For three centuries the writings of Brother Lawrence have taught Christians that God is as present in the kitchen as in the cathedral and as accessible in the living room as He is around the Lord’s table. This simple, yet profound teaching will empower you to seek the joy of God’s presence in the midst of every moment and circumstance.
by Angela Cabrera
Romans 8:5b says, “But those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” Bear with me as I try to explain what that means to me.
Are you striving to spend more time in the Bible, prayer or in worship, but never feel you are giving enough of your time in these areas? Or maybe you are one who loves to spend time in the presence of the Lord so much that you are slacking in other areas of life. If I just described you, my challenge to you is to stop striving!
Practicing the presence of God means in all we do, we choose to be conscious of the fact that the presence of God is with us. Our God is always there to help us, to speak to us, and give us wisdom. He wants to be in charge of our practical lives just as much as our spiritual lives. My goal for us this year is to learn to be just as conscious of God while we are doing the dishes or laundry as we are while we are in prayer or in the Word. A good verse that describes this is “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17.
Another verse I found that can help me explain this is Colossians 3:2-3. “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” If our minds are on things above, our hearts and thoughts are connected to heavenly things rather than things on this earth. We can live this life here on earth “hidden with Christ in God”. This means that where we are living is hidden in God. We can go about our daily responsibilities and cultivate our earthly relationships with a Christ-like mind; a mind fixed on things above.
Are you ready to take this journey with me? Let’s learn together to practice living in His presence in all we do, knowing that sometimes we’ll fail. That’s why it’s called practice, right?
I encourage you to be reading the short book of Brother Lawrence’s thoughts and letters called The Practice of the Presence of God. Brother Laurence spent 30 years learning how to live in a place in which he was constantly conscious of God’s Spirit being with him in all he put his hand
to do. He said that whether he was working in the kitchen, in the monastery, or in his prayer closet, the reality of the presence of God was the same.
Angela Cabrera is the leader of the “Moms’ Group” at Bethel Christian Fellowship in Rochester, NY. She spends most of her time caring for and teaching her three children. Lately God has been opening doors of ministry to her and her husband Will.
“My most usual method is this simple attention, an affectionate regard for God to whom I find myself often attached with greater sweetness and delight than that of an infant at the mother’s breast. To choose an expression, I would call this state the bosom of God, for the inexpressible sweetness which I taste and experience there.” This is how “Brother Laurence” describes his constant practice of speaking with and reflecting upon God amidst the mundane tasks of life. Nicholas Herman (c.1605-1691)was born in Lorraine, France and served as a cook and shoe repairer at a Carmelite monastery. He was only a lay member of the order, and walked with a limp from injuries incurred as a soldier, yet his private thoughts provide a wellspring of devotional insight and refreshment. Unabridged. Read by Nick Cordileone.
The presence of God is meant to be more than just an occasional event during Sunday morning Worship—you are meant to live in God’s presence! In The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence, James W. Goll uncovers ancient and nearly forgotten keys to deeper intimacy with Christ Jesus while revealing the ease of working with Christ instead of for Him.Through this book, you will rediscover the lost precepts of Biblical meditation, contemplative prayer, and waiting on the Lord and learn how to apply them in your own life. Most importantly, you will gain inspiration for your own intimate walk and the courage to spread the fire His presence to everyone around you!
The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence also includes a modern-language translation of The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. An inspiration to James Goll, this 15th-century believer has inspired generations of Christians with his simple life and profound writings on the nature and presence of the Lord.
Enjoy this video of quotations from Brother Lawrence.
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