The Practice of the Presence of God

Brother Lawrence describes the spiritual benefits that a particular brother (whom Beaufort notes may have been Lawrence himself) obtained from practicing the presence of God, hoping that the reader will be inspired by it.

This brother has spent more than 40 years trying to “stay as close as possible to God” (28), with the result that “his soul has been filled with a constant inner joy” that is sometimes overwhelming. Whenever he momentarily strays from the divine presence, God calls him back, with a feeling of inner joy and restfulness. The brother believes that Christians settle for too little in their spiritual lives; God has more grace in reserve for them if they desire it. Therefore, Lawrence exhorts the reader to “break down the dike” (30) of their resistance so that God can fill their souls, especially in view of the brevity of life and the nearness of death.

Brother Lawrence tells his reader that he received two books on the spiritual life by a friend who is preparing to dedicate her life to God. Enclosing one of the books with the letter, Lawrence underlines the importance of “practicing God’s presence” in order to “attain spiritual fulfillment” (32).