This classic series of letters penned by the seventeenth century Carmelite monk, Brother Lawrence, describes the challenge of daily walking in the presence of God. Brother Lawrence shares his own spiritual struggles with the recipient and encourages the reader with practical ways to draw closer to God and remain in his presence regardless of surrounding distractions or the busyness of life. The Practice of the Presence of God is a challenge to daily walk in communion with God, step by step and moment by moment.
Brother Lawrence was a man of humble beginnings who discovered the greatest secret of living in the kingdom of God here on earth. It is the art of “practicing the presence of God in one single act that does not end.” He often stated that it is God who paints Himself in the depths of our soul. We must merely open our hearts to receive Him and His loving presence.
As a humble cook, Brother Lawrence learned an important lesson through each daily chore: The time he spent in communion with the Lord should be the same, whether he was bustling around in the kitchen–with several people asking questions at the same time–or on his knees in prayer. He learned how to cultivate the deep presence of God so thoroughly in his own heart that he was able to joyfully exclaim, “I am doing now what I will do for all eternity. I am blessing God, praising Him, adoring Him, and loving Him with all my heart.”
For nearly 300 years, this unparalleled classic has given both blessing and instruction to those who can be content with nothing less than knowing God in all His majesty and feeling His loving presence throughout each simple day.
Top Highlights
“That the most excellent method which he had found of going to God, was that of doing our common business without any view of pleasing men,1 and (as far as we are capable) purely for the love of God.” (Page 21)
“That in order to form a habit of conversing with God continually, and referring all we do to Him, we must at first apply to Him with some diligence: but that after a little care we should find His love inwardly excite us to it without any difficulty.” (Page 12)
“That we ought to act with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly, and imploring His assistance in our affairs, just as they happen.” (Page 13)
“Lord, I cannot do this unless Thou enablest me: and that then he received strength more than sufficient” (Page 13)
“That our only business was to love and delight ourselves in God.” (Page 16)
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