The Practice of the Presence of God In Modern English

by Brother Lawrence

He said that we ought to relate to God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs

Even the busiest work did not distract him from his communion with God.

The spiritual life is neither an art nor a science. To arrive at union with God all one needs is a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, do nothing but for His sake, and to love Him only.

We should offer everything to Him before we do it and give Him thanks after we have finished.

sanctification does not depend upon changing what we do, but in doing for God’s sake what we normally do for our own sake. It is sad to see how many people mistake the means for the end, addicting themselves to religious works, which they perform very imperfectly because of their human or selfish motives. The most excellent method he had found of going to God was to do our normal activities without any view of pleasing men, and (as far as we are able) purely for the love of God.

worshipped Him as often as I could, keeping my mind in His holy Presence. Whenever I noticed that my mind had wandered, I brought it back to Him. I found this very difficult, and yet I continued in the practice, without feeling guilty when my mind wandered involuntarily.

by repeating this practice often it becomes second nature, and the presence of God becomes our normal state of mind. Join me in thanking God for His great goodness towards me, which I can never fully appreciate, and for the many kindnesses that He has granted to such a miserable sinner as I. May all things praise Him. Amen.

present myself to God, and I desire Him to make His perfect image in my soul, and make me entirely like Himself.

One way to focus the mind easily during prayer, and preserve it in peace, is not to let it wander too far at other times during the day. You should keep it strictly in the presence of God. If you are accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep your mind calm during the time of prayer, or at least to bring it back from its wanderings.

Let us remember often that our only purpose in this life is to please God.

How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can we be with Him unless we think of Him often? And how can we think of Him often unless we make this a holy habit?

In order to know God, we must think of Him often. When we grow to love Him, then we shall think of Him often. Our heart will be where our treasure is. This is an argument which deserves your consideration.

do not pray that you be delivered from pain. But I earnestly pray to God that He will give you strength and patience to bear the pain.

Be courageous. Offer your pain continually to God. Pray to Him for the strength to endure. Most importantly, maintain a habit of the awareness of God.

we desire to enjoy the peace of paradise in this life, we must accustom ourselves to intimate, humble, loving communion with Him.

Even though it is difficult, we also know that we can do all things with the grace of God, which He never refuses to give to those who ask for it earnestly.

May all our energy be devoted to knowing God. The more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him.

Let us not amuse ourselves by seeking God or loving God in order to receive blessings from God, no matter how lofty those blessings may be.

The grace of God is necessary every moment, for without it the soul can do nothing.

We should commit ourselves unceasingly to this one goal: that everything we do be little acts of communion with God.

Know that God is with you in everything you do. He is at the very depth and center of your soul. Why not pause for a moment from time to time in the midst of your busyness, even during the act of prayer, to worship Him within your soul?

Truly we could give God no greater evidence of our trust and faithfulness than by turning from the creation to find our joy in the present moment in the Creator.

The Presence of God is the life and nourishment of the soul.

Make it your practice, before beginning any task, to look to God, even if it is just for a moment.

Use prayers such as: "My God, I am wholly Yours. O God of Love, I love You with all my heart. Lord, make my heart even as Yours."