Experiencing God is your highest and holiest privilege
“You will fill me with joy in Your presence.” Psalm
My thoughts and comments today are about,
“Joy In His Presence.”
In the Seventeenth century, Nicholas Herman (1605-1691), an obscure monk and a lay brother of a Carmelite priory, worked in a monastery kitchen in France. He was better known as Brother Lawrence. After his death, a small collection of his letters and conversations were gathered, and later compiled into a small book, The Practice of the Presence of God. Ultimately, his book became one of the most widely read books.
Brother Lawrence used his tedious, mundane responsibilities and relative obscurity to afford himself occasion for a lifetime of what he described as, “a habitual, silent, secret conversation of the soul with God . . to live as if there were none but He and I in the world.” Whether scrubbing pots or serving dishes he used every moment and simple act of service as an expression of intimate worship and communion with God. Across centuries, the lives of innumerable readers have been shaped by this simple monk’s holy practice of God’s presence, the practical truth of his book also impacting my life and later ministry.
I want to tell you how and where my story intersects with his. After our first few years of ministry in Illinois, Gayle and I returned to California to finish my senior year of Bible College while I also served on the pastoral staff of a church there. Across the mountains from San Jose, I was attending college classes in Santa Cruz each morning. Driving the narrow, winding, mountain highway early each morning and then back at Noon to be at the church office, the daily, thirty minute commute became monotonous. On a Spring morning toward the latter part of that year, I had an unusual and life-impacting encounter with God.
Before leaving the drive of our apartment one morning, I prayed, ”Lord, be with me today . .” Interrupted before I could say anything further, I felt the Lord speak to my heart as though it were audible, “I have been with you every morning; you just haven’t noticed.” I sat in my car, stunned and quietly weeping for my spiritual insensitivity. In tears, I asked forgiveness and pledged myself to value His abiding presence always.
I felt as Jacob must have felt when he said, “’Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of Heaven.’” Genesis 28:16-17 NIV. The ordinary busyness of life easily distracts us from a tender fellowship with God. Then I did something that would have seemed strange if any neighbors were looking on. I walked around to the passenger side of my car, opened the door, and verbally welcomed Jesus to be with me.
I cannot describe the sheer joy of that morning’s commute, as well as each morning that followed. Each subsequent morning before beginning my commute, I would again walk to the passenger side of my car, open the door, and consciously, even verbally, invite Jesus to be alongside me. That car became my daily place of prayer and worship. I do not recall a season of my life when I have known the joyous fellowship of the Lord more. I felt as David did as he wrote, “You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” Psalm 16:11 NIV. Nowhere will you find joy as is found in His presence.
I urge you to read his book, The Practice of the Presence of God, as a valued, spiritual discipline. You will be the richer for it. David was deliberate in his purpose, “I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 NIV. Though Jesus is ever with us, the heart-shaping intimacy of His nearness is reserved for those who invite Him into even the most common activities of daily life.
Experiencing God is your highest and holiest privilege. Never treat that privilege as common nor to be taken for granted. You best practice the presence of God when you transform even the secular into all things sacred. In doing so, you are practicing for Heaven with Him.
Today, I pray for you to sense and see the Lord near, so others are drawn to His Presence.
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If interested in purchasing the book, I have included the direct Link to the book on Amazon:
“The Practice of the Presence of God” Brother Lawrence
Christian Communications 2017-7227