The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
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Book Reviews of The Practice of the Presence of God
Book Review: A Book that Changed my Life!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read "The Practice of the Presence of God" when I was a young Christian. It probably is one of the books that saved me from being totally destroyed spiritually by liberal theology in seminary. I strongly desired to walk daily in the presence of God. After I became a truly Bible-believing Christian, and began editing Andrew Murray books, I used "The Practice of the Presence of God" when I compiled and edited: "The Believer's Secret of the Abiding Presence" for Bethany House Publishers.
Thank God that Whitaker House keeps printing books written by people like Brother Lawrence, Charles Finney, and Andrew Murray! If it were not for Whitaker House publishing their books, we would not have good editions of Brother Lawrence, Finney, and Murray books to share with others (as well as study ourselves). For example, all five of my Andrew Murray "Believer's Secret" books are out of print.
Brother Lawrence, Charles Finney, and Andrew Murray wrote the best books on the Holy Spirit and knowing God personally everyday that I have ever read. You cannot go wrong buying any Finney or Murray books published by Whitaker House! So I say again, thank God for Whitaker House!
I believe those of you who enjoy Brother Lawrence, Charles Finney, and Andrew Murray will also enjoy "Prayer Steps to Serenity," which teaches truths that I learned from studying Brother Lawrence, Finney, and Murray. You can learn more about how to Practice the Presence of God through praying through the 12 Steps and the Serenity Prayer with the Holy Spirit as your guide. "Prayer Steps to Serenity" follows a 12 Steps and Serenity Prayer format. It is available through Amazon, with ISBN 0595313043. If you know of anyone who is looking for a 12 Step devotional that will help them walk in the power of the Holy Spirit according to the scriptures, you can heartily recommend this book to them. "Prayer Steps to Serenity" was not published by Whitaker House, and it is a larger book than a trade paperback (it is a 9 inch by 6 inch paperback) that includes devotional readings, prayers to encourage you to keep on praying as the Holy Spirit leads, a personal Journey Guide (or workbook), and a Group Journey Guide for prayer and support groups. "Prayer Steps to Serenity" is also supported by two websites that offer a lot of free guides and resources for those seeking more information about Christian recovery and starting Serenity Groups. Go to PrayerSteps.org or SerenityGroups.org for more information.
Thank you for reading!
L.G. Parkhurst, Jr.
Book Review: Little Brother Lawrence, Mystic of the Mundane
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of my favorite spiritual books. I love Brother Lawrence.
I always picture him enraptured, laying cruciform before the oven on the floor of his kitchen, slain by the mystery of the baking bread.. (Taste and see the LORD is good..) It's an arbitrary image, but I feel it catches what he was like. Blessed Sweetness, everywhere found, in my heart dwell most profound!
He exemplifies for me what it means to be a Christian. A couple of quotes:
"..In difficulties one had only to turn to Jesus Christ and ask for his grace, after which all became easy.."
"He gave thought neither of death, nor his sins, nor Paradise nor Hell, but only to do small things for the love of God. Great things he had not in him the power to do. That done, there would come upon him only what God should will. And of that he had no concern... Thus he was concerned about nothing, feared nothing, and asked nothing save that he not offend God.."
This is the wisdom of Carmel. Brother Lawrence springs from this same tradition that earlier had given the Church St. Simon Stock, St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross; and was to later produce St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. This is the flaming heart of Christian spirituality, in its searing purity.
Each moment is another opportunity to surrender your heart to God. The Holy Spirit is ever about and within us, and time is simply the unfolding of His grace.
As my second favorite Jesuit, Fr. G. M. Hopkins, once wrote: "The world is charged with the Grandeur of God: it shines out like shining from shook foil, it gathers to a greatness like the ooze of oil crushed.."
This book is yet another manifesto reminding us that it is God in whom we live & move and have our being. He is intimately with us always, unto all time. Peace, then. Cultivate awareness of His presence. You cannot be harmed. Neither death nor sin can separate us from the love of God. Only our eternal refusal to seek His mercy & embrace Him can do that.
Also check out anything by Fr. Jean Caussade SJ or St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the above mentioned Little Flower. The French really had it going on back then. Pray that la premiere fille de l'Eglise may once again regain her splendor.
Frere Laurent prie pour nous.
Father Elijah, transfigured with the Lord, intercede for us.
All the saints of Carmel, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, bless us.
Book Review: One of My five All-Time Favorite Gripping Devotionals
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading Reviews of CBC, Manuel, Michael, Peter and nearby Mariettian, Donald K. I doubted I could pull any better review! But since I have just reviewed three all-time best Devotionals: From Donald Baillie, Mary Tileston, St. Thomas A Kempis, I need to add my 17 "sense" worth.
Since taking an EMORY Class focused on reading Spiritual writing taught by my greatly deepened Seminary Classmate, Glenn Hinson, I feed often in pages of The Practice of the Presence of God.
My wife, Barbara keeps her copy nearby the bed and I keep mine in my favorite "little morning reading room!" The underlining of mine begins on page 34 and skips around a good bit for 4 pages:
"Brother Lawrence confessed his praying was nothing but a sense of the Presence of God, his soul being uaware of everything but God's Love... "The whole substance of religion is faith, hope, love. The practice of these three is the way we become united to God's will..."All things are possible to him who believes; they are less difficult to him who hopes; they are still easier to him who loves; they are even easier to him who practices all three virtues."
Those few plus more strengthened me through seven years as Prison Chaplain. Devotedly, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood "Barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States)
Book Review: Wonderful Little Book on Making God the Priority!
Summary: 5 Stars
Brother Lawrence (aka Nicholas Herman) was a layman with a Catholic order of monks who experienced the true joy of serving God in the most simple everyday tasks. Thankfully because of his dear friend, Joseph de Beaufort, Practicing the Presence of God came into print.
The booklet consists mainly of Brother Lawrence's reply to several letters written to him soliciting advice on how to handle various issues. Brother Lawrence's consistent and central response to the writer was to make the presence of God the priority in that person's life and to realize God's love for us. Brother Lawrence consistently stated that the way to do this was to remember daily of God's grace for us and His presence in our lives even during the routine and mundane daily activities of life.
The booklet is divided into 3 main areas:
1. Brother Lawrence's response to letters he had received.
2. Spiritual maxims to live by.
3. A short biography of Brother Lawrence's life.
While the booklet is short (around 90 pages or so) and can easily be read in one sitting, there is a ton of wisdom and reminders to keep God Almighty THE priority in our lives.
Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!
Book Review: Light reading with a heavy message.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is easy reading. The words are easy to understand, and the concepts behind the words that Bro. Lawrence is trying to convey are easy to understand, from a strictly cognitive point of view. But, to give these words life by putting them into action is not so easy. Like surgery, anyone can read textbooks on the subject, but putting it to effective use takes guidance, practice and time. Bro. Lawrence knows this, and is very patient and understanding in his words.
Because there is so much meaning packed into any given string of three or four words, I find myself pausing, and re-reading short passages as many as ten times before proceeding. The last three books I've read have been "the practice of the presence of God." I'm now on my forth reading. It takes me about a week to read this one, short, book simply because I find it useful to ruminate over so much of it.
I bought an additional five copies to give to family and friends whom I know will be receptive to the message of this book. Comparing this version of "the practice of the presence of God" with others, it is very similar is length and content.