LIVING WITH GOD IN EVERY MOMENT—The Practice of His Presence

The little book The Practice of the Presence of God has warmed Christian hearts for centuries. Brother Lawrence, a quiet Christ follower in seventeenth-century France, never intended to become an author. He worked in the monastery kitchen, repaired sandals, swept floors, and lived far from the spotlight. But others noticed the extraordinary peace that clung to him like a fragrance.

When asked about his secret, he simply said he had learned to keep his heart lifted toward God at all times. His conversations and letters were gathered after his death, forming the book we know today. It is small, beautiful, and brimming with the kind of simplicity that only comes from deep maturity. The Bible says, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2), and Brother Lawrence embodied that verse with gentle consistency.

At the heart of the book is a simple conviction—God is near, always near, and the soul can learn to turn toward Him in every circumstance. Brother Lawrence confessed that at first he struggled. His thoughts wandered, his heart grew cold, and he often failed in his attempts to remain mindful of the Lord. But instead of discouragement, he learned the grace of returning. “I simply begin again,” he would say, echoing the Bible’s promise that the Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and rich in mercy (Psalm 103:8). With time, he found that this continual turning of the heart became more natural than breathing.

One of the central themes of The Practice of the Presence of God is that nothing is too small to be offered to the Lord. Brother Lawrence discovered Christ both in the quiet of prayer and in the clatter of pots and pans. While cooking meals for the brethren, he whispered love to God. While repairing broken sandals, he gave thanks that God had repaired his soul. This was no mystical escape from life but a sacred immersion into it. The Bible commands, “Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord” (Colossians 3:23). Brother Lawrence simply took that call seriously—and joyfully.

He believed that the Christian life is not divided into spiritual moments and ordinary moments. Washing dishes could be worship. Carrying firewood could be an act of devotion. Sweeping the kitchen floor could become a hymn. The great transformation occurs not in the task but in the heart that performs it. When the believer offers each action to Christ, nothing is wasted. Every moment becomes holy ground. The Bible says, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:6). To acknowledge God is to remember Him, to lift the heart to Him, to whisper His name in the middle of life’s rush.

Brother Lawrence also teaches us that God delights in sincerity more than perfection. The Christian who seeks to offer every moment to God will fail often. Thoughts will drift, moods will sour, duties will overwhelm. Yet the key, as Brother Lawrence discovered, is not flawless attentiveness but humble return. God is not impressed by perfect performance—He is moved by genuine love. “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). When the heart returns, the Presence receives it with joy.

To practice God’s presence is not to withdraw from the world but to invite God into everything we do. Whether we drive to work, prepare a meal, talk with a friend, face a burden, or walk into a quiet room, each moment can become an offering. The altar is the heart. The sacrifice is attention. The reward is fellowship with Christ. And the more we practice, the more natural it becomes. The Bible says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8). This is Brother Lawrence’s message—beautiful, simple, enduring.

Lord, teach me to live in Your presence moment by moment. Let my ordinary tasks become holy when offered to You. Help me return to You whenever my mind wanders, and fill my heart with the quiet joy that comes from walking with You in every part of life. Make each day an offering, each breath a prayer, each duty an act of love. Amen.

BDD