Letting Christ Transform You From The Inside Out
Draw timeline: 1510(Luther), 1564 (Calvin dies), 1593 (Discalced Carmelites), 1610(Nicholas Herman), 1628(Tree), 1635, 1640, 1642, 1665, 1691, 1703(John Wesley born)
Picture of France on Board, Brother Lawrence on Board – magnets or tape
Write out the book title: The Practice of the Presence of God (download it for free from Project Gutenberg.www.gutenberg.org
INTRO: Brother Lawrence and Practicing the Presence of God
Brother Lawrence (c. 1610 - February 12, 1691) was a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery, who is today most commonly remembered for his inner peace and tranquility as a result of his unique relationship with God. His example, especially in the face of hardship, was so noteworthy, that many came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom that he passed on to them in conversations and letters later became the basis for the book, The Practice of the Presence of God. This work was compiled after Brother Lawrence died by one of those whom he inspired, Father Joseph de Beaufort, later vicar general to the Archbishop of Paris.
Brother Lawrence’s perspective on God has influenced many a Christian writer. Two noteworthy ones are John Wesley and A. W. Tozer. John Wesley included this book in the Christian library he published for his converts.
Early Life
He was born as Nicholas Herman in 1610, only a century after Luther nailed the 95 theses (1517) on the Wittenberg door. Not too much is known about his early life. We do know that Brother Lawrence was born in France, specifically near Luneville, in the region of what is known today as Lorraine, France. His parents were pious and probably not wealthy, because they could only afford to give him an elementary education, although he was considered intelligent, yet clumsy.
We also know that he was close to his uncle who was a Discalced Carmelite brother and that there was a Carmelite monastery in Lunéville. His uncle very likely had a great influence in his life. It’s very possible that Nicholas’ conversations with his uncle influenced him to seek a relationship with God.
Carmelite Influence
I’d like to give you a bit of history regarding the Carmelites because I believe that their perspective on God and life influenced Nicholas (initially through his uncle, and later as he became a member of their order):
The Carmelite Order began in Mount Carmel, which is a coastal mountain range in northern Israel. The Carmelites take much of their inspiration from Elijah the prophet. If you recall, in the Book of 1 Kings 18, Elijah had a confrontation with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Even after God’s success, Elijah then fled to Mt. Horeb (the mountain of God) to seek refuge from Jezebel. What Elijah discovered there, regarding how God spoke to him, was important to the Carmelites.
He discovered that God’s presence and His voice did not come to him in the form of a powerful wind, an earthquake, or fire. God spoke to him in the form of a gentle whisper. The first three got Elijah’s attention. Then he was waiting eagerly for what would come next and he did indeed hear the gentle whisper. So many lessons from this. This mindset is the foundation of the Carmelites perspective of Christian prayer:
Learning to be quiet and wait for God’s whisper.
The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites (the order that Nicholas' uncle belonged to) also had their roots in the Desert Theology of the Old Testament – this refers to the forty years wandering in the desert that was meant to bring about a change of heart. Thus, the Discalced Carmelites believed in being in the presence of God through contemplative prayer for ONE purpose – to surrender their will to God and let Him bring about a change in their hearts … and a ministry of compassion to others. (imitating Jesus).
This order was established in 1593, Just 17 years before Nicholas was born.
Life Change:
In 1628, at the age of 18, Nicholas received a revelation of the providence and power of God that set him on a unique spiritual journey. It wasn't, characteristically, a supernatural vision, but a supernatural clarity into a common sight.
In the deep of winter, he looked at a barren tree, stripped of leaves and fruit, waiting silently and patiently for the sure hope of summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Nicholas grasped for the first time the extravagance of God's grace and the unfailing sovereignty of divine providence. Like the tree, he himself was seemingly dead, but God had life waiting for him, and the turn of seasons would bring fullness. At that moment, he said, that leafless tree "first flashed in upon my soul the fact of God," and a love for God that never after ceased to burn. This insight completely freed him from the world, and gave him a deep love for God. This was the beginning of his life-long practice of the presence of God.
One might have thought that after this he would have pursued a career in religion, but instead he enlisted in the army and saw active service in the Thirty Years War. One major reason for joining the army was his extreme poverty and the need to be guaranteed meals and a small stipend.
He witnessed many atrocities during this time and was even taken prisoner, impressing his captors with his peaceful demeanour and holy resignation in the face of their threats. Wounded in 1635, about 6 years after joining the army, he returned home, never completely recovering from the injuries to his leg. At this point he discussed his future with his uncle, Jean Majeur, a Discalced Carmelite. We know nothing of the details of this encounter, but the next five years were a time of searching for Nicholas. He tried various vocations. After a stint as a footman and seeking a place where he could suffer for his failures, in 1640 at the age of 26, he finally joined the Discalced Carmelite Priory in Paris, as a lay brother (a monk who can marry). He couldn’t be more than a lay brother because of his lack of education (specifically not knowing Latin, a requirement for clerical orders). In 1642 he made a solemn profession of vows.
He took on the name Brother Lawrence, referring to “Lawrence of the Resurrection”.
He spent almost all of the rest of his life within the walls of the priory. At first he worked as an assistant to the manastery’s treasurer, but he lost that job because he was too clumsy. Then he began working in the kitchen as a dishwasher and cook. He did this for many years until his health declined. His limp got worse and he was in pain. He couldn’t move around easily. He then became the sandel-repairer, looking afterthe footwear of over 100 friars
Apart from two trips, to the Auvergne in 1665, and to Burgogne the following year, to buy wine, he remained within the walls of the priory (or "monastery" as it is often called.) We should remember, though, that as a lay brother his life was one of long hours and continuous work. Not at all like the contemplative life of a monk.
(Practically speaking, this is akin to what a mother of young children has to deal with.)
Yet, it was in such an environment, in the monastery kitchen where, amidst the tedious chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his superiors, that he developed his rule of spirituality and work. Br Lawrence died peacefully, after several painful bouts of illness, on February 12th, 1691, aged 77. He was lucid until the last breath.
Quotes:
In his Maxims, Lawrence writes, "Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?"
For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or routine, was the medium of God's love. The issue was not the sacredness or worldly status of the task but the motivation behind it. "Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."
Brother Lawrence retreated to a place in his heart where the love of God made every detail of his life of surpassing value. "I began to live as if there were no one save God and me in the world." Together, God and Brother Lawrence cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and endured the scorn of the world.
He admitted that the path to this perfect union was not easy. He spent years disciplining his heart and mind to yield to God's presence. "As often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before him, fixing my mind upon his holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering from him. This proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I persisted through all difficulties."
Only when he reconciled himself to the thought that this struggle and longing was his destiny did he find a new peace: his soul "had come to its own home and place of rest." There he spent the rest of his 80 years, dying in relative obscurity and pain and perfect joy.
Br Lawrence does not teach a "method" of prayer, but, instead, a way of orientating ourselves towards God that enables us to hear him better. Behind his writings there would seem to be four principles to keep in mind, which form a constant refrain as one reads the book.
1. Security comes from God alone: "Renounce and scorn creatures in order to enjoy their Creator for a moment." (Letter 2). At first sight, this seems almost an un-Christian precept which is, moreover, difficult to reconcile with the Br Lawrence who gained the love and respect of those who knew him. What he is saying in the language of today is that we should not depend on other people for our sense of security that stems from knowing that we are loved. It is a common experience that human love is fickle and not to be depended upon as the source of our security. Only God can provide that. TRUE SECURITY comes only from believing that we are loved by God. No human being can be “depended on” for this need.
2. Persevere in Practicing God’s Presence and it will soon become a Habit. "Great fidelity to the practice of this presence and to the fostering of this awareness of God within" (Spiritual Maxims, chapter 6). It does not matter if at first we find the exercise of practising God's presence in our everyday lives difficult. We can at any time turn our gaze inward to the Lord and this especially at times of difficulty or temptation. He assures us that if we are faithful to this practice during the day we will find it easier to recollect ourselves at the set time of prayer. Br Lawrence suggests practical helps for fostering an awareness of God's presence: (Perseverance)
* short, spontaneous prayers of love and adoration can turn the heart and mind back to God at any time. (Praise)
* We can also form the habit of preceding any activity by making an "inward glance" to remind ourselves of God's presence within us. (Remember)
* Importantly, how we conduct ourselves throughout the day can assist our awareness of God. Br Lawrence was always rooted in the here and now and so avoiding the anxiety of worrying about what might happen in the future. Those who met him testified to Br Lawrence's calmness and tranquility at all times. (Trust)
3. Surrender Your Heart to God: "Offer him your heart from time to time, during the day, while at work, at every possible moment" (Letter 2). This is an essential disposition of the human creature before God if God is to be allowed to do His work in the soul. This is also the most effective way of keeping the mind from wandering at the time of mental prayer. (Surrender)
4. Remember Who God Is (He will forgive you when you fail) - "The habit of practising the presence of God is only acquired with effort" Though there will be times of failure and falling away on account of human weakness, he advises simply returning to the practice of God's presence with the knowledge that God will forgive us for any neglect. Perseverence is required not only in the practice of God's presence but in response to that presence within whomever and whatever we encounter on the journey. LISTENING to GOD.
Resources:
A.W. Tozer
www.outdulgence.com – Galloping Gourmet (the tree)
Carmelite Spirituality
Listening Prayer
Contemplative, Meditative Prayer
Good News for Mom’s with young children, the handicapped, the elderly, those who don’t have much time or those who don’t have much energy.
All believers can become more and more aware of God’s presence within them if they will take on the mindset that Brother Lawrence testified to. As we become more aware of the presence of the Spirit of God and Christ, and as we are moved to surrender our hearts to his transforming power, we will truly be effective as his ambassadors. We won’t just “do good works” for the sake of doing them. We will learn how to listen to Christ’s voice (John 10) and we will do God’s work (not just what “we” think is a good work). For someone who is bedridden or handicapped in some way, God can use them just as effectively as someone who has boundless energy and resources. They can become prayer warriors. Those who aren’t confined would become more effective if they learned to surrender to God’s direction and didn’t just “do” everything that “seems good”. Man should not rely on his own understanding.
Weird to wait for an answer to prayer. Bible says, Be still and know that I am God.
Wait for the Lord.
Pray for insight before you open the word….and talk to God all through your reading. He will speak to you.
Pray while you are doing dishes and you will be moved to pray for certain people AS you wash. You will also be more sensitive to the promptings of the Spirit throughout the day.
Learning to discern without surrendering our hearts to God’s transformation of us from within is a very very dangerous place to be. We can easily be fooled by man’s wisdom…..even people in the Christian church who claim to be believers and very possibly aren’t.
The practice of the Presence of God was written by a monk named Brother Lawrence who spent the majority of his lifetime working (in the kitchen) in a monastery in the sixteenth century. This book is a compilation of writings or letters that Brother Lawrence wrote to friends concerning practicing the presence of God.
If you have not had a chance to read this book, then i highly recommend it! This book offers so much great spiritual advice on how to live the Christian life in such a small book. Lawrence explains that we should acknowledge the reality of God's presence in our lives even through the most mundane and boring tasks. God is present when Brother Lawrence is washing dishes or making shoes for the other monks. Just like He is always there around you! God is present everywhere (Omnipresent)! We often miss His presence because we fail to recognize Him in the ordinary things in our lives. Brother Lawrence was able to Find God in the Ordinary and involve Him in those areas.
If you want to read this book (Of course you do), You can actually download the book from the Internet for FREE here, Project Gutenberg, . If you download it, you can read it through the program Notepad on your computer. Pretty cool, no strings attached.
Brother Lawrence was at one time an assistant to the monastery's treasurer, but he lost that job because he was too clumsy. So he became a dishwasher and cook in the kitchen. While he worked he developed a habit of conversing with the Lord all day long even while he was doing dishes and serving people. Most of this book is about his glorious habit of doing everything for the glory of God. Here is an excerpt from his book,
"The dear brother remarked that we must give ourselves totally to God, in both temporal and spiritual affairs. Our only happiness should come from doing God's will, whether it brings us some pain or great pleasure. After all, if we're truly devoted to doing God's will pain and pleasure won't make any differences to us."
Brother Lawrence has a simple solution to our problem, yet very difficult solution to live out, pray all day long. I know what your thinking (why do i know because it's what i am thinking) How can i pray all day long when i have enough trouble trying to pray for five or ten minutes straight. The only way we will know God's will for our lives as well as, His plan for our day, is only by living a life of continual prayer. Pray all day. This does not mean that we should quit our jobs, dump all of our relationships, and spend all day on our knees before the Lord. It means to leave the phone line open all day. Just like Jesus did with the Father! Converse about what is going on in your day, what is on your mind, how you are feeling, and asking Him about His plans for our lives. Involve God in what you are doing all day long!
- If you are getting ready for work in the morning, talk to Him about it, your joys and frustrations. Tell Him about the Monday morning blues.
- If you are driving to work, talk to Him about what your day might hold.
- If you are walking down the street, pray for people around you.
The key Lawrence says, is to interact with the Lord through your daily activities.
"Brother Lawrence insisted that it is necessary to always be aware of God's presence by talking with Him throughout the day. To think that you must abandon conversation with Him in order to deal with the world (go about your day) is erroneous ( It's Stupid! Wacko! Dumb!) Instead, as we nourish our souls by seeing God in His exaltation, we will derive a great joy at being His."