Day 61 – A Recap
Brother Lawrence reviews and summarizes how he learned to practice God’s presence: “This led me to resolve to give all for all. Thus, after offering myself entirely to God in atonement for my sins, I renounced for the sake of his love everything other than God, and I began to live as if only he and I existed in the world. Sometimes I considered myself before him as a miserable criminal at his judge’s feet, and at other times I regarded him in my heart as my Father, as my God. I adored him there as often as I could, keeping my mind in his holy presence, and recalling him as many times as I was distracted. I had some trouble doing this exercise, but continued in spite of all the difficulties I encountered, without getting disturbed or anxious when I was involuntarily distracted. I was as faithful to this practice during my activities as I was during my periods of mental prayer, for at every moment, all the time, in the most intense periods of my work I banished and rid from my mind everything that was capable of taking the thought of God away from me.”
Brother Lawrence gave his all to gain God’s all.
• Giving himself radically to God in salvation. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9).
• Renouncing all to follow Christ. “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
• Living as though only he and God existed. “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” (Song of Songs 6:3).
• Considering himself unworthy before a holy and just God. “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!’” (Luke 5:8).
• Considering himself loved by God as his heavenly Father. “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1).
• Lifting his heart to God in adoration and worship. “I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy” (Psalm 116:1).
• Keeping his heart and mind focused on God continuously. “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1).
• Banishing any thought that diverted his attention from God. “We take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
• Not allowing himself to be discouraged when he neglected to live in God’s presence. “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Return to me,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will return to you,’ says the LORD Almighty” (Zechariah 1:3).
• Practicing God’s presence faithfully all the time, during regular prayer times and while busy working, until they became natural. “Pray continually” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Action Step: Which verse especially stands out to you in practicing God’s presence?
This is God’s Word for you today,
Pastor Dave
