Customer Reviews

The Practice of the Presence of God

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A friend told me about this wonderful little book and by providence I purchased this edition as my first copy from amazon.com. The book I received looked different from the one they show here on the site, but it was published by Fleming H. Revell, as shown. The Preface is wonderful and tells the story of Brother Lawrence, preparing you for the text within. When I bought an additional copy from a local bookstore for my graduating neice, I was shocked to find out that the copy (published by a different publisher with a very different Preface) was much more mind-driven and so much less loving! In my opinion, this is the copy to get if you want a true experience of the Divine comfort and companionship Brother Lawrence knew. I've been growing closer to God for 40 years and this little book has skyrocketed me even closer. I hope it does the same for you. Peace. :) k

My pastor, who is mentoring me, recommended this book, when all our meetings were not helping me grow nor helping me throw off sinful habits.

In a world full of "doing", "performing", "keeping up with the Joneses", and an innumerable other distractions and pressures, Brother Lawrence was a man gifted by God to have the vision of true fellowship with God. He tells us simply that being a Christian means to have a constant love relationship with God, only made possible through Jesus Christ's sacrifice. He reminds us not be guilty or ashamed (a very difficult thing to know if you're not told explicitly, and something only known through faith).

The message of the churches (at least in the Western world) has been so diluted by the culture of "results" and "knowledge". We are often given guilt trips by church leader because we aren't "up to par" or because we don't buy into the church's vision. After attending a church for many years, we're still spiritually dry, and at the same time expected to serve more and more? Is that the abundant life?
Instead, we are supposed to be taught how to have fellowship with God! From that, everything else flows. There are no shortcuts!

Brother Lawrence exhorts us to have such a dear love for God that we are completely at rest with Him. It does takes time and discipline to develop the intimacy, but with any other love relationship (w/spouse, etc.), after a little effort and focus, the love between the two of you carries the relationship quite automatically.

I can truly see how the Holy Spirit is changing me because of this book, by no effort on my part to change myself. All I have to do is to be in love with Jesus. His power in me is allowing me to be more disciplined in many areas of life, and loosening my attachment to worldly things. Plus, I have a new appreciation for Jesus' gift in taking my punishment upon Himself. How could He love such wretched people as us? That's the greatness of His love.

The vast majority of Christian books out there present such profound truths, and we're so in awe of the new things we've "learned". Yet they usually don't draw us closer to God, because they're filled with mechanical methods. "Practice the Presence" is a great book, not because of the wisdom of the author, but because it points us directly to God Himself.

Back to my original question: Do you have the Spirit?
You know you have the Holy Spirit if you have His presence, because they are one in the same. Don't miss out on God's gifts!

Some Biblical references:
- Lk 10:38-42 (note that Martha was not chastised for her service, but for being worried and upset)
- Acts 1:4-5 (Jesus told the disciples not to do anything until the Spirit came upon them)
- Gal 3:3 (don't use human effort)
- Lk 15:1-2 (Jesus welcomes us unconditionally. Do you think He told the fornicators to stop thinking lustful thoughts before He would eat with them? Seems rather that He welcomed them first, even with their evil thoughts, and let His loving presence change them)
- 1 Cor 13:1-3 (love is the foundation)
- John 15:5 (speaks for itself)

This former soldier entered a Carmelite monastery as a lay brother after spending some time in the very much real world. He became much loved for his friendliness and devotion and we are grateful that he was befriended by a member of the Catholic bureaucracy from outside the monastery. Thus, we have his letters and maxims, and biographical material.

The good Brother gives clear and specific ways of handling our wayward thoughts, our errant behavior, our confusion, depression, and spiritual doubts. Anyone from any faith tradition would enjoy and benefit from the esteemed Brother's thoughts. It is not hard to take away a deep faith in this simple practice after just a page or two and see immediate results in one's life. This is a gentle, non-demanding way of continual prayer, that never seems to burden one, or to be a forceful or forced act. Hopefully, this will be a primer for starting contemplative or meditation practice for the reader.

This beautiful gem of a book contains the conversations, letters, spiritual maxims and a brief biography of a seventeenth century French monk, Brother Lawrence. Although almost three hundred years old, this book is a timeless classic. It portrays the lifes journey of Brother Lawrence from a solider to a man of God. It chronicles his struggle to accept the grace of God and then tells of his life as he strove to live in the presence of God. One of my favorite chapters is his letter to a soldier. It is interesting that as a former solider he does not contemn the violence of a soldiers profession; rather, he encouraged the young man to live a Godly life.

Repeatedly, Brother Lawrence stresses that the presence of God can only be maintained by heart and love, rather than my understanding and speech. Thus, he would rather mediate on the truth and character of God than spend time in deep exegetical study. Tozer echoed the same though three hundred years later when he stated that the evangelical church is sacrificing a relationship with God for orthodoxy. Like Richard Foster, who wrote Celebration of Discipline, Lawrence distinguished between mediation and study. One needs to slow down and be with God.

This book really helped me stop the academic rat race and slow down to spend time in communion with God and my fellow man. Trained in a rational academic environment, it is all to easy for me to spend my time in exegetical study getting to know about God rather than spending time in the Word getting to know God. The other Lord's Day, I came to the church building early to practice my sermon, only to discover that the cleaning crew failed to their jobs. Instead of prayer and preaching, I spent the next two hours cleaning toilets and washing glass doors. I remembered Brother Lawrences admonition that he never grew tired of doing the smallest things for God. Instead of becoming angry, I was able to maintain a joyful attitude that stayed with me throughout the morning services.

Over the years I've met a few "prayer warriors" who seemed to spend every waking moment connected to God. They carried a peace about them, and saw prayer as a gift rather than an obligation. Frankly, they made me feel terribly inadequate.

I wanted to have that type of relationship with God, but wasn't quite sure where to start. I had trouble setting aside fifteen minutes per day for prayer...how on earth did they manage it? Like Brother Lawrence, they had learned to practice the presence of God.

We learn how Brother Lawrence was able to include God in every detail of his life, and focus his activities to suit. We (thankfully) see that he was not always successful, but rather than dwell on his failures, asked for God's forgiveness and simply went again. He shares his insight and life's journey through four conversations with Abbe Joseph de Beaufort, fifteen letters and six maxims.

Through his writings, Brother Lawrence shares a humility and a desire for communion with God that is not only infectious, but also simple enough for anyone to apply. With enough practice, anyone can become a prayer warrior.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Over the years I've met a few "prayer warriors" who seemed to spend every waking moment connected to God. They carried a peace about them, and saw prayer as a gift rather than an obligation. Frankly, they made me feel terribly inadequate.

I wanted to have that type of relationship with God, but wasn't quite sure where to start. I had trouble setting aside fifteen minutes per day for prayer...how on earth did they manage it? Like Brother Lawrence, they had learned to practice the presence of God.

We learn how Brother Lawrence was able to include God in every detail of his life, and focus his activities to suit. We (thankfully) see that he was not always successful, but rather than dwell on his failures, asked for God's forgiveness and simply went again. He shares his insight and life's journey through four conversations with Abbe Joseph de Beaufort, fifteen letters and six maxims.

Through his writings, Brother Lawrence shares a humility and a desire for communion with God that is not only infectious, but also simple enough for anyone to apply. With enough practice, anyone can become a prayer warrior.

Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory

Have you ever read a book/article, heard a sermon, or had an experience that you sensed in the midst of it that your life would be changed forever? This is such a book! Bro. Lawrence, in a very simplistic and often repetitive manner, has solidified for me what it means to truly walk with the Lord, to pray without ceasing, and to experience God's presence in such a way that I can find joy in tribulation and be assured that He will never leave me nor forsake me...I mean really grasp it!! The repetitiveness isn't a drawback in the least...as the saying goes: "repetition is the mother of learning". I'm thankful that Bro. Lawrence doesn't give "how-to's". The manner in which his walk w/ God is shared provides a blue print or outline, yet challenges the reader to discover his/her own unique way of walking with, praising, and glorifying God with our entire lives and in all circumstances. It's refreshing to know that a monk over 300 years ago actually struggled w/ being distracted in prayer from time to time. Yet he was able to confess it, forgive himself, and try again. Read it and be blessed.

The Practice of the Presence of God is an incredible story of a man who sought to be ever in God's presence. The lesson of Brother Lawrence is simple: If you want to be ever in the presence of God, you have to practice, practice, practice! You must force yourself to be ever aware of God's working around you. You must turn every aspect of your life into a service to Him. When you have done so, you will be habitually in the presence of God. No silly gimmicks. Just a continuous state of prayer, thanking God for every blessing and turning over every care.

While at times this little book finds ways to repeat itself, hidden in the basic story is truth upon truth. This little book makes for very good daily spiritual reading. It is broken up into small, easily manageable sections which can be read as part of a daily devotional or prayer time. The only difficulty with it is that it's very short, so it probably won't last you that long if you only read through it once. But, it is still a devotional classic worth reading.

This book is too good and too short not to be read by every Christian. The author has stated simply what the Bible calls all believers to: Living every moment, every circumstance, every chore, every delight, every trial of life for the love and worship of God. We don't need to make things so complicated in trying to balance these activities with those activities with other activities. Yes, directed meditative time with God in His Word is necessary; but the author makes clear the teaching of the Bible when he says:

"I am doing now what I will do for all eternity."

Brother Lawrence is simply saying: "Make life simple--do everything for the love and worship of God, and you will be living the life of eternity even here on earth." Brother Lawrence explains how he lived such a live and gives principles on how we may do the same. And it works for one simple reason: It's biblical--it's the same method God has given us in His Word.

Brother Lawrence demonstrates what truly happens when one walks with God. The words and ideas of this will allow you to truly understand Thessalonians 5:17 when God calls those who walk with Him to pray continually. This book and man have inspired me and I would highly recommend this book to anyone. This book will teach you what true worship is and where it is found. It is found in the hearts of people that have been overwelmed by the awe-some love of Jesus Christ.