Practicing the Presence of God

[Greg Merrill]

Anyone ever hear of the book "The Practice of the Presence of God"? It is about a man called "Brother Lawrence" who became a Lay brother among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666. Ever experience boredom? Ever have a boring chore to have to do? Ever have to do something tedious that your heart just wasn't in? How many of you like doing the dishes?
Bro. Lawrence had the task of doing all the dishes in the monastery that he lived in! Would you look forward to that duty? He did with great relish, for he learned to practice the presence of God. As he was doing those many pots and pans, dishes and silverware, he communed with God. As we grow very familiar with the Word of God, and use our spirit to concentrate on the omnipresence of God all around us, and the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God within us (if we have invited Him to be our Savior and Lord), practicing this presence of God, we can turn any boring time or chore into a wonderful time of communing with the God of the universe, the God that loves us so much, and wants to talk with us. He will be waiting for you.

 

[Ken Rank]

Anyone ever hear of the book "The Practice of the Presence of God"? It is about a man called "Brother Lawrence" who became a Lay brother among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666. Ever experience boredom? Ever have a boring chore to have to do? Ever have to do something tedious that your heart just wasn't in? How many of you like doing the dishes?
Bro. Lawrence had the task of doing all the dishes in the monastery that he lived in! Would you look forward to that duty? He did with great relish, for he learned to practice the presence of God. As he was doing those many pots and pans, dishes and silverware, he communed with God. As we grow very familiar with the Word of God, and use our spirit to concentrate on the omnipresence of God all around us, and the indwelling presence of the Spirit of God within us (if we have invited Him to be our Savior and Lord), practicing this presence of God, we can turn any boring time or chore into a wonderful time of communing with the God of the universe, the God that loves us so much, and wants to talk with us. He will be waiting for you.

I have had similar experiences. I used to paint (homes) and became pretty good at it. But the better you get the more mindless the task becomes. It is a very repetitive job.. which means there is down time for the mind and I used that time to work through Scripture in my head, pray, ask questions, or talk with others about the Lord as we worked. I learned a lot those few years I was doing that job.

 

[Sam91]

There's a lot of peace in that.

 

[faroukfarouk]

@Ken Rank;

There's a lot of peace in that.

'Godliness with contentment is great gain' (1 Timothy 6.6). Just being able to go about one's daily tasks in the quietness and Godly fear of the Lord is a great blessing.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Wonderful, WONDERFUL book.

The best efforts are to cultivate that kind of communion not only when we are bored, but at all times.

I tend to re-read that book every few years. It gets better each time. The Orthodox have a similar focus, detailed in the book The Way of a Pilgrim.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

I tend to re-read that book every few years. It gets better each time. The Orthodox have a similar focus, detailed in the book The Way of a Pilgrim.

Can you tell me the author please?

 

[~Anastasia~]

Can you tell me the author please?

It's actually an anonymous work, but the translator's name usually appears. My copy is translated by R. M. French, but I've heard good things about the translation by Olga Savin. There is a second book titled The Pilgrim Continues His Way.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

Thank you, I will look for a copy on Amazon...

 

[~Anastasia~]

Thank you, I will look for a copy on Amazon...

They should have lots. I hope you enjoy it! I should maybe reread it myself - it's been a while.

 

[musicalpilgrim]

They should have lots. I hope you enjoy it! I should maybe reread it myself - it's been a while.

Yes, I have ordered a copy and look forward to it arriving...