Brother Lawrence talks of a continuous sense of God’s presence. Such a sense involves a constant communication or conversation with God. What would that sound like? Any worthwhile conversation involves two entities with a clear understanding of each other. There is no doubt that God knows all about us. The only problem is our knowledge of the Father, as well as our knowledge of ourselves. If we focus on who God is, our conversation with Him will consist of praising, adoring, and loving Him incessantly for His infinite goodness and perfection. Such communication is the natural outflow of a recognition of who He is.
We typically focus too much on what God has done for us. He has certainly done much; but that doesn’t get us to the place we want to be. That path starts with focus on who He is rather than what He has done. This focus creates in us a healthy “Fear of the Lord,” a sense of His wonder and awe.
We have to be careful as we begin to appreciate who He is because we are nothing in comparison. We can become discouraged because of our sins. It is important that we include in our recognition of His greatness, an understanding of His great love and forgiveness which is available to us. We should pray for His grace with perfect confidence, relying on the infinite merits of our Lord, relying on nothing of our own.
The wonder of Brother Lawrence is that he makes what seems so impossible to reach, communion with God, seem attainable and practical. We will only know the truth of what he relates if we are willing to try his methods.
Nick
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