In Thy Presence

by Lev Gillet

These meditations are written in the form of God speaking to the reader as to His loved and valued child in order to reveal the nature of His love more clearly in its depth, splendor and tenderness. Some of them open our minds to the immense energy of Love in the universe. Others reveal the presence of Love in human tribulation and suffering, or illuminate the most commonplace actions of daily life. In all of them, tenderness toward each created being touches the real hunger and hope of our lives for a relationship of loving communion with God, for a journey with a transcendent destination.

There are also meditations on the presence of Christ. Also considered one by one are the actions of our daily lives, which so often threaten to become a meaningless routine. Each is brought into the light of a related incident in the life of Christ. Each is considered as if carried out in His immediate presence. What for us has so often become dull or meaningless is shown to be capable of transfiguration, of being potentially the action of an heir of God, of someone who transmits the intention of God to this world.

Genres: Christian, Spirituality, Theology, Prayer, Christianity

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Archimandrite Lev Gillet was an Eastern Orthodox monk who wrote mostly under the name "A monk of the Eastern Church".

Reviews

[Carole Habib · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 1 is good, God talking to us, but part 2 is what was really my favourite. The author, Fr Lev Gillet, talks to God, as a prayer, and I found each and every chapter beautiful as a prayer you can appropriate to yourself. Each chapter is about a different matter (i.e. prayer, work, reading, etc.) but the prayers associate with it and the way Fr Lev Gillet reflects on them makes you see each of these things in a different way. The simple action of just reading, or writing, is not something I would see God in, but he addresses these simple action in a way where he sees God in every small action that we do. Beautiful!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

beautiful book of short meditations intimately addressed to the reader from God, or more often, Love. some favorite thoughts:

"we hope only for that which we love"

"if thou lookest only at a fragment of the curve of thy life, thou couldst have the impression of lack of success, of defeat, failure. but look at the whole line of thy life with the confidence which love inspires. death itself, of such great importance, is but a moment, a point on that curve. love does not die. nothing that is love is ever lost."

"thou art loved. these three words, if thou dost truly wish to receive them, can overturn and transform thy whole life. I do not say to thee: thou hast been loved. nor do I say to thee: thou wilt be loved. it is today, it is now, this minute, that thou art loved. there is nothing measurable, nothing quantitative in it. it is offered to all in its infinity. I can love only divinely, that is wholly, giving all of myself. it is men who open themselves more or less, or close themselves to love."

"in the divine thought, it is given to each one of you to discover and make visible to others a different facet of the unique diamond. thou art that facet. whatever thy life has made of thee, thou art still one of these aspects, a different aspect, of the bond that joins each man to personal love. thou art a ray of love, issuing from love, even if the ray seems shattered."

[Kristie · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars for Part 1: “Limitless Love”. It was so beautiful and deep and thought-provoking.

I wasn’t as interested in part 2, but that’s ok :)

[Saint Katherine BookstoreVA · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Thy Presence is one of the most remarkable books of Orthodox spirituality that I can remember reading. It is composed of two separate essays, one written in the Easter season of 1960 when Fr. Gillet was 67, and the other at Easter ten year later. The later essay, Limitless Love, is presented first, which initially seemed odd. It is soaring spiritual prose, wherein Fr. Gillet had the audacity to write it as a message spoken from God’s point-of-view and in His first-person voice.

Is it true, My child, that thou desirest nothing other than love? - It is true, Lord. - Is it true that thou desirest only to love and be loved? - It is true, Lord. - Then, My child, because thou hast this thirst, come thou to the waters. Come to the primal water. Come and drink at the Source. (20)

The second essay, Thy Presence Today, pales in comparison at first glance. But then the reader realizes that this is the practical one, the one discusses the practice of spiritual disciplines and thinking through the lessons of Church and Scripture. It is this vine-dressing by the sixty-seven-year-old Gillet that yields up the fruit ten years later. Give me the sweetest fruit first, and once I’m hooked, only then show me the effort needed to produce it.
Limitless Love can pierce the reader’s heart with the invitation to enter into an intimate relationship with Lord Love as surely as Fr. Gillet’s own soul must have been transfigured in that Love.

For I am Supreme love, universal love, absolute love, infinite love. If, now, I rather stress the word limitless, it is to awaken in your minds the perception of something unlimited, of a love which, like a violent wind, like a hurricane, comes to breakdown all obstacles. I am that love which nothing can stop, which cannot be contained or restrained by anything. (17)

I have read several of Fr. Gillet’s books over the years, including the excellent The Year of Grace of the Lord. In my mind, In Thy Presence elevates him to another level.

My beloved ones are found on diverse planes, at different levels. But I am the Beloved of all. I am found on all planes and at all levels. I am for all. I am the Shepherd who lets no sheep go astray without seeking for it. I am with you from the beginning. Your life is Mine. Speak with My voice. Speak with the voice of Love, and utter the words of Love. I shall put My words into your mouths. (74)

[Alex of Yoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

As per recommendation: This is by far one of the best devotionals I've ever read. It's basically the Orthodox answer to the Jesus Calling devotional (except it was published way before Jesus Calling). It's an easy read, but one to be savored, not rushed through. An absolutely breathtaking read. I wish I owned this one (instead of borrowing it from a library), and it takes a lot to be worthy of my shelves!

This two part book focuses on bringing the reader into an more intimate relationship with God. The first part is written mainly as letters from God to the reader, introducing Himself as Lord Love and trying to help the reader to see both Him and themselves through His eyes. The second part is a response from the author who writes back to God, inviting Him into the basics of daily living as he attempts to see Him and connect with Him through each moment.

This is a beautifully written book with a layout that lends itself perfectly to being used as a daily devotional. While books that attempt to write from God's perspective normally give me pause, this one actually pulls in enough good Orthodox doctrine and Scripture to make it believable and not heretical (or even blasphemous like some books I've read that attempt the same thing). It's both deep yet intimate, perfect for both the casual reader and the scholar. Though you could easily read through it in a couple days, I found myself wanting to savor it and take it slowly so I could really appreciate what it had to offer.

This book has definitely grown my faith and love for God. It helped crack through the barriers that my previous Calvinistic background had put between me and Him, and was actually a huge source of healing for me as well as a help in understanding what the love of God really is and how He manifests Himself to each person. It's engaging, convicting, encouraging, and an absolute must-read for any Christian, Orthodox or not. It's what I think Jesus Calling tried to be, but with the depth that series was missing. If you're in need of a new daily devotional read, I hugely recommend giving this a try!

[Sophia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing, we read this for book club so highlighting and adding notes to it was a must, unlike others in my group I didn't find the old English to be difficult to get past I actually enjoyed it because it reminded me much of the version of the Bible I grew up reading and really helped me get into the mind frame of this is God speaking to me.

A few things that I liked, it changed my perspective on how I see God not as just the Creator but more I wish I could explain it better in this review I don't have the words but I see God as Love because of this. The second half of the book also changed my perspective on how I do things or what Christ did and how I do those same things because its just being human.

I would highly recommend reading this book, Fr. Lev does an amazing job and I heard this wasn't even his best work!

[Sarah Beshay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a secret hidden gem! An amazing contribution of a collection of meditations to be used in daily prayer. This book takes an example of one small task, one fine object or one simple verse, and magnifies it. Gillet brilliantly knows how to make the Lord speak in these pages. You can almost feel the love burst, compassion cover you and grace be absorbed in you through the words in this book. I can’t imagine not frequently gripping to this book, if not it, then one like it.

[Twitchmatic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whatever I wrote will do this book an injustice. I’m not sure I have ever read such an intimate, accessible, aspirational, challenging and encouraging book about the Love of the Divine.

My only challenge with this book was overcoming thee/thy/thou language. It’s worth it.

Read it.

[Raphael Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't even know what to say to be frank. Reading this book should be a bucket list item for anyone and everyone.

[John Saad · Rating 5 out of 5]

My usual Holy Week read. Every time I finish this book, I fall more in love with Love.

[Prophet Elijah]

BX383 .G54 1977