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Review On Practicing His Presence: By Brother Lawrence.

Review On Practicing His Presence: By Brother Lawrence.

By Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF. 9-28-11

This book is a series of letters that Brother Lawrence writes while living in a monastery in France. He lived in the 17th century and wrote these letters over a period of twenty five years. In most of the letter he appears to be giving advice to various types of people. We also learn a little of his testimony. He lived as a courier of some sorts, before giving his life over to God to be lived out in a Catholic monastery. Many would think that such a life would be one of virtual enslavement. But Brother Lawrence felt that his life was like a virtual heaven on earth. He lived up until his 80’s and had increasing joy until the very end. He credits his joy to continuously practicing the presence of God. He constantly tries to elevate his mind, heart and his spirit to the presence of God. He tries to live in a near constant awareness of God’s presence.

In reading his responses to some letter writers, he seems to counsel them with the same prescription. They need to focus their hearts to being in the presence of God. Some of the writers were going through terrible sufferings. Brother Lawrence not only told them to practice the presence of God, but he also told them to find meaning in their sufferings. He indicated that God was bringing them through these trials because God was trying to draw them closer to him and trying to mature them spiritually. He shared his own testimony about how he had faced death so many times and each time he found great joy because he was practicing the presence of God.

There are a few things that are noteworthy. He never mentioned his denomination. He is very generic in his application of practicing the presence of God. He is not trying to promote any denomination. He is just encouraging others to do what he was doing everyday. His words are encouraging to a wide cross section of Christendom.

I also noticed that he did on refer to the Scriptures. The scriptures were available. There were Bibles. Why did Brother Lawrence not refer to the Bible? Maybe it is my protestant upbringing. I think that with every counseling session there must be the word of God directly quoted from the Bible. Not so with Brother Lawrence. The question is do we need to constantly refer to the word of God?

I also felt that his counseling was very generic, applying two salves to every wound…elevate your heart into the presence of God and finding meaning for all your sufferings in God. I am used reading dear Abby and hearing the advice of Christian psychiatrists on “Focus On The Family”. Even Billy Graham had a spiritual advice column for many years.

Brother Lawrence seemed to have found a winning combination in his life. He found great joy and peace and he loved and served others, both practically as a brother and in his counseling. He was fruitful and spiritually powerful. His works are being passed down to us, 300 years later. I don’t think even one sentence of my spiritual writings will survive 300 years. My spiritual influence will dissipate rather quickly. He also found joy and peace even when he was lying on his deathbed. There is obviously a lot to learn from him.

I can also see that there is great spirituality in the Catholic Church. Some Protestants tend to think that the Catholic’s worship of Mary and elevation of the saints and the Pope means that there is nothing to learn from them. But who can deny that Brother Lawrence had a mature spirituality? He definitely has discovered something that the whole world needs to know.

I also learned that I need to begin practicing the presence of God myself. When I suffer or am in my daily activities, I seldom think about dwelling in the presence of God. I am very task oriented. I want to always do things and finish tasks, like reading a book and writing something. What about quiet prayer to God? What about practicing living in the presence of the Lord? This could be what I am lacking in my spiritual life.




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