Practice of the Presence of God and as a Man Thinketh

by Brother Lawrence, James Allen, Susan Howatch

The Practice of the Presence of God and As a Man Thinketh

Genres: Spirituality, Christian, Religion, Nonfiction, Christian Non Fiction

Audiobook

First published January 1, 1970

About the author

Brother Lawrence was born Nicolas Herman in Hériménil, near Lunéville in the region of Lorraine, located in modern day eastern France and as a young man went into the army due to his poverty. At the age of 18 he received what he felt was a revelation of the providence and power of God. He went on to fight in the Thirty Years' War and later served as a valet, but within six years joined the Discalced Carmelite Priory in Paris.

Nicolas entered the priory in Paris as a lay brother, not having the education necessary to become a cleric, and took the religious name, "Lawrence of the Resurrection." He spent almost all of the rest of his life within the walls of the priory, working in the kitchen for many of these years and as a repairer of sandals in his later years.

Despite his lowly position in the life of the priory, his character attracted many to him. He had a reputation for experiencing profound peace and visitors came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom he passed on to them in conversations and in letters would later become the basis for the book The Practice of the Presence of God.

[From Wikipedia]

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very good. It was short and sweet and to the point.

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quotes from The Practice of the Presence of God:

There needed neither art nor science for going to God, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only.

By rising after my falls, and by frequently renewed acts of faith and love, I am come to a state, wherein it would be as difficult for me not to think of God, as it was at first to accustom myself to it.

Not to advance, in the spiritual life, is to go back. But those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward even in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and storms, let us awake the Lord, who reposes in it, and He will quickly calm the sea.

We cannot escape the dangers which abound in life, without the actual and continual help of God; let us then pray to Him for it continually. How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can we be with Him but in thinking of Him often? And how can we often think of Him, but by a holy habit which we should form of it?

They consider sickness as a pain to nature, and not as a favour from God; and seeing it only in that light, they find nothing in it but grief and distress. But those who consider sickness as coming from the hand of God, as the effects of His mercy, and the means which He employs for their salvation, commonly find in it great sweetness and sensible consolation. I wish you could convince yourself that God is often (in some sense) nearer to us and more effectually present with us, in sickness than in health.




Quotes from As A Man Thinketh:

Circumstance does not make the man; it reveals him to himself.

Men do not attract that which they want, but that which they are. Their whims, fancies, and ambitions are thwarted at every step, but their inmost thoughts and desires are fed with their own food, be it foul or clean.

A man only begins to be a man when he ceases to whine and revile, and commences to search for the hidden justice which regulates his life. And as he adapts his mind to that regulating factor, he ceases to accuse others as the cause of his condition, and builds himself up in strong and noble thoughts; ceases to kick against circumstances, but begins to use them as aids to his more rapid progress, and as a means of discovering the hidden powers and possibilities within himself. Law, not confusion, is the dominating principle in the universe; justice, not injustice, is the soul and substance of life; and righteousness, not corruption, is the moulding and moving force in the spiritual government of the world. This being so, man has but to right himself to find that the universe is right; and during the process of putting himself right he will find that as he alters his thoughts towards things and other people, things and other people will alter towards him.

Cherish your visions; cherish your ideals; cherish the music that stirs in your heart, the beauty that forms in your mind, the loveliness that drapes your purest thoughts, for out of them will grow all delightful conditions, all, heavenly environment; of these, if you but remain true to them, your world will at last be built.

[Paige Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This double feature was a pretty cool experience to listen to. The Practice is a classic book that always encourages and challenges me and although I didn’t find As a Man Thinketh as good, it was still a worthwhile read reminding everyone that you really do become what your thoughts focus on.

Favorite Quote: “That all things are possible to him who believes. That they are less difficult to him who hopes. That they are more easy to him who loves. And still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.”

[Norm Konzelman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A real help if help is wanted.

[Carol Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think everyone needs to read this book. So powerfully simple!

Here is a fuller review:

http://carolhomeschool2.blogspot.com/...

[Red · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook is probably not the best format for consumption of either of these, but I will say that both are surprisingly quick and very repetitive.

[Derek Kreider · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first portion was fine and reminded me of Eastern Orthodox thought. The second portion felt like health and wealth, self-help, prosperity gospel stuff and I wasn’t a fan.

[Hae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practice of the Presence of God—4/5
As a Man Thinketh—3/5

[Mark OFS]

I enjoyed this book particularly in the sense that he wrote these much like St. Clare did for her sisters.