Reflections on Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
In Psalm 73.28, and in The Message it states,
“But I’m in the very presence of God— oh, how refreshing it is! I’ve made Lord God my home. God, I’m telling the world what you do!”
This inspired me to begin reading Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence….and her are some reflections on how he practiced God’s presence….
Salvation
Brother Lawrence was saved as a result of the providence of God. It wasn’t through reading the Word, or hearing someone preach (although I do believe all of these are essential), it was through seeing the undeniable work of God in nature. God’s POWER and LOVE are surrounding us, do we take the time to see it?
“That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time, the leaves would be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had increased in above forty years that he had lived since”
Devotions
Brother Lawrence believed that devotions shouldn’t merely be a time we have in the morning or evening with prayer, worship, and Bible reading….but they should be a lifestyle. We should be in constant communion with God and doing all things for God.
“That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD’s Presence, by continually conversing with Him”
“That we ought to quicken, to enliven, our faith. That it was lament- able we had so little; and that instead of taking faith for the rule of their conduct, men amused themselves with trivial devotions, which changed daily”
“That 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”
“And found it the shortest way to go straight to Him by a continual exercise of love, and doing all things for His sake”
“That with him the set times of prayer were not different from other times: that he retired to pray, according to the directions of his Superior, but that he did not want such retirement. nor ask for it, because his greatest business did not divert him from GOD”
“That he was more united to GOD in his outward employments, than when he left them for devotion in retirement”
“That many do not advance in the Christian progress, because they stick in penances, and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of GOD, which is the end. That this appeared plainly by their works, and was the reason why we see so little solid virtue”
Now this doesn’t always mean that this will be the easiest thing to do but….
“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”
Lifestyle
His lifestyle was one that was completely governed by love. Everything that he did was for God. Nothing was for personal gain, or even to receive gifts from the Lord….it was solely to please God, and do his work. He realize that he could do nothing without God, and because of this he lived a lifestyle of constant conversation with God.
“That he had always been governed by love, without selfish views; and that having resolved to make the love of GOD the end of all his actions, he had found reasons to be well satisfied with his method”
“I have endeavored to act only for Him; whatever becomes of me, whether I be lost or saved, I will always continue to act purely for the love of GOD”
“That when an occasion of practicing some virtue offered, he addressed himself to GOD, saying, LORD, I cannot do this unless Thou enablest me; and that then he received strength more than sufficient.”
“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”
“Having accustomed himself to do everything there for the love of GOD, and with prayer, upon all occasions, for His grace to do his work well, he had found everything easy, during the fifteen years that he had been employed there”
Sinning & Forgiveness
It seems that every time Brother Lawrence sinned or messed up, he confessed his sin to God, and that was the end of it. He didn’t keep thinking of how wrong the things he did were, he merely asked for forgiveness, moved on, and did what God was calling him to do.
“That when he had failed in his duty, he only confessed his fault, saying to GOD, I shall never do otherwise, if You leave me to myself; ’tis You must hinder my falling, and mend what is amiss. That after this, he gave himself no further uneasiness about it”
“He was very sensible of his faults, but not discouraged by them; that he confessed them to GOD, and did not plead against Him to excuse them. When he had so done, he peaceably resumed his usual practice of love and adoration”
“We ought, without anxiety, to expect the pardon of our sins from the Blood of JESUS CHRIST, only endeavoring to love Him with all our hearts”
“When outward business diverted him a little from the thought of GOD, a fresh remembrance coming from GOD invested his soul, and so inflamed and transported him that it was difficult for him to contain himself”
Busyness & Distractions
I think that so many times we let busyness and the cares of life distract us from spending constant communion with God. We often have a pre-set time for spending time in prayer and in the Word, and when we miss that time, we (or should I say ‘I’) decide that we just get back on track tomorrow. But constant communion with God changes everything. And if for some reason we get out of communion with God Brother Lawrence looked at it this way….
“When outward business diverted him a little from the thought of GOD, a fresh remembrance coming from GOD invested his soul, and so inflamed and transported him that it was difficult for him to contain himself”
Fear
Because of constant communion with God Brother Lawrence didn’t have fear. He knew because of his nearness to God, that he would never forsake or leave him alone.
“That he expected hereafter some great pain of body or mind; that the worst that could happen to him was, to lose that sense of GOD, which he had enjoyed so long; but that 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; and therefore that he feared nothing, and had no occasion to consult with anybody about his state”
To Be Continued….
