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    The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life
    The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life
    The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life
    Ebook74 pages44 minutes

    The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life

    By of the Resurrection Lawrence

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    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArchive Classics
    Release dateJan 1, 1914
    The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life

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    Reviews for The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life

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    • 5/5
      Brother Lawrence is one of my new heros now. a must read for any Christian with a passion for learning.
    • 3/5
      I actually read this online and am not sure it was the whole text. Definitely an interesting view on daily Christian experience by a monk.
    • 3/5
      A very short primer by a lay Carmelite brother from the 1600's on finding joy in all things through the sweet surrender to Divine Will. Not a how-to but a what-can-be-accomplished, leading to the "unclouded vision" of the Creator.

      Composed of letters, spiritual maxims, and a character study by a contemporary.

      "Believe me, count as lost each day you have not used in loving God."
    • 5/5
      After reading the Ignatian spirituality, I am amazed to see that this book lined up with the same message, "The Presence of God."

      The more I get close with Christ, the deeper I see my wickedness.
      I think, the message which this book taught me was that during tough times, I would to ask God to love him more than ever. The struggle would be real, but to love him during that time? Not easy

      We are created to love him, every moment, at times we wander off. It is our duty to love him with all our heart.

      I see God working in subtle things in my life, every day. I remember, I borrowed an umbrella from a retired professor on my campus. I was worried how I was going to find him again but to my surprise, he just appeared right infront of me at that second, when I was walking inside a building.

      Let us try to grow closer with the Lord and rely on him each moment.
      Love is the most important quality, without love mortification of the sins wouldn't be efficious.

      We must study ever to regard God and his Glory in all that we do, that is the end - Brother Lawrence

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This book was good but repetitive. Sound advice on how to be in Gods presence. Slow read.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is a Christian classic that I revisit every few years. I first discovered it as an undergraduate student because a fellow student enjoyed it immensely. In a series of conversations and letters, Brother Lawrence shows the importance of remembering that God is always with you and acting like He is by conversing with Him constantly. Any book that makes me want to read it as often as this slim volume has over the years is a 5 star read!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Simple yet profound, a challenge to think differently.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      It is a very nice little book. Should be read slow And quietly.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is the second best book I have ever read in my life. It is simple and clear, and beautifully honest. The raw journal writings of the two men are life changing.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Where I got the book: purchased on the Nook (yes, it does happen).I'm not really sure what to say about this little book. I guess I was expecting some great revelation about how to be a better Christian but the basic message here is "practice the presence of God every day." Hmmm. That's a bit like opening a book and finding written inside, "This is a book. Read it." Don't get me wrong, Brother Lawrence sounds like a great guy. In fact the book is part memoir, part biography, part letters and so on. It's a collection of documents by and about Brother Lawrence who, from the sound of it, was a genuinely humble, dedicated follower of Christ. I think this book may inspire some people; it just didn't inspire me, and probably that's indicative of my own spiritual status (low on the scale). I know I SHOULD practice the presence of God; I'm not sure HOW, and maybe it's one of those things like riding a bike; you try until you get it, and once you get it you don't know how you were ever not able to do it.Maybe I should revisit this one in ten years' time. Will there still be a Nook, I wonder?
    • 1/5
      "I recommend to you that you do the thing that I am thinking of in my mind right now. Do it and you will be rewarded."That's all that ever get's said. What the thing in Lawrence's mind is, we are never told. Which is of course typical of Christianity: at the end of the day it is whatever you make it.Poor man.
    • 4/5
      I am left speechless as we can walk with the presence of God in all our comings and goings daily moment by moment.
    • 4/5
      Brother Lawrence is a wonderful example of a person who has learned to soley focus on God and take great pleasure in His presence. I highly question whether he would have achieved such singularity of mind had he lived with a wife and children in today's world. Never-the-less, his wisdom and lessons are something to strive for.
    • 4/5
      A very short devotional classic that reminds one of the importance of having God in your thoughts during your normal daily activities. That we have a tendency to break up our lives in sacred and secular activities - but God is a constant presence and should be recognised in everything we do - There is a lot to ponder upon in these concise reflections.
    • 5/5
      A classic devotional work. What I like best about it is that he is a struggler, and he is not averse to explaining that he struggles and fumbles both with spiritual things, and with natural things.
    • 3/5
      Need to read again to take it all in. How I would love to live that way with God ever-present in my thoughts, but I struggle with the actual practice.
    • 4/5
      The letters and accounts of a Brother who spent a large part of his life in the kitchens at a monastery. The letters tell of his day to day walk with God and their constant conversations.I found this book really uplifting and helpful
    • 5/5
      One of the best Christian books I have read in a long time. Brother Lawrence's faith and guidance is a blessing. If you want to learn how to stay in the presence of God, read this book.

    Book preview

    The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life - of the Resurrection Lawrence

    The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life, by Herman Nicholas

    This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

    Title: The Practice of the Presence of God the Best Rule of a Holy Life

    Author: Herman Nicholas

    Release Date: October 26, 2004 [EBook #13871]

    Language: English

    *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD ***

    Produced by Robert Shimmin, Project Manager, Keith M. Eckrich, Post-Processor, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

    THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE

    OF GOD THE BEST RULE

    OF A HOLY LIFE.

    BROTHER LAWRENCE.

    Being Conversations and Letters of Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine

    (Brother Lawrence). Translated from the French.

    FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY,

    NEW YORK. CHICAGO. TORONTO.

    Publishers of Evangelical Literature.

    PREFACE.

    This book consists of notes of several conversations had with, and letters written by Nicholas Herman, of Lorraine, a lowly and unlearned man, who, after having been a footman and soldier, was admitted a Lay Brother among the barefooted Carmelites at Paris in 1666, and was afterwards known as Brother Lawrence.

    His conversion, which took place when he was about eighteen years old, was the result, under God, of the mere sight in midwinter, of a dry and leafless tree, and of the reflections it stirred respecting the change the coming spring would bring. From that time he grew eminently in the knowledge and love of GOD, endeavoring constantly to walk "as in His presence. No wilderness wanderings seem to have intervened between the Red Sea and the Jordan of his experience. A wholly consecrated man, he lived his Christian life through as a pilgrim—as a steward and not as an owner, and died at the age of eighty, leaving a name which has been as ointment poured forth."

    The Conversations are supposed to have been written by M. Beaufort, Grand Vicar to M. de Chalons, formerly Cardinal de Noailles, by whose recommendation the letters were first published.

    The book has, within a short time, gone through repeated English and American editions, and has been a means of blessing to many souls. It contains very much of that wisdom which only lips the Lord has touched can express, and which only hearts He has made teachable can receive.

    May this edition also be blessed by GOD, and redound to the praise of the glory of His grace.

    CONVERSATIONS.

    FIRST CONVERSATION.

    The first time I saw Brother Lawrence, was upon the 3d of August, 1666. He told me that GOD had done him a singular favor, in his conversion at the age of eighteen.

    That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time the leaves would be renewed and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had increased during the more than forty years he had lived since.

    That he had been footman to M. Fieubert, the treasurer, and that he was a great awkward fellow who broke everything.

    That he had desired to be received into a monastery, thinking that he would there be made to smart for his awkwardness and the faults he should commit, and so he should sacrifice to GOD his life, with its pleasures: but that God had disappointed him, he having met with nothing but satisfaction in that state.

    That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD'S Presence, by continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries.

    That we should feed and nourish our souls with high notions of GOD; which would yield us great joy in being devoted to Him.

    That we ought to quicken, i.e., to enliven, our

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