This is a small excerpt from a book I have greatly appreciated these last few years. I would highly recommend it to all who would grow in knowledge and love of God. “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence.
We cannot escape the dangers that about in life without the actual and continual help of God. Let us, therefore, pray to Him for it continually. How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can we be with Him except by thinking of Him often?And how can we think of Him often except by making a holy habit of it? You will tell me that I am always saying the same thing. It is true, for this is the best and easiest method I know. And since I use no other, I advise all the world to do it. We must know God before we can love Him. To know God, we must think of Him often.
And when we come to love Him we will think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure. This is an argument that well deserves your consideration.
I am ever yours,
Brother Lawrence
How are we doing, my friends? Are we thinking of and praying to God often? One of the hardest things I’ve found to do in this racing culture full of so many distractions is to draw myself back, even for only a second or two, perhaps during a movie or as I sit at my computer and write, and lift my thoughts to God. It’s not a natural thing for we little humans…our tendency is much more to gaze up all things low and earthly and forget the heavenlies. Oh, I pray that God would lift us up far beyond the triviality of this world!
Strive for it. Send your mind out unto God often, in all circumstances. Come to know Him as you would your closest lover and most intimate friend. In that, as Brother Lawrence is an excellent example of, there is the greatest of peace and joy.
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