A must read | The Practice of the Presence of God

Radical...not necessarily practical | The Practice of the Presence of God | Brother Lawrence

books:


	• The Practice of the Presence of God Brother Lawrence Whitaker House, 1982 - 96 pages average customer review:based on 84 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Knowing Christ in Practice

Brother Lawrence has given us a very practical approach to experiencing the presence of Christ moment-by-moment. He desribes in wonderful simplicity what it is like to walk in constant awareness of the love of God.

Lawrence writes, "If I were a preacher, I would preach nothing but practicing the presence of God... I would urge everyone to be aware of God's constant presence, if for no other reason than because His presence is a delight to our souls and spirits."

Lawrence shares of practical exercises that he found ushers him into the daily presence of God. What might seem ritualistic and unnatural... should become very natural and fluid. He covers the topic of effective prayer and helps us to break away from our religious concepts of the spiritual life. It is time to draw near to God as Person instead of the distant Father who demands work to gain favor.

This little book will aid you in your pursuit of experiencing the depths and riches of Jesus Christ. It will help to bring about the much anticipated spiritual revolution that the church so desperately needs in our day. If you are ready to leave religion and are looking to find the natural faith of Christ... Brother Lawrence will help in that journey.

I also recommend reading:

EXPERIENCING THE DEPTHS OF JESUS CHRIST VOLUME 2
THE SPIRITUAL MAN VOLUMES 1,2, 3
The Release of the Spirit
The Centrality of Jesus Christ (Works of T. Austin-Sparks) Volume One

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A must read

This little book is a must read for everyone trying to get closer to God. You don't have to commit a time for prayer, you can silently praise God throughout the day as you go about your work and in your quiet moments. The rewards far outweigh these simple efforts.

Radical...not necessarily practical

Brother Lawrence's spiritual classic can be summarized in a few short steps:

1. Have a mystical vision of the divine love of God. (Unfortunately, no hint of how this can be accomplished is given.)

2. Renounce the world and everything in it. (Larry Bro apparently had no family, career, or other extenuating circumstances, so he joined a monastery as a lay brother and cook.)

3. Pray ceaselessly, even while you're asleep. Don't worry about temptation, your neighbor, suffering, mortification, responsibility, complications, penance, formality, growth, doctrine, vocation, redemption, and anything else you can think of.

After around four to ten years of tormenting doubt and fear (by his accounts) you'll be ready to bask in the warm glow of grace!

The message of complete faith in God is indeed a great one. But the line between self-sacrifice and self-indulgence sometimes gets blurred. We are not given an account of any works of charity, love, or mercy that Brother Lawrence may have accomplished. Only that he went around happy all day. Somtimes he was so giddy with God's love that he would have to pinch himself to keep from giggling in front of other people. Then he derides normal people for not being drunk all day on spiritual consolations.

What is truly ironic is that Brother Lawrence's path was, at the time, thought to be a great shortcut. Compared to the discipline required of monks in those days, I'm sure it was. Nowadays, Deepak Chopra Winfrey would probably be unimpressed. The great Saints would probably recommend that you pick up your cross and eschew the easy path.

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For Working People Looking for a Deeper Spiritual (Everyday) Life

If you are looking for something deep, short and practical, I highly recommend this little treasure.

It encapsulates the philosphy of a man simply known as "Brother Lawrence", a lay brother who, previously a soldier, worked in a monastery kitchen. He shows the reader in his humble, direct and powerful manner, how he or she can experience God's presence in the rough-and-tumble of everyday life. He writes,

"The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament."

This book will be most helpful to those immersed (or drowning) in studies and/or work and looking for something more than fleeting moments of happiness, fulfillment and connection with God.

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Great daily devotional.

The lessons that God taught Brother Lawrence are, what I believe to be, the single most important aspect of our lives. Despite the very few references to scripture, it is obvious that our dear brother discovered the true hidded treasure of faith. The purity of his devotion was certainly 'other worldly', and I doubt that many 21st Century American Christians can relate to this kind of life, beyond a theoretical sence, anyway. Between this book and Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy: The Attributes of God: Their Meaning in the Christian Life", I have found a wonderful 1-2 punch to pointing followers of Jesus in the right direction, and I read from both of these books almost daily in my devotional time. The more one hungers after God the more they will get out of this book, and if you want to hunger more after Him then this is a great place to start.

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Newly updated in today's language, Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God speaks more powerfully than ever. Those who long to exprerience God in the midst of busy lives will be encouraged and inspired by this simple vision of the irresistable joy of living in the presence of God...every moment.