Practicing the Presence of God: Learn to Live Moment-by-Moment (Christian Classics

by Brother Lawrence, Tony Jones (Editor)

This edition of a timeless classic--enhanced by Emergent leader Tony Jones--will appeal to college students, readers new to Christian classics, and anyone else who desires to learn how to make spirituality a moment-by-moment way of life.


Brother Lawrence's Practice of the Presence of God has stood the test of time because it chronicles the life of a very ordinary person who became an extraordinary Christian. Through a life of humility and service, Brother Lawrence achieved something that many Christians aspire to: he was so concentrated on God that God became a part of his every breath. Whether deep in prayer or peeling potatos in the kitchen, he knew God's presence.


This readable translation, replete with enlightening background notes, will appeal to today's reader in ways that no other edition has been able to do.

Genres: Christian, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christianity, Theology, Faith, Religion

140 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2007

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

[Vallory]

This is a fantastic book with the reflections and the example of Brother Lawrence. It encouraged me to persevere in shaping my will to constantly dwell on the presence of God. I would recommend this to anyone seeking to dive into the richness and depth of God's presence.

[Shannon Upton]

I love Brother Lawrence and his humble, true faith. Just because you can read this quickly doesn't mean you should! There is so much to contemplate about living life with Jesus in this little book. I have read it several time in different seasons of life and truly recommend it!

[Chris Bordiuk Jr.]

This is a beautifully written book with so many amazing reminders of how to keep God at the center of your life. Brother Lawrences insight into the spiritual life is so simple yet so profound. Would highly recommend.

[Hilda]

A small quick read that packs a spiritual wallop!

[Gina]

Thankful that I read this book. I love Brother Lawrence humility & wanting to continually achieve closeness with God. Tony Jones did a great job in presenting Brother Lawrence to us. All the practices written about are very relevant today in our lives! It's so simple, peaceful, sweet. Bare bones. Grass roots. Succinct. Honest truth you will find here.

[Heidi Chiavaroli]

I couldn't get on board with all of Brother Lawrence's views on suffering, but what he offered on the aspects of prayer and continually pursuing the presence of God was absolutely beautiful and meaningful. Worthwhile read.

[Coran]

I read an earlier addition of this book. It taught me much about having a relationship with God, even in the mundane daily activity life puts us through -God is there. worth a read

[Emilee]

One of the best books I've ever read. It inspired and humbled me. I don't think I will ever be the same. I borrowed it, but I think it would be a good book to keep on my shelves.

[Kristine]

Wonderful devotional book

[Suzette Hollingsworth]

An amazing perspective despite the fact that it was written 300 years ago (!) and the author is self-efacing by our culture's standards. I truly felt the presence of God when I was reading it.

[A]

This was a beautiful little book. I gave it 4 stars instead 5 because Brother Lawrence has a flare for the dramatics that I'm not too keen on.

[Hanson Church]

“He encouraged other Christians to rely on God’s love to lead them in their spiritual lives, rather than the knowledge of learned men. He used to tell his brothers, ‘It is the Creator who teaches truth, who in one moment instructs the heart of the humble and makes him understand more about the mysteries of our faith and even about Himself than if he had studied them for a long term of years.’”

“ Brother Lawrence’s only means of going to God was to do everything for the love of him. He was this indifferent about what he did. All that mattered was that he did it for God. It was He, and not the activity, that he considered… He knew that the pettiness of the deed would not diminish the worth of his offering, because God—needing nothing—considers in our works only the love that accompanies them.”

[Aidan McIntosh]

The content of the book is quite good. It is challenging because it is so general, but this reminds me that the spiritual life does not need to be overtly complicated and layered. Instead, simplicity and purity of heart matter to God more than my plan.

With this particular translation from Paraclete Press, I did not find most of the commentary by Tony Jones helpful nor necessary. He clearly tries to appeal to a younger audience, and indeed, that is noble, but I would have liked to read it straight through without side comments or explanations everywhere. It is also a Catholic book, written by a good friar, that is sort of watered down to fit a young Protestant-leaning audience. This is something to be aware of while enjoying this spiritual classic, now recommended by the Holy Father.

[Joshua Reed]

I don’t know how to rate this book, because the writings of Brother Lawrence are precious to me, but I so greatly dislike the notes inserted by Tony Jones. I wish I had simply gotten a copy without them. He draws some conclusions that are, at best, wild assumptions, and at worst, utterly false. Regardless, I found them complete distractions from the points Brother Lawrence expresses.

[Erin]

I very much enjoyed this book. It’s a collection of letters that Brother Lawrence wrote. Most of them repeated his main thesis over and over which is finding God’s presence in the everyday ordinary. This practice can be challenging but like Bro Lawrence, I find it transformative in my faith.

[Robyn Bray]

Read in the 1980s

[Jodi]

Kinda inspiring. Kinda frustrating. Never that simple.

[Cara Grandle]

I always feel inspired to live each moment with the contentment of awareness of the Lord after reading this book.

[Hannah Barnhart]

This was a good little read that only took a few hours. It gets to be a little redundant at times but it’s all good things I could stand to be reminded of multiple times.

[David Curtis]

“Pains and suffering would be a paradise to me, if I should suffer with my God. And the greatest pleasures would be hell to me if I relish them without Him.”

[Susan]

This is a sweet gem of a book. Full of simple joy that results from directing one’s attention to the love of God.

[Anna Schubert]

I've been meaning to read this for years, and I really appreciated listening to this as an audiobook instead of getting bogged down in the challenging translation I tried to read last time.

[Susanna Dobbin]

Amazing little book that will challenge and convict you greatly.

[Aimee Thompson]

beautiful and insightful read

[Jlnpeacock Peacock]

Some very helpful information even if there is some repetition. There are lessons every Christian needs to practice.

[Carson Mizell]

Concise, powerful, and packed with wisdom. Brother Lawrence’s letters provide practicality and direction to what can feel complex and out of reach.

[Luke Zwiener]

Brother Lawrence provided a great example of how to live a life 100% for God. His thoughts on how to enjoy and truly live in the Lord’s presence was great.

[Michael Kidd]

This was a fine read. I felt I needed to familiarize myself with Brother Lawrence due to his historical popularity. But, I was not overly impressed with his insights as many who have read him claim I should have been. While I certainly gleaned from him the importance and benefit of spending our days continually in God's presence, I felt his biblical understanding of what this means was lacking. Brother Lawrence was a monk and a mystic. I can accept those things for what they are and use them to understand where he was coming from. Nevertheless, I'm still unimpressed. Brother Lawrence's thoughts leave little to no room for time in the Word and they seem to downplay the benefit of reading the thoughts of other godly men. Add on to this the overtly free-will "God must respond to my actions" theology, and I have to go to my sad place. In addition to this, the translator, Tony Jones, was just too emergent for my taste. How Calvinistic of me.

[Savannah]

Inspirational and peaceful.

[Samantha Dixon]

Uhmmm an eye opener. Spiritual wake up call!