Nourish Your Spirit by Dwelling in the Presence of God

Posted on Mar 19, 2019 Topic : Inspirational/Devotional, Women's Christian Living

Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century monk, cultivated a lifelong practice of dwelling in the presence of God by acknowledging the Spirit in his life even as he went about mundane daily tasks.

His letters and conversations are recorded by his own hand and by his close friend Joseph de Beaufort, in a classic spiritual book called The Practice of the Presence of God.

No matter how wise or prepared we are, life doesn’t always go according to our plans. In the moments when the weight of the world feels as if it’s resting on our shoulders—when we’re facing a serious or chronic illness, the loss of someone we love, a financial burden, or another momentous event or circumstance—we can become even more aware of our weakness in our spiritual perspective.

Consider the words of Brother Lawrence: "I began to live as though there were no one but God and myself in the world…We cannot avoid the dangers of life without God’s continual help, so we should ask Him for it ceaselessly. But how can we ask for help unless we are with Him? To be with Him, we must cultivate the holy habit of thinking of Him often…We have to know someone before we can truly love him. In order to know God, we must think about Him often. Once we get to know Him, we will think about Him even more often, because where our treasure is, there also is our heart!"

And this, from the same book: "Take courage…The difficulties of life do not have to be unbearable. It is the way we look at them—through faith or unbelief—that makes them seem so…God often allows us to go through difficulties to purify our souls and teach us to rely on Him more (1 Peter 1:6-7). So offer Him your problems unceasingly and ask Him for the strength to overcome them. Talk to Him often. Forget Him as seldom as possible. Praise Him. When the difficulties are at their worst, go to Him humbly and lovingly—as a child goes to a loving father—and ask for the help you need from His grace…We should be careful to never separate ourselves from His presence. We must dwell with Him always."

How can we build a stronger spiritual foundation for ourselves, our home, and our family, one that will nourish us and stand firm even through the storms of life? We can study and meditate on Scripture to fill our heart, soul, and mind with truth and promises. Meditating on scriptures and tucking them into your heart will reset your perspective on what is happening around you. As you develop a strong spiritual mind-set, you keep your mind anchored above. No matter how distant from God or unworthy you might feel, you are worthy and invited into a relationship with Him.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27