Practicing God’s Presence
A devotional thought from Kendell Easley for “The Omni God”
About the time the American colonies were first settled, a baby was born in France (c. 1614) named Nicholas Herman. As a young man, Nicholas entered a monastery in Paris and lived there until his death in 1691, taking the name Brother Lawrence. He was a layman, not a clergyman, and spent decades assigned to the monastery kitchen, cooking and scrubbing pots and pans. Yet his character became so attractive that many came to seek his counsel. He developed a reputation for profound peace, and his conversations and letters were put into writing. The Practice of the Presence of God has become a classic expression of spiritual devotion recommended by men like John Wesley and A. W. Tozer.
Brother Lawrence understood that God was with him in the mundane, everyday affairs of life just as much as when he was at worship. Here are two examples of his mind-set, both from the Fourth Conversation in the book:
“O my God, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections.”
“The time of business…does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the [Lord’s Supper].” *
Pause and Reflect
• In what part of the day ahead will it be the hardest for you to sense God’s presence? Why?
• What steps can you take now to practice the presence of God throughout the day?
• Pray for the leaders of your church to sense God’s presence with them throughout their day.
* Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God & the Spiritual Maxims (Benton Press, 2013), 14, 15.
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