Practicing His Presence

Nicholas Herman, known as Brother Lawrence, looked at a barren tree, stripped of leaves and fruit as it waited silently and patiently for the sure hope of summer abundance. While gazing at that scene, he understood for the first time the extravagance of God’s grace and unfailing love. He desired to know more.

Brother Lawrence retreated to a place in his heart where the love of God made every detail of his life of surpassing value. He says “I began to live as if there were no one save God and me in the world.” Together, God and Brother Lawrence cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and endured the scorn of the world. For Brother Lawrence, “common business” was the medium of God’s love.

He learned to invite God’s presence into his life each day as a worshiper before Him, fixing my mind on His holy presence. As he did, he found a place of total rest and peace in God’s love, His grace and unfailing presence, even in the midst of life going on around him, as Psalm 92:2 says, “To show forth Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night.”

Let’s practice more of His presence in our own lives and watch the overflow touching other lives around us.