THE PRESENCE OF GOD

                                                                 THE PRESENCE OF GOD

“When we acknowledge His presence, we are bringing presents to the Lord.”  These are words that the Lord gave me the other day when He was inspiring me to write about His presence.

There is a book that over one million people have read, entitled, “The Practice of The Presence of God.” It was written by Brother Lawrence.  He was born to poor farmers in 1611 in Lorraine, France as Nicholas Herman.  His parents could not afford to educate him so he enlisted in the army.

It was during his 18 years in the army that he was awakened to a spiritual experience concerning God’s love and grace.  He retired from the army and became a lay monk who was a humble cook in a Carmelite Monastery.  He discovered the secret of holiness by “practicing the presence of God.”

 “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 blessed sacrament.”

"We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

“He does not ask much of us, merely a thought of Him from time to time, a little act of adoration, sometimes to ask for His grace, sometimes to offer Him your sufferings, at other times to thank Him for the graces, past and present, He has bestowed on you, in the midst of your troubles to take solace in Him as often as you can. Lift up your heart to Him during your meals and in company; the least little remembrance will always be the most pleasing to Him. One need not cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”

“The difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them - through faith or unbelief - that makes them seem so. We must be convinced that our Father is full of love for us and that He only permits trials to come our way for our own good.

“Let us occupy ourselves entirely in knowing God. The more we know Him, the more we will desire to know Him. As love increases with knowledge, the more we know God, the more we will truly love Him. We will learn to love Him equally in times of distress or in times of great joy.”

 

“The most intimate union with God is the actual presence of God.  Although this relationship with God is totally spiritual, it is quite dynamic, because the soul is not asleep, rather, it is powerfully excited.  In this state, the soul is livelier than fire and brighter than the unclouded sun, yet, at the same time, it is tender and devout.”

 

In 1998, the Lord gave me words for this song which is about seeking and resting in God’s presence.

 

“In Thy Sweet Presence, Lord”

 (Marty and Marcella Ward 1998)

 

In Thy sweet presence Lord, I humbly come.

In Thy sweet presence Lord, Thy will be done.

O choirs of angels, do humbly bow.

In Thy sweet presence Lord, we praise Thee now.

In thy sweet presence Lord, we joyfully sing.

In Thy sweet presence Lord, our gifts we bring.

 

Thy Living Bread, Thy presence fill.

My heart my soul, my spirit fill.

His blood was shed, to set us free.

Be born Thy living Word in me.

 

Carry the cross, with Jesus now.

Guide and protect, will be His vow.

His blood was shed, to set us free.

Be born Thy Living Word in me.

 

No one will ever be denied.

Come all to Jesus, for you He died.

His blood was shed, to set us free.

Be born Thy Living Word in me.  (Copyright 1998)

 

A Prayer for Resting in God’s Love

 

Father God, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb the highest mountain you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child. In Jesus name, Amen

 

 Sources:

1. Learn Religions, “Biography of Brother Lawrence, Practitioner of God’s Presence” by Mary Fairchild, updated July31, 2020

2.“The Practice of the Presence Of God” by Brother Lawrence

3. Beliefnet