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After having given myself wholly to God, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He, and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge. At other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I worshipped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I made this my business, not only at the appointed times of prayer but all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work, I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God. Brother Lawrence never advanced beyond being the cook at the Paris monastery, but he developed the unique gift of being able to pray incessantly with God throughout the entire day and regardless of whatever else he was doing. This unique gift produced such a spiritual change in Brother Lawrence that many people sought him out to learn how to practice the presence of God themselves. Sign in. Log into your account. Forgot your password? Password recovery. Recover your password. Church Jobs Shop Subscribe. Robert Edmonson took a straightforward approach in his translation of this Maximes passage:. We would be quite surprised if we knew what the soul sometimes says to God. Translators John Delaney, Edward Musgrave Blaiklock and Salvatore Sciurba rendered the passage with the same semi-literal interpretation. We should be surprised if we knew what converse the soul sometimes holds with God. Attwater's was a common approach taken by many translators of this passage: "Conversation with God occurs in the depth and center of the soul," in one translation [8] ; and in another, "Great would be our surprise, if we but knew what converse the soul holds at times with God. Numerous versions of The Practice of the Presence of God have been published, as reprints or new translations. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. John Delaney Image, : Robert Edmonson Paraclete, : vii. All the while, he is subject to work that would have been brutally difficult -- imagine preparing meals for a huge community of probably grouchy men at a time when stoves and ovens were wood-fired and there was no air conditioning or even electric fans, and all the cookware was heavy cast iron or copper -- he worked in the inferno on earth. View all 3 comments. Where I got the book: purchased on the Nook yes, it does happen. I'm not really sure what to say about this little book. I guess I was expecting some great revelation about how to be a better Christian but the basic message here is "practice the presence of God every day. That's a bit like opening a book and finding written inside, "This is a book. Read it. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so Where I got the book: purchased on the Nook yes, it does happen. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so on. It's a collection of documents by and about Brother Lawrence who, from the sound of it, was a genuinely humble, dedicated follower of Christ. I think this book may inspire some people; it just didn't inspire me, and probably that's indicative of my own spiritual status low on the scale. Maybe I should revisit this one in ten years' time. Will there still be a Nook, I wonder? Dec 29, Rachel rated it it was ok Shelves: audiobooks. While there is certainly a truism presented in this book, and though I appreciated much in it, I believe it is faulty in that it encourages a mystical view of God and the practice of contemplative prayer. View all 4 comments. Aug 02, Andrea rated it it was ok Shelves: christian-living. I was disappointed to learn that really only about half of this book was written by Brother Lawrence. The first section contains a series of "conversations" recorded by someone who had spoken with Brother Lawrence and the last section was a short biography of his life. I found this biography to be so inundated with bad theology and an almost worshipful view of Brother Lawrence that it left a severe distaste of the entire book. The nature of this lent itself to being quite repetitive and disjointed. I guess I expected the book to be entirely written by this man and involving a larger scope and explanation of his life and beliefs. I was looking forward to reading this as I have heard about it for several years but I don't feel like it really added anything to my understanding of God or my convictions about daily living. The basic premise, that being in the presence of God is a practice that one can achieve through discipline and foucs, was repeated often. However, I didn't find his methods overly profound or his committment to them overly impressive considering the fact that he was secluded from the world. To say that he followed in Christ's footsteps seems to really miss the point as Christ was ever fellowshipping, teaching and evangelizing out in the world. Brother Lawrence makes an example of the chore of doing dishes and serving in the kitchen to bolster his proposition that any activity can be completed inside the presence of God but I found that to be pretty hollow. I don't disagree that doing dishes or any seemingly mundane task can be done as an act of service and love but I thought it was weak to use that as an example of a trying or difficult circumstance which would really challenge our ability to be God-centered. I don't know; maybe he really hated doing dishes. However if that's the most difficult situation he faced in his life in the monastery, it makes me wonder how credible his teaching really is. I agreed with Brother Lawrence that a right, awe-filled view of God brings us a long way in seeking and remaining in His presence and that it is a discpline to pursue God's presence. I'm not sure I really see the merit in "achieving" a consistent position in the presence of God if it's not used to bring others to Him. Apparently Brother Lawrence had great influence with other "brothers" living around him and we know that he wrote to encourage others so I guess you could say that his life and writings have inspired others to connect with God. However, he seemed to be more interested in a life of pleasant seclusion than in fulfilling the Great Commission. From the evidence of this book alone, this position is merely conjecture, but I really didn't see any inclination to "put to good use" the profound connection he seemed to have achieved in his decades of "the practice of the presence of God. My overall view is that you'd probably be just as well off using the time it takes to read this book to meditate on the Scriptures instead. I didn't feel that it offered much insight. I would highly recommend "A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life" by William Law to anyone looking for meatier inspiration and instruction about a life lived fully for God. I think, possibly, reading Law's book just a couple months ago wrecked anything I could have gotten out of "The Practice of the Presence of God. I think there is some good to be gotten out his writings but they just didn't do much for me. I feel like I should be apologizing for this overly negative review considering the other reviews The two star "It was OK" rating it pretty true to my experience with this book. I'd love to have a discussion with someone for whom this book was much more significant. Jul 24, Skylar Burris rated it liked it Shelves: christianity , spiritual-autobiography. God will not permit a soul that desires to be devoted entirely to Him to take pleasures other than with Him. The idea that everything in life must be deliberately spiritualized and that if it is not deliberately spiritualized it is harmful to the spiritual life is not an idea I have been able to embrace. I will have to mull this little volume over further, perhaps in a moment of greater receptivity. Dec 12, Brian rated it it was amazing Shelves: non-fiction , christian. A Catholic man who loved Jesus with all his heart. Even Protestants covet this book in our time. Since I'm a Calvinist, I'm one of them. This devotee finds God in mundane tasks, like washing dishes. Read in The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection is, to borrow a phrase, a book for transformation and not merely information. In fact, as far as information goes, this book has only one main idea. Namely, we should live our lives every moment with the realization that God is present with us, and we should lift up our hearts to Him frequently in a spirit of prayer. Sadly, very few of us can avoid distractions long enough to have any sort of unbroken time of communion with God. Brother Lawrence was a monk, but he was not the type of monk who spent all day in the chapel praying. He worked in the kitchen, bought the groceries from the market, and traveled on behalf of the monastery. However, the beauty of his book is to show that no vocation makes it impossible to have a strong life of prayer. My own prayer life suffers greatly from distractions and self-imposed haste, and I have struggled often to get back on track and spend quality time in prayer. There is not a one-size-fits-all method for maintaining a healthy prayer life. Also, prayer should be normal, and not some separate experience from the rest of life. The world, the flesh, and the Devil together wage so fierce and unremitting a war that, without actual grace and a humble reliance thereon, the soul would be dragged down in spite of herself. Brother Lawrence gives pointers in the right direction and practical hints for helping along the way, but there is no simple 5 step plan. He points us to faith in Christ as the means to attaining the goal of ceaseless prayer. Sep 13, Mike E. I read elsewhere this book is available as a free Kindle download. This review is based on a free version downloaded from Google Books: , London: H. Allenson, Ltd. Quotes: That we ought to give ourselves up entirely to God, with regard both to things temporal and spiritual, and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will, whether He lead us by suffering or by consolation; for all would be equal to a soul truly resigned. What does it mean to have a "soul equally resigned? What should be the end of all of the believer's actions? Should it be the glory of God? To what degree was Brother Lawrence BL confident in the strength of his own will or resolve? What is BL's methodology concerning prayer? Why was BL not burdened by his own faults or sins? Read I Thessalonians How does this Scripture correlate with the first half of this book? Why does one see so little solid virtue in Christians? What is an important aspect in overcoming spiritual doubts? Do you agree that, in the spiritual life, not to advance is to go back? BL writes that to practice the presence of God, the heart must be empty of all else--Christ alone shall dwell there. Read 1 Cor Do you think that Brother Lawrence had an advantage or disadvantage by living in a monastic community? Do you and I have an advantage or disadvantage, in practicing the presence of God as husbands, fathers, grandfathers? Does BL advocate daily devotions take place every morning by 6AM? If so, what are they? Apr 19, Art rated it really liked it Shelves: christian- spirituality. Brother Lawrence is a 17th century Carmelite monk who engaged in a near continual conversation with God. Even while he was doing seemingly menial tasks of while he was sick, he had a constant consciousness of the presence of God. This book is a collection of conversations with him and letters from him that describe and prescribe his daily inner and external dialogue with God. I learned from brother Lawrence a couple of ways to sustain the dialogue. One thing I learned was that he described his c Brother Lawrence is a 17th century Carmelite monk who engaged in a near continual conversation with God. One thing I learned was that he described his conversations with God as extremely pleasurable. He kept at the conversation because he enjoyed being with God. There's joy in being with God. Another way he kept the conversation going was that he wasn't too self deprecating when he noticed that he hadn't been conversing with God. He apologized, and he got right back to it. One conversation I had to have with brother Lawrence with his writings I mean, sometimes I talk out loud right back to the literature I'm reading as if I'm talking to the author; in my imagination I process what is being said better by doing this , was about how he saw illnesses and sufferings. To brother Lawrence these were also little gifts from God sent to bring awareness to the sufferer's need for God and to bring awareness to God's sustenance during suffering. So brother Lawrence welcomed suffering without seeking it out as gifts from God. That's a stretch for me to understand them that way. I expect suffering in this ever changing, sometimes evil world, and I prefer to see sufferings instead as being there, but they are not hindrances to God's stronger love, which has defeated all suffering, and that God's presence is there for consolation during suffering. So I agree with him that being with God can make paradise available even for the sufferer, not because the suffering is a gift, but because God's presence is the ever promised gift even despite suffering. As he says: "Pain and suffering would be a paradise to me if I could suffer with my God. The greatest pleasures would be hell if I relished them without Him. Apr 09, Stephanie rated it it was amazing. Good stuff. Free Kindle download. Read it through in one sitting. Those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us. We may make an oratory of our heart wherein to retire from time to time to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less. He knows what we can do. As it is boundless, the more you search for it the greater the riches you will find; let us search unceasingly and let us not stop until we have found it. Oct 29, Natalie Weber rated it really liked it Shelves: christian-living. To be honest, the only reason I read this book is because it was included in the same volume as the afore-mentioned book on prayer by Andrew Murray. However, I found it to be a perfect continuation of the primary thing God has really been impressing upon my heart this year — the importance of walking in the Spirit and performing even the most mundane duties to His glory. A magnificent and challenging book from an uneducated man who humbly set out to serve God, and spent his life in joy. His great disappointment was that he never got to suffer as he thought he deserved! Brother Lawrence saw his day-to-day work as service and praise to God. He set himself a discipline of awareness of the Divine Presence, until it became his habit and his life. For decades he toiled in the kitchen of the monastery, not ordained, but a lay brother, given that job because they found h A magnificent and challenging book from an uneducated man who humbly set out to serve God, and spent his life in joy. For decades he toiled in the kitchen of the monastery, not ordained, but a lay brother, given that job because they found him too clumsy to do anything else! After decades of such service, in his seventies and until his death in his eighties, suddenly he was sought out for what had become his obvious piety. I challenge you to read and re-read and re-re-read this short little book You can dash through it in less than a half hour probably until it changes your life! Sep 15, Kazango rated it it was amazing. I first read this book 26 years ago, and now I must atone for a grave injustice I did it at that time. I was asked to read it by an acquaintance, and I agreed with distaste: can any good come out of a book written by a Catholic monk? I asked my Presbyterian self. Accordingly my opinion when finished was that it was a book of no value. How wrong I was! Now as a Catholic I am at least honest enough to see that the book is marvelous in proposing to us that we should seek always to be mindful of our I first read this book 26 years ago, and now I must atone for a grave injustice I did it at that time. Now as a Catholic I am at least honest enough to see that the book is marvelous in proposing to us that we should seek always to be mindful of our Lord, as best we can. What possible harm is there in such a purpose? Why should I have rejected the book as a younger man? Only because I was stubborn and arrogant and refused to believe the possibility that truth could be found flowing from the pen of a monk. Forgive me, Brother Lawrence! Forgive me Lord! May I be even half so faithful as Lawrence was, and I would call myself happy in God. The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

He was well-read and, from an early age, drawn to a spiritual life of faith and love for God. At mid-life he entered a newly established monastery in Paris where he became the cook for the community which grew to over one hundred members. After fifteen years, his duties were shifted to the sandal repair shop but, even then, he often returned to the busy kitchen to help out. For some forty years, he lived and walked with God at his side. It was not until after his death that a few of his letters were collected. Joseph de Beaufort, representative, and counsel to the local archbishop, first published the letters in a small pamphlet. In this small book, through letters and conversations, Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully explains how to continually walk with God, not from the head but from the heart. It was a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries. We should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him. He said we ought to quicken and enliven our faith. It was lamentable we had so little. Instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions which changed daily. He said that faith was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection. We ought to give ourselves up to God with regard both to things temporal and spiritual and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will. Whether God led us by suffering or by consolation all would be equal to a soul truly resigned. Brother Lawrence said that the worst that could happen to him was to lose that sense of God which he had enjoyed so long. Yet the goodness of God assured him He would not forsake him utterly and that He would give him strength to bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him. Brother Lawrence, therefore, said he feared nothing. The book includes 15 short letters written by Brother Lawrence during the last ten years of his life to a variety of long time friends. They are the heart and soul of his ability to live in the constant presence of God. Nicholas Herman grew up amid the violence and upheavals of The Thirty Years War, and, being a poor peasant, he joined the army in order to eat and survive. One winter, while still a soldier, he happened to gaze upon the It is truly fitting and proper—somewhat ironic too—that the author of the shortest, sweetest, and perhaps the most useful guide to prayer and union with God was written by a Catholic who never became a saint, never became a priest, and worked almost his entire life in the kitchen. One winter, while still a soldier, he happened to gaze upon the bare branches of a tree, and he knew in that instant not only that its leaves and its fruits were certain to arrive, in good time, in the coming spring and in the summer, but also that grace would surely bring him to a flowering and a ripeness too. That tree had "flashed upon [his] soul the fact of God" and from that moment he never ceased to burn with Love. After being wounded and discharged from the army, Nicholas first worked briefly as a footman, and then entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery. Considered too unlettered to be a priest and too ignorant to perform any but the most menial tasks, he was assigned to cook and clean in the kitchen. The name he chose for himself was Lawrence, for St. Lawrence was the Patron Saint of Cooks, having achieved his martyrdom by being cooked to death on a grate. I'm done on this side! Lawrence cried out to his torturers, and this dark witticism eventually earned him the additional title of Patron Saint of Comedians. By concentrating on the simple, uncomplicated duties of the kitchen, Brother Lawrence developed his method of prayer. He was revered within the monastery, admired without, and eventually the aide of a local bishop arrived to crystallize Brother Lawrence's spiritual teachings by transcribing his conversation, which—along with a few letters of spiritual direction—make up The Practice of the Presence of God. View all 6 comments. Jan 05, Fergus rated it it was amazing. Brother Lawrence was a simple man. But he was happy. Now, Aquinas said the pinnacle of all our spiritual experiences is to See God. Did Brother Lawrence achieve that height? Well, I believe so. It all started when he was eighteen. As an uneducated soldier in the Thirty Years War, he, Nicolas Herman - as he was then called - saw a barren tree in a wintry field and suddenly grasped its Brother Lawrence was a simple man. As an uneducated soldier in the Thirty Years War, he, Nicolas Herman - as he was then called - saw a barren tree in a wintry field and suddenly grasped its inner meaning. He was thunderstruck and transfixed. The message? That like the tree, all of us - in our ordinary, unoccupied state, stripped of all our endless diversions and distractions - will remain denuded of all REAL and LASTING comforts, in empty surroundings, unless God steps in. And in the same way that He sends light, heat and rain in the spring, to bring the tree back to life, He will eventually give new Life to our Hearts. But we have to ask Him in. If we need comfort nowadays, we just press a button and adjust the thermostat, right? Not quite. I think we ALL want that. So, Lawrence says, all we have to do is sincerely ask God for meaning. In His time. And if we never afterwards STOP talking to Him - about whatever pops into our minds, however trivial As I said, Brother Lawrence was a simple man! But his simple method works Wonders. Why do I say that? Because our so-called social self will drop away, as our self- consciousness itself drops away. Natural living is all that will remain - just like the tree in the field. And if we go the full way, giving our all, one day we will reach Poverty of Spirit. The Lowest Point - and, paradoxically, the Pinnacle. Because whether your tree blossoms, grows dense foliage, or sheds Timeless time. And we all have a glimpse of that now and then. And those are the times we are Real: and it does happen, now and then. Heaven help us! But, as T. For self-assertion, like a shadow, can disturb the world Why on earth should we stick your neck into the endless and fruitless power games of the world, to be dominated and victimized again and again by their and your endless Shadows? Be like the tree. And keep up your part of the inner dialogue with God - for Brother Lawrence ingenuously says His answers will always come, and provide you with the protection and comfort of spiritual foliage, and with the real and continual fruits of the Spirit. View all 19 comments. Shelves: , hagiography , philosophy , , classic , prayer , religion , non-fiction , worth-reading-over-and-over , must-have. April 9, Concluding another official read of this book, although whether it be the fifth, sixth or more, who can say? Guardian Angel help me. The weekly reflections from the French and Austrian Carmelites were a wonderful supplement to the text to be kept alongside the book for the next read. Scroll down for original review. February 27, Listened to the au April 9, Concluding another official read of this book, although whether it be the fifth, sixth or more, who can say? February 27, Listened to the audio version again today. Listening is the easy part. Remembering to bring Him into every moment is the constant struggle. That is why it is so good to keep returning and rereading this book. Doing the retreat on-line, for free here: here. Weekly reflections are emailed every Friday throughout Lent. The book itself can also be read on-line or downloaded to your kindle or computer for free. There are also more expensive versions available with various additional options. I am using this version mostly, but also a more simplified kindle and an audio version. But it is also a book you have to be receptive to appreciate. Without this requisite receptivity, its pearls of wisdom would be wasted. But with the right frame of mind and heart, it is the perfect book. Perfect in that while it can be read in one hour; mastery of its central concept requires a lifetime. Well, at least for this soul And I write that without the least trace of humility, remorse or even chagrin—as a simple statement of fact. Indeed, growth in virtue does require total commitment and extended preparation time. I'm on at least my seventh reading of this book and each has been a sincere attempt to take in the saint's simple way of constantly living in God's Holy Presence. I just pray I've made some progress! So, despair should not deter one's efforts. We will have to creep, crawl, stumble and fall many times in this effort before we will ever be able to actually walk in God's presence. In the meantime, He carries us. Both men were post-Reformation, French religious, from rather obscure backgrounds, who left us one primary work of spiritual insight comprised of meditations and letters collected postmortem. Few hard facts can be substantiated about either man — even such basic information as definitive dates of birth and death, although we do know approximate dates. Both were extremely humble men who preferentially would have lived quiet lives far away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of society; but they were not given that chance. Brother Lawrence lived and worked most of his life at the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites on the Rue de Vaugirard in Paris, where he spent many years working in the kitchen. He died in at around 80 years of age. A year later his Abbot collected what could be found from Brother Lawrence's letters, spiritual writings and recorded conversations, put them together and this comprises what we know today as The Practice of the Presence of God. Unfortunately, upon publication, Practice became associated with the controversy of the day, the heresy then causing so much bitter debate, Quietism. Although it is beyond the scope of this review and the abilities of this writer to discuss the theological aspects of Quietism, it is important to understand that one tenet of this heresy bore a similarity to Brother Lawrence's principle theses, complete abandonment to the will of God, and therefore was used by advocates of the Quietist heresy to justify their position. As it would be some years before this struggle could be resolved, especially in France, Practice suffered the taint of guilt by association — albeit a slim association at best — and fell into disfavor in the country of its birth. Fortunately for us, our book was picked up by other Christian denominations and carried to other countries where it has spread around the world. Since its initial printing, Practice has been always been available in one form or another and now can even be found in many versions on-line. The first section of the book consists of four dated conversations where Brother Lawrence describes what it is that led him to the realization that pursuing the Practice of the Presence of God was the best way, indeed the only way, to follow Christ. These are not conversations as most Americans today would categorize conversations, but more like Shakespearean soliloquies, with the little monk giving his thoughts on how he came to know that putting God first, last, and always, was the only way to live. That is Practice in a nutshell. I could stop writing here and you would have the book. Except that as simple as it is write or say such words, anyone who has really tried to live them knows, it is not that easy. In the next section of the book, we are given sixteen of Brother Lawrence's letters—mostly written to a nun, but also one to a priest and several to a lay woman. All of these further elucidate how one is to advance along the path toward our ultimate goal, full and total communion with God. The book concludes with a group of Brother Lawrence's maxims. What Brother Lawrence teaches through Practice is that no matter where we are, or what we are doing, we can and should be in God's presence at all times. But how to achieve this state, you may well ask? This made me decide to give all to gain all; so after having given all to God in satisfaction for my sins, I began to live as if there were no one in the world but Him and me. However, the same day I read those words of Brother Lawrence, I read almost the exact same idea expressed by another Carmelite from years earlier. In describing the transforming union that a soul undergoes when it finally achieves oneness with God, St. Indeed the life of Brother Lawrence is testimony to his writings; his single-minded concern for God, far from leading him away from love of people, brought him closer to them. Only through a greater love of God, can we ever hope for a fuller love of all of His creation. My first recorded acquaintance with Practice was May of —at least according to the little bookmark card maintained inside the front cover of my ragged paperback copy. Recently I read and listened to the book again. I wish I could say that reading Practice was enough, or even writing about it. But they aren't. It takes much more than that. Nevertheless, I shall continue to do both, because I see great wisdom in this little book and at least reading it keeps the idea foremost in my mind. View all 32 comments. Nov 22, Christopher rated it liked it Shelves: christian-living. Actually, this is more of an author review as I don't take issue with the content of the book, which is highly reccomended, but rather the inconsistent lifestyle of the author. Here it is: "Coram Deo": to live "before the face of God" best sums up the message of Brother Lawrence. That even the most mundane tasks can be taken up with glorying in the Lord Jesus. This is one of those places however where we ought to heed the words of Jesus concerning the Pharisees, "do what they say but not what they Actually, this is more of an author review as I don't take issue with the content of the book, which is highly reccomended, but rather the inconsistent lifestyle of the author. This is one of those places however where we ought to heed the words of Jesus concerning the Pharisees, "do what they say but not what they do" which highlights the great oversight of brother Lawrence. What I expected from this book was an account of the faith of a hardworking Christian man in the midst of his daily labors, what I got was a man who was disappointed by how "satisfying" life in the monastery was and who expected future suffering purgatory to make up for his carefree life as a monk. This was a man who did not truly believe in the sufficiency of Christ's suffering on his behalf. Thinking he had to make up the difference somehow, such was the mindset of the monks. It's alot easier to be taken up with spiritual ecstasies when you have no real responsibilities in the world. As a Christian husband and father of one and another on the way , I am moved by the practical principles for religious devotion to Christ that are laid out in this book, but I do wish that they were not hypocritically represented by a clergyman who divorced himself entirely from life amongst lay people. It sets a terrible precedent when Jesus said,"no one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light" Luke Brother Lawrence said he was convinced that in the kitchen he could "possess God in as great tranquility as if upon [his] knees at the blessed sacrament" and yet he remained a reclusive monk primarily and not instead a cook. He chose to flee the world under pretense of devoting his life to God and yet as a monk, in a very unChristlike fashion, he would not live and eat amongst sinners in order to reveal Christ to them. In practice he maintained the essentially Gnostic dichotomy between the material world as evil and the spiritual as good, rather than living out his ideal of serving God in everyday occupations like washing dishes and serving food, he chose the supposed higher path of the monk. If brother Lawrence wanted to convey his ideas with integrity he ought to have left the monastery and sought out honorable employment amongst the populus in order to be a missionary to them. By not doing this he has lead people by example into a hyper-spirituality that is so heavenly minded its no earthly good. There is no doubt that this man was devoted to loving God, but it is doubtful that he was much devoted to loving people the way Jesus did. Christ calls his disciples to be people who are ready to live godly lives in front of others as before the face of God. There are some great words to be found in this book concerning prayer and devotion, yet if you seek to truly walk as Jesus did please do not imitate the authors way of life. View all 9 comments. One of the best books I ever read. I can hardly believe it was written by a virtually unknown kitchen monk from like a billion years ago. Seriously useful advice on exactly how to stay connected with God in constant communion. Not a bit sentimental. Nothing vain or extraneous. Nothing obtuse. Clear, solid advice. A real treasure. I may just buy copies for everyone's Christmas this year. View 2 comments. Feb 16, Douglas Wilson rated it really liked it Shelves: theology. I read this many years ago I think , but just now listened to it on Audible. Enjoyed it -- he has a good functional grasp of grace, even though his theology of it was a little muddy. View 1 comment. Jan 14, Rhonda rated it it was amazing Shelves: theology. The major barrier to this book is the slightly stilted language. I have recommended this to several people and they cannot get past this, essentially missing the book's message. If nothing else this makes me understand why the King James Bible remains obtuse for many. However, what this man brings to understanding God on a daily basis, in real-life w The major barrier to this book is the slightly stilted language. However, what this man brings to understanding God on a daily basis, in real-life which each of us can understand, is nothing short of miraculous. Brother Lawrence involves God in all his daily affairs, not in some odd or curious way, but in a very natural way: he treats the Lord as one sitting with him in the kitchen where he works. This little book is one which can be, I have found, life changing. In essence, this little tract is the epitome of simplicity which we often bypass by our bombast and rhetoric about situations. Those wishing to come back to God in a very personal way without making all sorts of noise and commotion would do well to read this book. I find that I must come back to it every so often because it is so easy to veer away from the simplicity it uses so effectively. Apr 18, Bob O'bannon rated it liked it. In a world of constant distraction, Brother Lawrence has much to teach us about offering every moment of our waking existence to a deliberate awareness of God's gracious and intimate presence, whether we're writing a sermon or working in the kitchen. One must discipline himself to be mindful of God's constant and immediate accessibility. The result is a life of peace and joy, even in the face of a painful death. At the same time, I found myself troubled by at least three things: 1 On several occ In a world of constant distraction, Brother Lawrence has much to teach us about offering every moment of our waking existence to a deliberate awareness of God's gracious and intimate presence, whether we're writing a sermon or working in the kitchen. At the same time, I found myself troubled by at least three things: 1 On several occasions, Lawrence mentions the need to make satisfaction for his sins. Maybe he means something different than I realize, but if he means what I think he means, I have to wonder if the man even understands the gospel. Lots of good meat in this book, but don't be afraid to spit out the bones just because it is regarded as such a classic. Many have heard of Brother Lawrence's quote about peeling potatoes to the glory of God. This book is a collection of his letters dealing with the topic of practicing God's presence. This is a short but profoundly meditative read. Good stuff for mothers in a hurry who want to ponder a connection with God in the midst of busy days; also palatable for people going through a hard time to read little bits at a time and absorb them without charging through. Brother Lawrence didn't intend to write a boo Many have heard of Brother Lawrence's quote about peeling potatoes to the glory of God. Brother Lawrence didn't intend to write a book, and some concepts are a bit disjointed. But, he is consistent enough in his perspective and approach that the same themes work throughout his pastoral correspondence. I found his ideas to be challenging. Too often, I can emphasize service to God over relationship with God. Brother Lawrence's goal to focus on developing a conscious awareness of God's presence, to live and interact with His presence such that his relationship with God was the strongest experience of his life is a worthy goal. Since I first read it, I feel I've made progress, but it does tend to drop off the radar as life goes on and a good refresher is always welcome. As a result, I've read it a few times and anticipate reading it several more times before I meet him in heaven! Return to His presence. Rest in His presence. Be quiet in His presence. Grow confident in His presence. Find salvation and strength in His presence. The Romish errors here are easily enough ignored, so I think I will be revisiting it regularly as a reminder to "set the Lord always before me. Shelves: classics , spiritual-or-relig , christianity , health-illness-healing , french-author , french-engl-tran , trauma. Healing Trauma, Living in The Presence This would be a five star book for the right person at the right time, I was just not that person or perhaps it was not the right time. Or was it? The brother's practice was, on the surface, seemingly simple: to repeat a short prayer continuously throughout the work day to unite himself at all times with the presence of God. I did not even try to achieve it. The young, uneducated soldier who became known as Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection entered a French Carmelite monastery fresh from battle and pretty much destroyed by war trauma, experiencing what today we would call severe PTSD. I imagine he enters the community hoping to find peace—but instead, his life is a nightmare because of extreme terrors that continue day and night for four years before beginning to abate. In an era when psychological medicine did not exist, he is healed, slowly but completely, through the continual, maybe even continuous, practice of a simple, repetitive, spoken prayer throughout the work day by which he intends to give himself completely over to God. Eventually, as an old, still rough-spoken man, he becomes known as a spiritual master--I am not sure whether the term "spiritual master" was in use at the time, but he becomes someone others recognize for the peace in his soul and seek out for wisdom and guidance. All the while, he is subject to work that would have been brutally difficult -- imagine preparing meals for a huge community of probably grouchy men at a time when stoves and ovens were wood-fired and there was no air conditioning or even electric fans, and all the cookware was heavy cast iron or copper -- he worked in the inferno on earth. View all 3 comments. Where I got the book: purchased on the Nook yes, it does happen. I'm not really sure what to say about this little book. I guess I was expecting some great revelation about how to be a better Christian but the basic message here is "practice the presence of God every day. That's a bit like opening a book and finding written inside, "This is a book. Read it. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so Where I got the book: purchased on the Nook yes, it does happen. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so on. It's a collection of documents by and about Brother Lawrence who, from the sound of it, was a genuinely humble, dedicated follower of Christ. I think this book may inspire some people; it just didn't inspire me, and probably that's indicative of my own spiritual status low on the scale. Maybe I should revisit this one in ten years' time. Will there still be a Nook, I wonder? Dec 29, Rachel rated it it was ok Shelves: audiobooks. While there is certainly a truism presented in this book, and though I appreciated much in it, I believe it is faulty in that it encourages a mystical view of God and the practice of contemplative prayer. View all 4 comments. Aug 02, Andrea rated it it was ok Shelves: christian-living. I was disappointed to learn that really only about half of this book was written by Brother Lawrence. The first section contains a series of "conversations" recorded by someone who had spoken with Brother Lawrence and the last section was a short biography of his life. I found this biography to be so inundated with bad theology and an almost worshipful view of Brother Lawrence that it left a severe distaste of the entire book. The nature of this lent itself to being quite repetitive and disjointed. The Practice of the Presence of God - Wikipedia

You can also watch the videos of the teaching series upon which these articles are based. Lord of all pots and pans and things. Make me a saint by getting meals And washing up the plates! Brother Lawrence was a poor dishwasher and cook in a 17th-century French monastery. During his 40 years as a monk, he came to a deep understanding of what it meant to practice the presence of God—the fourth essential in this article series. It requires both trust and training. In some mysterious way, God has ordered our minds such that, deep in our hearts, we can be in prayer and worship at the same time that we are going through our daily routine or doing our daily labors. Christians are often taught that our main line of defense against this clamorous, invasive world is a daily quiet time. Then we head out into the rest of our day, having compartmentalized our God life, leaving our Bible and our relationship with Jesus on our desk or bedside table. But what about the rest of the day? Is that how God really wants us to live? For some forty years, he lived and walked with God at his side. It was not until after his death that a few of his letters were collected. Joseph de Beaufort, representative, and counsel to the local archbishop, first published the letters in a small pamphlet. In this small book, through letters and conversations, Brother Lawrence simply and beautifully explains how to continually walk with God, not from the head but from the heart. It was a shameful thing to quit His conversation to think of trifles and fooleries. We should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of God which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him. He said we ought to quicken and enliven our faith. It was lamentable we had so little. Instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions which changed daily. He said that faith was sufficient to bring us to a high degree of perfection. We ought to give ourselves up to God with regard both to things temporal and spiritual and seek our satisfaction only in the fulfilling of His will. Whether God led us by suffering or by consolation all would be equal to a soul truly resigned. Brother Lawrence said that the worst that could happen to him was to lose that sense of God which he had enjoyed so long. Yet the goodness of God assured him He would not forsake him utterly and that He would give him strength to bear whatever evil He permitted to happen to him. Brother Lawrence, therefore, said he feared nothing. The book includes 15 short letters written by Brother Lawrence during the last ten years of his life to a variety of long time friends. They are the heart and soul of his ability to live in the constant presence of God. This made me resolve to give the all for the All. After having given myself wholly to God, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He, and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge.

The Eight Spiritual Essentials, Part 4: Practice God's Presence | Ken Boa

We [should] take our life with God—and our awareness of his presence—with us everywhere, not just into our quiet times but into our noisy times too, incorporating practices into our lives that help us keep that awareness right in front of us, throughout the day, every day. Eight Spiritual Essentials Article Summaries. Images of Living in His Presence. Share this: Facebook. Practicing the Presence of God: Part 34 4 years ago. Practicing the Presence of God: Part 33 4 years ago. Practicing the Presence of God: Part 32 4 years ago. Brother Lawrence, therefore, said he feared nothing. The book includes 15 short letters written by Brother Lawrence during the last ten years of his life to a variety of long time friends. They are the heart and soul of his ability to live in the constant presence of God. This made me resolve to give the all for the All. After having given myself wholly to God, to make all the satisfaction I could for my sins, I renounced, for the love of Him, everything that was not He, and I began to live as if there was none but He and I in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet of his judge. At other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I worshipped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I made this my business, not only at the appointed times of prayer but all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work, I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God. Brother Lawrence never advanced beyond being the cook at the Paris monastery, but he developed the unique gift of being able to pray incessantly with God throughout the entire day and regardless of whatever else he was doing. This unique gift produced such a spiritual change in Brother Lawrence that many people sought him out to learn how to practice the presence of God themselves. Sign in. Log into your account. And if we never afterwards STOP talking to Him - about whatever pops into our minds, however trivial As I said, Brother Lawrence was a simple man! But his simple method works Wonders. Why do I say that? Because our so-called social self will drop away, as our self-consciousness itself drops away. Natural living is all that will remain - just like the tree in the field. And if we go the full way, giving our all, one day we will reach Poverty of Spirit. The Lowest Point - and, paradoxically, the Pinnacle. Because whether your tree blossoms, grows dense foliage, or sheds Timeless time. And we all have a glimpse of that now and then. And those are the times we are Real: and it does happen, now and then. Heaven help us! But, as T. For self-assertion, like a shadow, can disturb the world Why on earth should we stick your neck into the endless and fruitless power games of the world, to be dominated and victimized again and again by their and your endless Shadows? Be like the tree. And keep up your part of the inner dialogue with God - for Brother Lawrence ingenuously says His answers will always come, and provide you with the protection and comfort of spiritual foliage, and with the real and continual fruits of the Spirit. View all 19 comments. Shelves: , hagiography , philosophy , , classic , prayer , religion , non-fiction , worth-reading-over-and-over , must-have. April 9, Concluding another official read of this book, although whether it be the fifth, sixth or more, who can say? Guardian Angel help me. The weekly reflections from the French and Austrian Carmelites were a wonderful supplement to the text to be kept alongside the book for the next read. Scroll down for original review. February 27, Listened to the au April 9, Concluding another official read of this book, although whether it be the fifth, sixth or more, who can say? February 27, Listened to the audio version again today. Listening is the easy part. Remembering to bring Him into every moment is the constant struggle. That is why it is so good to keep returning and rereading this book. Doing the retreat on-line, for free here: here. Weekly reflections are emailed every Friday throughout Lent. The book itself can also be read on-line or downloaded to your kindle or computer for free. There are also more expensive versions available with various additional options. I am using this version mostly, but also a more simplified kindle and an audio version. But it is also a book you have to be receptive to appreciate. Without this requisite receptivity, its pearls of wisdom would be wasted. But with the right frame of mind and heart, it is the perfect book. Perfect in that while it can be read in one hour; mastery of its central concept requires a lifetime. Well, at least for this soul And I write that without the least trace of humility, remorse or even chagrin—as a simple statement of fact. Indeed, growth in virtue does require total commitment and extended preparation time. I'm on at least my seventh reading of this book and each has been a sincere attempt to take in the saint's simple way of constantly living in God's Holy Presence. I just pray I've made some progress! So, despair should not deter one's efforts. We will have to creep, crawl, stumble and fall many times in this effort before we will ever be able to actually walk in God's presence. In the meantime, He carries us. Both men were post-Reformation, French religious, from rather obscure backgrounds, who left us one primary work of spiritual insight comprised of meditations and letters collected postmortem. Few hard facts can be substantiated about either man — even such basic information as definitive dates of birth and death, although we do know approximate dates. Both were extremely humble men who preferentially would have lived quiet lives far away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of society; but they were not given that chance. Brother Lawrence lived and worked most of his life at the monastery of the Discalced Carmelites on the Rue de Vaugirard in Paris, where he spent many years working in the kitchen. He died in at around 80 years of age. A year later his Abbot collected what could be found from Brother Lawrence's letters, spiritual writings and recorded conversations, put them together and this comprises what we know today as The Practice of the Presence of God. Unfortunately, upon publication, Practice became associated with the controversy of the day, the heresy then causing so much bitter debate, Quietism. Although it is beyond the scope of this review and the abilities of this writer to discuss the theological aspects of Quietism, it is important to understand that one tenet of this heresy bore a similarity to Brother Lawrence's principle theses, complete abandonment to the will of God, and therefore was used by advocates of the Quietist heresy to justify their position. As it would be some years before this struggle could be resolved, especially in France, Practice suffered the taint of guilt by association — albeit a slim association at best — and fell into disfavor in the country of its birth. Fortunately for us, our book was picked up by other Christian denominations and carried to other countries where it has spread around the world. Since its initial printing, Practice has been always been available in one form or another and now can even be found in many versions on-line. The first section of the book consists of four dated conversations where Brother Lawrence describes what it is that led him to the realization that pursuing the Practice of the Presence of God was the best way, indeed the only way, to follow Christ. These are not conversations as most Americans today would categorize conversations, but more like Shakespearean soliloquies, with the little monk giving his thoughts on how he came to know that putting God first, last, and always, was the only way to live. That is Practice in a nutshell. I could stop writing here and you would have the book. Except that as simple as it is write or say such words, anyone who has really tried to live them knows, it is not that easy. In the next section of the book, we are given sixteen of Brother Lawrence's letters— mostly written to a nun, but also one to a priest and several to a lay woman. All of these further elucidate how one is to advance along the path toward our ultimate goal, full and total communion with God. The book concludes with a group of Brother Lawrence's maxims. What Brother Lawrence teaches through Practice is that no matter where we are, or what we are doing, we can and should be in God's presence at all times. But how to achieve this state, you may well ask? This made me decide to give all to gain all; so after having given all to God in satisfaction for my sins, I began to live as if there were no one in the world but Him and me. However, the same day I read those words of Brother Lawrence, I read almost the exact same idea expressed by another Carmelite from years earlier. In describing the transforming union that a soul undergoes when it finally achieves oneness with God, St. Indeed the life of Brother Lawrence is testimony to his writings; his single-minded concern for God, far from leading him away from love of people, brought him closer to them. Only through a greater love of God, can we ever hope for a fuller love of all of His creation. My first recorded acquaintance with Practice was May of —at least according to the little bookmark card maintained inside the front cover of my ragged paperback copy. Recently I read and listened to the book again. I wish I could say that reading Practice was enough, or even writing about it. But they aren't. It takes much more than that. Nevertheless, I shall continue to do both, because I see great wisdom in this little book and at least reading it keeps the idea foremost in my mind. View all 32 comments. Nov 22, Christopher rated it liked it Shelves: christian-living. Actually, this is more of an author review as I don't take issue with the content of the book, which is highly reccomended, but rather the inconsistent lifestyle of the author. Here it is: "Coram Deo": to live "before the face of God" best sums up the message of Brother Lawrence. That even the most mundane tasks can be taken up with glorying in the Lord Jesus. This is one of those places however where we ought to heed the words of Jesus concerning the Pharisees, "do what they say but not what they Actually, this is more of an author review as I don't take issue with the content of the book, which is highly reccomended, but rather the inconsistent lifestyle of the author. This is one of those places however where we ought to heed the words of Jesus concerning the Pharisees, "do what they say but not what they do" which highlights the great oversight of brother Lawrence. What I expected from this book was an account of the faith of a hardworking Christian man in the midst of his daily labors, what I got was a man who was disappointed by how "satisfying" life in the monastery was and who expected future suffering purgatory to make up for his carefree life as a monk. This was a man who did not truly believe in the sufficiency of Christ's suffering on his behalf. Thinking he had to make up the difference somehow, such was the mindset of the monks. It's alot easier to be taken up with spiritual ecstasies when you have no real responsibilities in the world. As a Christian husband and father of one and another on the way , I am moved by the practical principles for religious devotion to Christ that are laid out in this book, but I do wish that they were not hypocritically represented by a clergyman who divorced himself entirely from life amongst lay people. It sets a terrible precedent when Jesus said,"no one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or under a basket, but on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light" Luke Brother Lawrence said he was convinced that in the kitchen he could "possess God in as great tranquility as if upon [his] knees at the blessed sacrament" and yet he remained a reclusive monk primarily and not instead a cook. He chose to flee the world under pretense of devoting his life to God and yet as a monk, in a very unChristlike fashion, he would not live and eat amongst sinners in order to reveal Christ to them. In practice he maintained the essentially Gnostic dichotomy between the material world as evil and the spiritual as good, rather than living out his ideal of serving God in everyday occupations like washing dishes and serving food, he chose the supposed higher path of the monk. If brother Lawrence wanted to convey his ideas with integrity he ought to have left the monastery and sought out honorable employment amongst the populus in order to be a missionary to them. By not doing this he has lead people by example into a hyper-spirituality that is so heavenly minded its no earthly good. There is no doubt that this man was devoted to loving God, but it is doubtful that he was much devoted to loving people the way Jesus did. Christ calls his disciples to be people who are ready to live godly lives in front of others as before the face of God. There are some great words to be found in this book concerning prayer and devotion, yet if you seek to truly walk as Jesus did please do not imitate the authors way of life. View all 9 comments. One of the best books I ever read. I can hardly believe it was written by a virtually unknown kitchen monk from like a billion years ago. Seriously useful advice on exactly how to stay connected with God in constant communion. Not a bit sentimental. Nothing vain or extraneous. Nothing obtuse. Clear, solid advice. A real treasure. I may just buy copies for everyone's Christmas this year. View 2 comments. Feb 16, Douglas Wilson rated it really liked it Shelves: theology. I read this many years ago I think , but just now listened to it on Audible. Enjoyed it -- he has a good functional grasp of grace, even though his theology of it was a little muddy. View 1 comment. Jan 14, Rhonda rated it it was amazing Shelves: theology. The major barrier to this book is the slightly stilted language. I have recommended this to several people and they cannot get past this, essentially missing the book's message. If nothing else this makes me understand why the King James Bible remains obtuse for many. However, what this man brings to understanding God on a daily basis, in real-life w The major barrier to this book is the slightly stilted language. However, what this man brings to understanding God on a daily basis, in real-life which each of us can understand, is nothing short of miraculous. Brother Lawrence involves God in all his daily affairs, not in some odd or curious way, but in a very natural way: he treats the Lord as one sitting with him in the kitchen where he works. This little book is one which can be, I have found, life changing. In essence, this little tract is the epitome of simplicity which we often bypass by our bombast and rhetoric about situations. Those wishing to come back to God in a very personal way without making all sorts of noise and commotion would do well to read this book. I find that I must come back to it every so often because it is so easy to veer away from the simplicity it uses so effectively. Apr 18, Bob O'bannon rated it liked it. In a world of constant distraction, Brother Lawrence has much to teach us about offering every moment of our waking existence to a deliberate awareness of God's gracious and intimate presence, whether we're writing a sermon or working in the kitchen. One must discipline himself to be mindful of God's constant and immediate accessibility. The result is a life of peace and joy, even in the face of a painful death. At the same time, I found myself troubled by at least three things: 1 On several occ In a world of constant distraction, Brother Lawrence has much to teach us about offering every moment of our waking existence to a deliberate awareness of God's gracious and intimate presence, whether we're writing a sermon or working in the kitchen. At the same time, I found myself troubled by at least three things: 1 On several occasions, Lawrence mentions the need to make satisfaction for his sins. Maybe he means something different than I realize, but if he means what I think he means, I have to wonder if the man even understands the gospel. Lots of good meat in this book, but don't be afraid to spit out the bones just because it is regarded as such a classic. Many have heard of Brother Lawrence's quote about peeling potatoes to the glory of God. This book is a collection of his letters dealing with the topic of practicing God's presence. This is a short but profoundly meditative read. Good stuff for mothers in a hurry who want to ponder a connection with God in the midst of busy days; also palatable for people going through a hard time to read little bits at a time and absorb them without charging through. Brother Lawrence didn't intend to write a boo Many have heard of Brother Lawrence's quote about peeling potatoes to the glory of God. Brother Lawrence didn't intend to write a book, and some concepts are a bit disjointed. But, he is consistent enough in his perspective and approach that the same themes work throughout his pastoral correspondence. I found his ideas to be challenging. Too often, I can emphasize service to God over relationship with God.

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