The Practice of the Presence of God

A most amazing book, I have read it through several times, retain something different each time. Wonderful in its simplicity, it has become a favorite devotional.

The whole Holy Bible (in a true translation) is the most important book to read and learn from, for always, “the witness of God is greater”: It is the true eternal living words of God for life forevermore. Inerrant and immutable, it will always be the greater testimony! However, this book is, “if the witness of man be good…” remains the helpful words of man that have endured in “Practicing the Presence of God”, it acknowledges: The righteous, gracious Heavenly Father we have in Christ Jesus, His Son; the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world! AND most vitally, that Jesus the Christ wants, seeks and delights in a close personal relationship with every believer. The author reminds us to always and continually magnify and praise the Lord God Christ Jesus in every situation and work we are involved in! Perpetually, giving thanks and praise, glory and honor to our Lord and Savior God, from the moment we open our eyes in the morning and until we close them at night: magnify and rejoice in the Lord God. Are you seeking to know Jesus Christ as your Savior God? Ask Him for forgiveness; repent! Though our sins be as scarlet, the LORD says “… they shall be as white as snow…” Confess and believe in your heart on the Lord Jesus Christ, that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved! Tell someone! Jesus will baptize you with the Holy Spirit; He who puts you into the kingdom of God and seals you for the day of redemption, is the Spirit of adoption and promise! You can know your name is written in heaven. AND know by your faith alone (the grace of God) which justifies you before the Father for true and Perfect Peace with God. Jesus transforms you! You are born of God; born from above; born again; made a new creation in Christ; and Christ in you; through the now eternal indwelling Holy Spirit; to be outpoured through you: to share the light, love, mercy and peace of God with all you meet. It is the will of God that we outpour into and upon one another: God does the conversion and transformation! Just be His fountain. Each and every person of accountable age (and mind) must choose. No one can remain neutral. Choose this day whom you will serve, for we all serve something or someone. Choose Jesus to be Lord and Savior of your life and practice the presence of God all the days of your life. GODSPEED: be blessed and flourishing into more of Christ! Yes, I am practicing, yet, far from perfectly! I remain thankful for God’s grace. His always all sufficient grace. God bless you (us all) in your (our) walk in Christ and the Holy Spirit, as you (we) practice being in the presence of God! Alleluia!

I buy this book periodically as a gift for others, or to replace my copy if I choose to give it away. It's a must in any believer's library and gets you to focus on His presence in the lost moments of your day, a practice that draws you closer to the throne and heart of God. A+++++++ Glad to pick it up at an affordable price.

Brother Lawrence, born Nicolas Herman in Lorraine, France, lived through most of the 1600s and passed most of his life in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. Because of his lack of education he became what was known then as a "lay brother," that is, he took vows but was not an ordained priest. However, despite being a humble kitchen worker, he impressed so many of his fellow monks with his extraordinary piety that people even came to see him from outside the monastery, and he attracted correspondents as well. One of his visitors was the priest Joseph de Beaufort, who later became a high official in the Archdiocese of Paris. After Lawrence's death, and against his explicit wishes as expressed in one of the letters included in this little book, Beaufort published notes he had taken on several of his visits to Brother Lawrence, as well as letters the monk wrote to him and to several other recipients. This is a very slim collection that can easily be read straight through in an hour or so. According to Brother Lawrence, as the result of a profound spiritual experience he set out to cultivate a sense of God's presence by continually conversing with him. Continually talking to God simply and directly, and doing everything as an act of love for God sums up his entire program. He lived in an age when large numbers of people practiced various kinds of penances, many of which involved mortification of the flesh, but also other kinds of spiritual devotions that were not harmful of themselves, but which in many cases became unhealthy obsessions. He rejected such practices, because for him simple love of God was paramount. For Brother Lawrence, work time was prayer time; but really, it was always prayer time. He admits to experiencing "dry times" of the soul, but counseled pushing through those; according to Brother Lawrence, you should first ask God for the gifts necessary to develop this practice of the presence of God, which he will grant you. Like that other spiritual giant Teresa, Lawrence lifted up even the simplest things to God, and in the process transformed them and himself. Christians have been encouraged by his counsel and recommended his way as worthy of example--including a spiritual giant in his own right, John Wesley--and in the last couple of decades he has found a new currency not only among Catholic Charismatics, but also among Protestant Evangelicals as well. There are numerous versions of this classic available today. This one has an introductory essay by Rev. Gregory Bellarmine, superior general of the Society of St. John of the Cross, "St. Paul the Mystic & Brother Lawrence." I found it interesting as a way to think about spirituality--which which many Catholics and Protestants don't really believe in, thinking somehow it is opposed to organized religion--to better appreciate "the practice of the presence of God." There is another short article after the letters which explains "How the Traditional Carmelite Nuns Spent their Day." I presume the men spent their days similarly, but that is just a guess based on my general knowledge about Catholic monastic practices. Following that is a series of "Reading Group Questions" which, although poorly worded and edited in places--one of them is even repeated--could lead to good discussions by a group of people who had read the book seriously. Brother Lawrence's work always merits five stars; this edition still gets four, though, based on its low price. What is most important is that the heart of this book--Beaufort's notes and Brother Lawrence's letters--should be read seriously by anyone who takes their Christianity seriously. This is the second edition I have read, and I will probably read others to see what other kinds of ancillary materials editors put in with Brother Lawrence. But in the end, Brother Lawrence has helped more people get closer to God than a lot of much better-educated writers who have written much longer works. What matters truly is being in the Presence of God.

Recommended by Pope Leo--- of course it is great! Read it and pray!

Simple and profound, has changed my spiritual life. Pope Leo recommended it.

The letters of Brother Lawrence are an inspiration for how to live every moment with God. The translation can feel less than fluid at times, but the message shines through.

Pope Leo recommends this book. Absolutely agree. Short, simple, profound.

Recently, this booklet was recommended by Pope Leo. This copy is directly translated from Brother Laurence letters. A second book I bought, always the same of Brother Laurence, is translated and put into easier understandable reading. I liked to have both as the direct translation made me contemplate more.

Brother Lawrence was born 400 years ago. I get the impression that he would have been considered fanatical and radical (for his time), but I found his message of God to be passionate and inspirational. You may wonder how the words of someone who lived so long ago could possibly have any relevance to your life today. The Bible is as relevant today as when it was written 2000 years ago. God's Word never changes. Read this book and let the truths of God touch your heart. Brother Lawrence was certainly led by the Holy Spirit and his writtings reflect the truths contained within the Bible. It is definitely recommended reading to anyone who wants to know the real power of God.

Written over 400 years ago by a humble French monk, The Practice of the Presence of God contains a timeless spiritual message: the best form of prayer is simple, frequent conversation with God. Brother Lawrence discovered that we can maintain an ongoing dialogue with God throughout our daily activities—whether washing dishes, running errands, or doing our work. Rather than limiting prayer to formal times, he teaches that we can live in continual communion with God through simple attention and love, turning every moment into an opportunity for connection with the Divine.

I found this book very useful. Enjoyed reading it

I would rate this book alongside with "The Dark Night of the Soul" by St. John of the Cross. A good book which teaches living one's Christian life in the midst of one's daily activities. If I could summarize this book in one or two lines, it's about doing the ordinary things in an extra - ordinary manner which implies giving your best in all that you do and keeping God as the end goal of all that you do, as St. Ignatius of Antioch once said, "The glory of God is the human person fully alive".