
Brother Lawrence
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Audio Book: Practicing the Presence of God
1.2K00:00First Conversation
0PSA 16:11PSA 37:4PSA 40:8HEB 11:6JAS 4:7Brother Lawrence shares his testimony of conversion at the age of eighteen, where he experienced a profound revelation of God's Providence and Power, leading to a deep love for God that lasted over forty years. He reflects on his previous employment as a footman and his unexpected satisfaction in a monastery, emphasizing the importance of establishing a sense of God's presence and feeding our souls with high notions of God. Brother Lawrence highlights the duty of faith, the need for resignation as a fruit of watchfulness, and the significance of making acts of resignation during spiritual dryness and challenges.
Second Conversation
0PSA 16:81CO 10:31PHP 4:6COL 3:231JN 4:19Brother Lawrence preaches about the importance of living a life governed by love for God, finding joy and satisfaction in seeking Him above all else, even in the most mundane tasks. He shares his journey of struggling with doubts and fears, but ultimately finding peace and freedom in God's love. Brother Lawrence emphasizes the simplicity of conversing with God continually, seeking His assistance in all things, and acting out of love for Him in every aspect of life.
Third Conversation
0PSA 37:5PRO 3:5GAL 5:6PHP 4:13JAS 4:7Brother Lawrence preaches about the importance of faith working by love, emphasizing that outward business does not have to be a detriment to our spiritual life. He shares that perfect resignation to God is the sure way to experience His grace and guidance in all aspects of life, highlighting the need to trust in God, seek His presence in all things, and rely on His strength in times of difficulty.
Fourth Conversation
0PSA 16:8MAT 6:33ROM 12:11CO 10:311CO 13:13PHP 4:6COL 3:231TH 5:16HEB 11:6JAS 1:2Brother Lawrence preaches about the manner of going to God, emphasizing the importance of hearty renunciation, continual conversation with God, and sanctification in common business. He highlights the significance of prayer, praise, and the presence of God in preventing discouragement and guiding our actions. Brother Lawrence stresses the need for a total surrender to God, trusting in His grace and making every action an act of love for God. He encourages a life of faith, hope, and charity, united with the will of God, and persevering in the practice of these virtues to become perfect worshippers of God.
First Letter
0PSA 16:8PSA 139:7PHP 4:6HEB 13:5JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence shares his method of attaining a habitual sense of God's presence, emphasizing the importance of giving oneself wholly to God, renouncing all else for His love, and living as if there is none but God and oneself in the world. He describes the practice of constantly keeping the mind in God's holy presence, worshiping Him, and driving away any distractions that may interrupt thoughts of God, leading to a holy freedom and familiarity with God. Through faithful practice, the presence of God becomes natural and habitual, resulting in a closer relationship with Him and the ability to ask for and receive His graces.
Second Letter
0PSA 16:11MAT 6:33GAL 2:20PHP 4:7JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence shares his personal journey of faith, emphasizing his deep commitment to God through a life of simplicity, humility, and love. He describes his transformation from a troubled soul to one filled with profound peace and joy by constantly practicing the presence of God and surrendering completely to His will. Despite facing doubts and struggles, Brother Lawrence finds solace in his unwavering faith and devotion to God, experiencing intimate moments of connection and delight in God's presence.
Third Letter
0PSA 27:14PSA 34:17PSA 91:11PSA 147:5PHP 4:6Brother Lawrence encourages his soldier friend to trust in God's infinite grace and provision, reminding him to hope in God, thank Him for His favors, and find comfort and strength in Him during afflictions. He admires the fortitude and bravery of another soldier, urging him to turn to God in times of danger and to make a habit of inward worship and remembrance of God, which strengthens courage. Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of constantly thinking of God, especially for soldiers facing daily dangers, as it is a vital practice for their well-being and salvation.
Fourth Letter
0PSA 16:11PSA 119:22CO 4:18PHP 4:8JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence, in writing of himself as a third person, encourages his correspondent to press on to a fuller practicing of the Presence of God. He shares how he has spent over forty years in religion, always striving to be with God in all thoughts and actions out of pure love and reverence for Him. Brother Lawrence describes the continual joys and divine assistance he receives from being in God's presence, even in the midst of his daily activities. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining a constant awareness of God's presence, allowing His graces to flow abundantly into the soul.
Fifth Letter
0PSA 16:11PSA 73:28COL 3:2HEB 13:5JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance and virtue of practicing the presence of God, especially in preparation for making vows and professions. He encourages a continual conversation with God, highlighting the sweetness and delight found in being devoted to Him alone. Brother Lawrence stresses the need to empty the heart of all else to allow God to fully possess and work within it, urging a resolution to never forget God's presence and to spend each moment in sacred communion with Him.
Preface
0ROM 12:51CO 12:12EPH 4:4COL 3:14HEB 12:1Brother Lawrence emphasizes the belief in the communion of saints, highlighting the universal oneness of experimental Christianity throughout all ages and lands. He points to the shared experiences of various spiritual figures like Thomas á Kempis, Tauler, Madame Guyon, John Woolman, and Hester Ann Rogers, showcasing the remarkable agreement and harmony in their spiritual journeys. Brother Lawrence himself, a lay brother among the Carmelites, exemplified the practice of the presence of God in a secular and skeptical environment, contributing to the growth of household and evangelistic piety in the eighteenth century.
Seventh Letter
0PSA 46:10MAT 6:6PHP 4:61TH 5:16JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence, at nearly eighty years old, exhorts his sixty-four-year-old correspondent to live and die with God, emphasizing the importance of constant worship and remembrance of God in all aspects of life. He encourages simple acts of adoration, prayer, offering sufferings, and giving thanks to God, highlighting the closeness of God to us at all times. Brother Lawrence urges a familiar and humble conversation with God, transforming the heart into a place of continual communion with Him, regardless of being in church. He concludes with a call to worship God gradually, with grace, love, and humility, offering his prayers and service to support his correspondent.
Eighth Letter
0PSA 46:10MAT 6:7PHP 4:7COL 3:2JAS 4:10Brother Lawrence emphasizes the common struggle with wandering thoughts in prayer, attributing it to the roving nature of our minds. He suggests that the remedy for this is to confess our faults, humble ourselves before God, and avoid using excessive words in prayer. Instead, he encourages maintaining a quiet presence before the Lord, bringing back the mind in tranquility when it wanders. Brother Lawrence highlights the importance of keeping the mind focused on God throughout the day to ease re-collecting it during prayer.
Ninth Letter
0PSA 27:8PRO 4:23PHP 3:8COL 3:2JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of seeking God's presence continually in our lives, urging believers to focus on pleasing God above all else and to renounce anything that distracts from Him. He reflects on the mercy and grace of God, expressing regret for not fully embracing His love and calling others to make the most of the time given to grow in holiness. Brother Lawrence encourages a constant habit of thinking about God, highlighting the connection between knowing and loving Him deeply.
Tenth Letter
0PSA 16:8PSA 73:28PRO 3:5COL 3:2JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of sacrificing our will and trusting in God, even in times of difficulty. He encourages seeking God's presence in all aspects of life, acknowledging Him as a faithful Friend who never fails us. By prioritizing God's love above all earthly relationships, we open ourselves to receiving greater blessings and divine connections. Brother Lawrence urges constant remembrance and adoration of God, highlighting the profound impact of living in constant communion with Him as the essence of a Christian's life and profession.
Eleventh Letter
0PSA 34:17PSA 41:3ROM 8:182CO 12:9JAS 5:13Brother Lawrence preaches about finding strength and comfort in God during times of great pain and suffering, emphasizing the importance of enduring hardships with patience and trust in God's plan. He encourages the listener to view sickness as a means of God's mercy and a way to draw closer to Him, rather than solely as a burden. Brother Lawrence reminds that God is the ultimate Physician of both body and soul, and that true healing comes from trusting in Him above all else.
Twelfth Letter
0PSA 16:11PSA 139:7MAT 28:20PHP 4:6HEB 13:5JAS 1:2Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of constantly being in the presence of God, finding comfort and strength in prayer and faith even in the midst of suffering. He encourages offering our pains to God, seeking His will, and maintaining a deep connection with Him through adoration and surrender. Despite uncertainties and trials, Brother Lawrence finds unending joy and peace in God's presence, acknowledging his own weaknesses but relying on faith to sustain him. He urges believers to remain steadfast in their faith, always seeking God's presence and living in accordance with His will.
Thirteenth Letter
0PSA 34:19ROM 8:182CO 12:9PHP 4:6JAS 1:12Brother Lawrence encourages full and complete confidence in God for both body and soul, emphasizing that our sufferings are evidence of God's love towards us. He advises to abandon reliance on human remedies and fully surrender to God's providence, suggesting that perfect trust in Him may bring about healing. Brother Lawrence reminds that God sometimes allows physical ailments to heal the soul, urging to ask for strength to endure pain for the love of God and to find joy and courage in suffering for His sake.
Fourteenth Letter
0PSA 116:12CO 12:91TH 5:16JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence preaches about the importance of gratitude for God's mercies, sharing his own experience of finding relief and consolation in suffering near death. He emphasizes the sweetness of suffering with God, encouraging love and humility in times of trials. Brother Lawrence highlights the need for a constant, affectionate relationship with God, turning our hearts into a spiritual temple for continuous adoration. He assures that with faith and perseverance in seeking God's grace, we can find unction and consolation in our sufferings.
Fifteenth Letter
0PSA 34:8PSA 37:4PRO 9:101CO 8:3JAS 1:2Brother Lawrence, on his death-bed, emphasizes the importance of knowing God deeply, highlighting that God's love for us is the foundation of all His actions for our good. He encourages seeing afflictions as bearable when viewed in the light of God's hand, transforming sufferings into opportunities for consolation. Lawrence urges a continuous pursuit of God through faith, rather than seeking Him for material favors, as true devotion to God brings about a profound change within us, leading to a deep love for Him in all circumstances.
Sixth Letter
0PSA 16:8PHP 4:6COL 3:21TH 5:16JAS 4:8Brother Lawrence emphasizes the importance of practicing the presence of God in every aspect of life, highlighting the peace and security that comes from being constantly connected to God. He encourages perseverance in this practice, even when faced with challenges or distractions, stressing the need to trust in God completely and engage in a continuous exchange of love with Him.