and destituteelemental powers and be slaves to them all over again.... Galatians 4:4-9

It is christianity to do good always -even to those who doevil to us. It is christianity to love our neighbor as ourself,and to do to all men as we would have them do to us.

It is christianity to be gentle, merciful, and forgiving, andto keep those qualities quiet in our own hearts, and nevermake a boast of them, or of our prayers or of our love of God, but always to show that we love him by humbly tryingto do right in everything.

... Charles Dickens

I'm afraid that many of us often mistake our prejudices forour convictions. ... But we must remember that not whatwe've been taught or what our fathers believed or the waywe were raised is the standard of Christian behavior, but theWord of God. Always!



... Ray C. Stedman

The Lord is all and in all. If today I am patient, it is notI but He who lives in me who is patient. If today I love, it is

not because I try my best to love, for the power of love isnot in me; but it is because there is One who loves in me. If today I am humble, it is not because I remind myself howproud I am and, therefore need to be humble. He is myhumility, I therefore am humble.... Watchman Nee

Let us not seek to do the work God must do. Let us simplytrust Him to do it. Our duty is to seek a prepared heart inwaiting, longing, and praying and in studying, gazing, loving,worshipping, and believing that the wonderful vision of Christis the promise of what we can be. Then, putting aside all thatcan distract, in stillness of soul, silent unto God, we allow HisLight to do the work.... Andrew Murray

Do not allow yourself to become preoccupied with thepurity of your own heart. Instead, turn your gaze towardGod. Marvel over God. Rejoice that He is the All Holy One.When you are thus focused on God, do not glance back atyourself. Do not ask yourself where you stand with God.Instead, lift your gaze higher.

Purity of heart is not developing oneself to the utmost,nor is it an achievement of one's own doing. It is at first avoid which one discovers and accepts in oneself. Only then

does God come to fill the void according to how much onemakes oneself receptive to God's bounty.... Francis of Assisi

We know not how we should act if brought into temptation.Let us watch and pray without ceasing, that we might not beleft to ourselves.... Matthew Henry

Liberty does not consist in the power of actingindependently of the progress of life and the influencesarising from it, but in the capacity for recognizing and

acknowledging the revealed truth, and becoming the freeand joyful participator in the eternal and infinite work of God,the life of the world.

Or, on the other hand, liberty consists in the capacityfor refusing to recognize the truth, and so being a miserableand reluctant slave dragged whither he has no desire to go.



... Leo Tolstoi

The success of the gospel often makes wicked people so

angry, that they speak and act as if they hoped to obtain avictory over the Almighty Himself.... Matthew Henry

Let God act. Abandon yourself to Him. You will suffer, butyou will suffer with love, peace and consolation. You willfight, but you can carry off the victory, and God Himself willcrown you with His own hand. You will weep, but your tearswill be sweet, and God Himself will come to dry them.

You will not be free any longer to give yourself up to yourtyrannic passions, but you will sacrifice your liberty freely,and you will enter into a new liberty unknown to the world in

which you will do nothing except for love of God.... Francois Fenelon

The notion that religion is dull, stupid and sleepy isabhorrent to God, for He has created infinite variety and Heloves to surprise us. If you are weary of some sleepy form of devotion, probably God is as weary of it as you are.... Frank Laubach

In the secret of God's tabernacle no enemy can find us,and no troubles can reach us. The pride of man and the strifeof tongues find no entrance into the pavilion of God. Thesecret of His presence is a more secure refuge than athousand Gibraltars.

I do not mean that no trials come. They may come inabundance, but they cannot penetrate into the sanctuary of the soul, and we may dwell in perfect peace even in themidst of life's fiercest storms.... Hannah Whitall Smith

Hope means hoping when things are hopeless or it is novirtue at all. It is only when everything is hopeless that hopebegins to be a strength.... G. K. Chesterton

A time comes when people will no longer listen to rightteaching. They will follow their own desires and look forteachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear. Theywill reject the truth and follow strange myths. But you shouldkeep a clear mind in every situation. Don't be afraid of suffering for the Lord.... 2 Timothy 4:3-5



It is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself,and unless and until the hearers find God in personalexperience, they are not the better for having heard the

truth.... A.W. Tozer

So, can you make it through the dangers, toils and snaresof this dangerous world? Of course you can, if you love yourLeader, heed His warnings, and lay hold of His resources.Without Him you cannot succeed; with Him you cannot fail!... Ray C. Stedman

"The kingdom of God is within you," says the Lord.Turn, then, to God with all your heart. Devote yourself tothose things that are within and you will see the kingdom of

God come unto you, that kingdom which is peace and joy.... Thomas a Kempis

The first degree of humility is obedience without delay.... Benedict of Nursia

Prayer of Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love.Where there is injury, pardon.Where there is doubt, faith.Where there is despair, hope.Where there is darkness, light,

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so muchseek to be consoled as to console;to be understood as to understand;to be loved as to love;for it is in giving that we receive;It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

~~~~~~~~~

The Practice of the Presence of God is a way of life wherewe engage in continual conversation with God; walk with Himin love, humility, simplicity, and faith; and think, say, and donothing that may displease Him; because this is God's will forus.

reflections on practicing god's presence

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