The Practice of the Presence of God In Modern English

by Brother Lawrence

While assigned to the kitchen, working at the tedious tasks of cooking and cleaning, he developed the practice of living always in conscious awareness of God.

We ought to give ourselves to God in both mundane and spiritual matters. We should seek our satisfaction only in fulfilling His will, whether that leads to suffering or comfort. All things are equal to a soul truly surrendered to God. There needs to be faithfulness in the dry seasons of the spiritual life, when we feel distant from God and find prayer burdensome. At such times, God is testing our love for Him. Those are the times when we should surrender ourselves to God. If we do this, it will result in spiritual advancement.

All kinds of spiritual disciplines, if they are void of the love of God, cannot remove a single sin from our lives.

The goal of the spiritual life is to become the most perfect worshippers of God that we can possibly be, in this life and throughout all eternity.