Brother Lawrence, An Habitual Sense of God’s Presence

Brother Lawrence, An Habitual Sense of God’s Presence

I grew up in a family that was not Christian. I came to know Jesus at age 15 through an evangelical group and spent my formative Christian years in a deeply Evangelical, Baptist environment. In that environment, to know God meant knowing the Scriptures (intellectually). Studying and memorizing the Word of God was what Christians did in order to grow in their faith. Little did I know that there was so much more available to the follower of Jesus in order to get to know him on a deeper level and know and feel his presence.

            Brother Lawrence seemed to struggle with his need to sense the presence of God. While I limited myself to just the activities of Scripture, Brother Lawrence availed himself of many different spiritual books and practices (370). As I found with my reliance on Scripture alone for sensing God’s presence, Brother Lawrence also found futility in the exercise (370). It was only when he resolved to drive from his mind everything that had the potential of interrupting his thoughts on God that he found God was present (370).

            For Brother Lawrence, faith alone was enough for him to sense God’s presence (371). When he dwelt on his failings and sins, he found himself distant from Jesus (371). When he gave up trying to sense God and allowed God to forgive him and heal him of his sin, that is when Brother Lawrence sensed God’s presence the strongest. Faith, that trust that God loves me, is the key.

            The key of faith, for me, is the unlocking of the door that leads to true communion with my Creator. Yes, I still read and study Scripture. But it is with a love and a knowing that God will speak to me through his word. Not by my effort, but through his grace, forgiveness, and love. Through his Holy Spirit, I can sense his presence. I just have to give up trying and let him in.

All references with page numbers are from Richard J. Foster and James Bryan Smith, Devotional Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups, Revised and expanded (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2005).