Preface: This post was inspired in part after I came across numerous critiques of Brother Lawrence, and references to those who esteem him as mystical or New Age. I will assure you that I do not fit into either category; nonetheless, I have been blessed by the basic concept presented in this book. It has been several years since I read it, and I have not read any of his other books, but read within the context of God’s Word, the concept of practicing the presence of God is consistent with Scripture and Jesus’ instruction in John 15 to “abide in Him.” It is important that we always practice discernment! Everything that we read must be read in the light of the Word of God and our beliefs must conform to His Word. Applying these principles, I was able to glean many positive and practical insights from The Practice of the Presence of God. On a side note, I first heard of Brother Lawrence from Elisabeth Elliot. It would be laughable to describe her as either a modern day mystic, or one who dabbles in the New Age!
Practicing the Presence of God
When I was a young mom of two, I was introduced to a 17th century monk by the name of Brother Lawrence and his small book The Practice of the Presence of God. The profundity of this work forever impacted my life. Simply put, Brother Lawrence was a monk who learned to be mindful of God’s presence with him even as he peeled potatoes. He learned to worship God and pray continually in the midst of the most mundane of life’s circumstances.
Being a young mother whose life was comprised of many such mundane activities, I was greatly encouraged and challenged to “pray without ceasing” as a result of reading this book. In I Thessalonians 5:16-18, the apostle Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” As a person who desires to always be in the center of God’s will, I learned that the simple exercises of rejoicing, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks for everything, were practical things that I could do to ensure that I was. As Paul again states in Philippians 2:14, “do all things without grumbling or disputing;” From Paul and Brother Lawrence, I learned that rather than despising washing diapers, laundry, and dishes, I ought to see those chores as opportunities to spend time in God’s presence, in prayer and conversation with Him. As a result, I began to master the art of praying without ceasing. If a friend came to mind as I loaded the dishwasher, I prayed for that person, specifically. As I loaded smelly diapers into the washing machine, I thanked God that I did not have to wash them by hand. As I scrubbed the toilet, I worshiped God, recalling His numerous attributes. As I washed the dishes, I looked out the window and praised God for His creation. Over time, these mundane tasks were no longer burdensome, but rather were opportunities for prayer and worship. Times spent nursing the baby in the middle of the night became opportunities to dedicate the child to the Lord and pray specifically for his future, his faith, his future mate. Midnight insomnia became an opportunity to worship God and pray for missionaries oversees who would be in the midst of their day, serving and ministering. Over time, these interruptions were welcomed as I recognized the power of prayer.
There were other results as well. In Hebrews 13:5, we are instructed, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, ‘I will never desert you nor will I ever forsake you.” In this verse, God’s promise to always be with us is the reason we are to be content. Thus, the key to contentment is knowing and understanding that God is with us. In this regard, the more I practiced the presence of God, the more content I became in my circumstance. When I was aware of God’s presence with me, worshiping Him, praising Him, thanking Him, interceding for others, and petitioning for my own requests, an attitude of contentment and gratitude was developed in my heart. Rather than begrudging my role as a stay at home mom, wishing I were working in a law firm somewhere, I was content to scrub toilets to the glory of God and in service to my family. The times that I was not acknowledging His presence were times that I was vulnerable to discontentment and sin. Consider this; if another person is in the room with you, you are less likely to scream at your kids than when you are alone with them. In the same regard, when we acknowledge God’s presence, we ought to behave differently.
The effects of practicing the presence of God are numerous and far reaching! Even though it has been about 7 years since I read Brother Lawrence’s book, the basic concepts that he wrote about come to mind frequently. I will confess that I have not been so eager to scrub toilets lately! I continue to pray without ceasing, throughout the day, but my life has not been permeated to the same degree by actions resulting from an understanding of His presence with me every single moment. The challenge is that I can’t always feel God’s presence with me, but I must accept by faith His promise to always be with me, and the reality of His Holy Spirit within me. I still have a long way to go, but I am ever-thankful for the lessons I began learning from a 17th century monk who praised God while he scrubbed potatoes.
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