The Presence of God (2)

I have been thinking more about Brother Lawrence's book. Specifically, how to implement more of his thoughts into my life.

Do I strive to live in God's presence? What does this mean exactly? And how can I change my life?

I want to say something about the last question first. How can I change my life? This really is part of the problem, I think. The focus is wrong. My kids and I just finished reading The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles). In it, one of the characters, Eustace, has been changed into a dragon. He needs to be changed back. But there is no way for him to do it. And there is also no way for his fellow crew members to do it either. Salvation comes through One alone. And not just salvation. Eustace, at Aslan's instruction, starts peeling away his dragon scales. But peel as he might, he can never rid himself of the knobby scaley hide that surrounds him. It takes Aslan's claws to do this.

We attempt so many times to do things in our own strength. I think this is one of the most dangerous fallacies in our culture today, both inside the church and out. If we are doing things in our own strength, then why should the Spirit fill us? We're already equipped. I think it's when we come to the end of ourselves, and realize that all our striving, all our planning, all our efforts, cannot accomplish what God has intended for us, that we are truly ready to be used by Him. If I'm doing something that can be done without God's help, then it certainly isn't a God-sized thing. And I believe God is still in the God-sized business. The work is God's alone. My part is to submit and let Him work through me.

So, first is the realization, that I cannot stand in the presence of God without His help.

Secondly, if my part, then is to submit, what does that look like? Most of us probably don't know, because submission is almost a dirty word in our world. But that might be a subject for another day. Suffice it to say, I have to quit saying, No or Not Right Now, and start saying, "Yes, Lord." Anything less is very revealing, by the way. To call someone Lord is to say that they have all power and authority over my life. To answer with Not Right Now is to admit that He is not really Lord of my life at all.

Then we get to this point...what does it mean to live in God's presence. Does it mean another Bible study? Maybe. But it's more than that. Does it mean fellowship with God's people? Yes. But again, it's so much more than that. It's hungering and thirsting and panting and longing and bowing and falling prostrate and shouting and crying and laughing and singing and dancing and being still. It means realizing who I was and who I am now and acknowledging the One who made my life in a Holy God's presence even possible. It means seeing the world through totally different eyes. It means desperate petitioning on behalf of those who are lost and a compelling love that prompts me to share my faith. It means remembering my first love (which I don't think necessarily means first as in first in time, but first in order of priority).

Before my feet hit the floor in the morning, my first thought must be Praise God. My first conversation needs to be with Him before all others. My reading needs to be His Word before my email. Every perfect gift that comes throughout my day must be received with a grateful heart. Every trial I endure is to be done so joyfully because these are what build faith and character and make me more fit for His service. Every meal I make, every shirt I iron should be done with love, because I'm serving not only my husband or my family or my friends, but my God as well.

Then what do I do for fun? Do I watch another episode of CSI? If so, what do I do with the the verse, "I will set before my eyes no vile thing?" (Psalm 101:3) We all know that there are plenty of vile things that creep up in so many of today's shows. Besides, the psalmists shared with us numerous times that God's Word is a delight. Shouldn't my spare moments be spent pursuing the things that delight?

"The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
'This one was born in Zion.'" (Psalm 87:6)

That's what it means to live in His presence. God has written in the register of the peoples, "She was born in Zion." She is mine.

The Practice of the Presence of God

I'm still on track for my "book a week" 2006 resolution. The book I finished this past week was a short one, "The Practice of the Presence of God," by Brother Lawrence.

Brother Lawrence was a 17th century French monk. I love to read the thoughts of Christians who lived centuries before me. It reminds me of the consistency of God, the timelessness of the Gospel, and the perseverence of the saints.

Like I said, the book was short. Which is good, because it seems that sometimes I have trouble carving out the time to read right now. But this book really is an invaluable tool and should be familiar to Christian readers. Brother Lawrence, born Nicholas Herman, was not a theologian or a scholar. He didn't get into doctrinal debates. He worked in the kitchen in his monastery in Paris, serving his lay brothers as he served God.

What made Brother Lawrence exceptional and this book noteworthy is his desire to live constantly in deep communion with God. This is a man who "took every thought captive," and left behind encouragement for us to do the same.

This thought comes near the end of the book:

"The littleness of the work lessens not one whit the value of the offering, for God regards not the greatness of the work, but the love which prompts it."

And another:

"Do not, then, forget Him, but think on Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the glorious employment of a Christian. In a word, this is our profession."

I know some of you are reading this, thinking, "Yeah, yeah, we know all this. It isn't rocket science." But that's really the point, isn't it? The way is really very simple. We just have to give all. Period. All our lives, all our love, all our devotion, all that we are and ever hope to be.

So the answer is simple. Even the question isn't difficult. It's just the walking it out that's a struggle. And that takes a lifetime to even attempt to master. I'm just thankful for men and women who have gone before me and shared their journey. For mentors who have taught me that it can be done. Whose own lives have demonstrated the overwhelming (and often surprising) joy that results from intimacy with God.