The Practice of the Presence of God

This is a fantastic book, and I'm finding that it is difficult to read more than a few paragraphs before my mind is racing with thoughts. I figured this would be a good outlet.

However, before I even get into it, I'm going to criticize it (but only sort of). Coming from a Pentecostal background, I have seen first hand how easy it is to get so focused on a certain aspect of the Christian faith to where you begin to think it is the ONLY aspect of the Christian faith, or at least the most important. Pentecostals get caught up in "supernatural experiences." Visions, dreams, healings, speaking in tongues, prophecies, hearing the voice of God, the "anointing," and various "manifestations of the Spirit" (which may or may not be 'of the Spirit' at all).

This Practice of the Presence of God could potentially produce the same unbalanced response. Why? Because is sounds so wonderful (just like seeing an angel, or laying your hands on a sick person and seeing them recover). All of these things are wonderful things, and should any of us experience them, we should feel supremely blessed and thankful. But what if our times of prayer began to be overtaken by requests to heal others? What if we started focusing on the scriptures that talk about healing to the neglect of the rest of Scripture? What if we became obsessed with people like Benny Hinn, or others like him? What if we started gauging our level of spiritual maturity (or worse, others) by our ability to heal the sick?! "People who are really close to God will heal the sick. Thus, people who don't heal the sick must not be close to God." You get the point.

Second, I think it is easy to misinterpret what Brother Lawrence means by "the Presence of God." In American church culture, the presence of God is really more like a feeling than anything else. Most Christians will acknowledge the theological reality of God's abiding presence with us, but still will say things like, "God's presence is here!" when they start to get goosebumps, or whatever. I once heard my friend say, "I feel the presence of God all over my arms!" What he meant was, "I have goosebumps." Did he really mean that God's presence was on His arms only?? I doubt it, but that is how we've interpreted "God's Presence." Brother Lawrence has a slightly different idea. I believe that when he speaks of "the Presence of God," he is speaking more of an acute awareness of the reality of God in our lives. An awareness of the God who dwells within us. I mean, think about it. God lives inside you! (That is, if you trust in Christ). He is with you always! He is with you right now as you are reading this. He fills the room where you are sitting. He has you wrapped in His presence as we speak. He is there, and His plans for you are in His thoughts. He is loving you, guiding you, jealous for you RIGHT NOW. You don't need Him to "send" His presence, you simply need to enter into it.

Perhaps in pondering those few thoughts, your awareness of God increased for a moment. Perhaps you were filled to some extent with an increased level of awe. Peace. Contentment. Love. THAT'S what brother Lawrence is talking about. Sometimes that will translate into an "experience." Sometimes it won't. But can't we all agree that a more constant awareness of God's presence is a good thing? Now THERE is something you can PRACTICE. Maintaining a constant awareness of God's presence in your life, from the most mundane chore to the most sublime pleasure.

There's my intro...