The Practice of the Presence of God

by Brother Lawrence

Brother Lawrence insisted that, to be constantly aware of God's presence, it is necessary to form the habit of continually talking with Him throughout each day.

Brother Lawrence had been quite disturbed because he wasn't certain that he was saved. Even so, he maintained the attitude that he had become a Christian because he loved the Lord, and so he would continue to love Him, whether he was certain of his salvation or not.

Brother Lawrence was aware of his sins and was not at all surprised by them. "That is my nature," he would say, "the only thing I know how to do." He simply confessed his sins to God, without pleading with Him or making excuses. After this, he was able to peacefully resume his regular activity of love and adoration. If Brother Lawrence didn't sin, he thanked God for it, because only God's grace could keep him from sinning.

He continued that if someone surrenders himself entirely to God, resolving to do anything for Him, the Lord will protect that person from deception. He will also not allow such a person to suffer through trials for very long, but will give him a way of escape that he might endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

All we have to do is to recognize God as being intimately present within us. Then we may speak directly to Him every time we need to ask for help, to know His will in moments of uncertainty, and to do whatever He wants us to do in a way that pleases Him.

We should offer our work to Him before we begin and thank Him afterward for the privilege of having done it for His sake.

He said that our sanctification does not depend as much on changing our activities as it does on doing them for God rather than for ourselves.

Our actions should unite us with God when we are involved in our daily activities, just as our prayers unite us with Him in our quiet devotions.

He isn't impressed so much with the dimensions of our work as with the love in which it is done.

Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. Still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues.

God has infinite treasures to give us, he says. Why should we be satisfied with a brief moment of worship? With such meager devotion, we restrain the flow of God's abundant grace. If God can find a soul filled with a lively faith, He pours His grace into it in a torrent that, having found an open channel, gushes out exuberantly.

During your meals or during any daily duty, lift your heart up to Him, because even the least little remembrance will please Him.

It isn't necessary that we stay in church in order to remain in God's presence. We can make our hearts personal chapels where we can enter anytime to talk to God privately.

It isn't necessary to be too verbose in prayer, because lengthy prayers encourage wandering thoughts.

He is within us; we don't need to seek Him elsewhere.

He is willing to make us like Him, if we desire it.

"I am in the hands of God; He will do with me as He pleases. If I do not serve Him here, I will serve Him elsewhere."

He encouraged other Christians to rely on God's love to lead them in their spiritual lives, rather than the knowledge of learned men.

The good brother found God everywhere, as much while he was repairing shoes as while he was praying with the community. He was in no hurry to go on retreats because he found the same God to love and adore in his ordinary work as in the depth of the desert.

He believed that this was what Christ expressed in the Gospel: that anything he did for even the humblest of his brothers would be counted as being done for Jesus.