Book Summary: “The Practice of the Presence of God” by Brother Lawrence
No matter where you are or what you’re doing, God is with you, ready and waiting to connect. That’s Brother Lawrence’s main message in his book, The Practice of the Presence of God:* we can cultivate a moment-by-moment awareness of God’s presence. Here are the book’s most impactful concepts and highlights, with notes and quotes to help you better connect with God throughout the day.
Become aware of God’s nearness
While God is always close by, we sometimes get distracted by life that we forget He’s even there. Lawrence says we should actively try to become more aware of God’s presence. Lawrence says things like:
“You don’t need to cry out very loudly; He is nearer to us than we think.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
“We should establish ourselves in a sense of God’s presence by conversing with Him all the time.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
Invite God into ordinary moments
No matter what we’re doing, we can be conscious of God’s presence and find ways to enjoy Him in those things. Lawrence worked in a busy monastery kitchen, peeling potatoes and washing dishes, yet he learned to profoundly enjoy God there. He says:
“To me, going to work does not differ from spending time in prayer. In the noise and clutter of my kitchen I possess God with the same level of tranquility as if I were on my knees.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
“Think often on God, by day, by night, in your job, and in your hobbies. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
“We should give ourselves up to God—no matter if our activities are temporal or spiritual—and seek our satisfaction only in fulfilling His will.”
—Brother Lawrence, First Conversation
(edited for clarity)
Talk with God throughout the day
Praying can seem like a chore we have to remember to do, but it’s actually like texting your best friend throughout the day. You can joke with Him, be honest with Him, and enjoy His company. Lawrence found his relationship with God to be a source of delight that left him feeling fulfilled. (And you can have that too!) Lawrence says:
“No kind of life in the world is more sweet and delightful than one marked by a continual conversation with God. The only people who can comprehend it are those who practice and experience it.
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
It is a shameful thing to stop talking to Him in order to think of trifles and fooleries.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
Talk to God the same way as a friend
Somehow the act of praying has become this really formal thing where people subconsciously try to be eloquent and use the same handful of churchy phrases. Jesus taught His disciples not to do that, and Brother Lawrence agrees. He thinks that when we talk to God, we should just be ourselves.
“We should interact with God in the greatest simplicity, speaking to Him frankly and plainly”
—Brother Lawrence, Fourth Conversation
(edited for clarity)
Learn to truly enjoy God
Brother Lawrence really, truly, actually enjoyed God. And that’s how God designed it to be. We are really missing out if we only view God as a higher power—He’s a true friend, ally, and supporter who is always there for us. We were made to enjoy Him, which is why Lawrence says:
“How happy we would be if we could find the treasure that the Gospel talks about—everything else would be like nothing. And because that treasure is boundless, the more you search for it, the greater the riches you will find. Let’s search unceasingly and not stop until we have found it.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
“I cannot imagine being satisfied without practicing God’s presence. I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of my soul as much as I can—and as long as I’m with Him, I fear nothing.”
—Brother Lawrence (edited for clarity)
Final Thoughts
In short, Brother Lawrence’s main message is this: God is always right there with you, no matter what you’re doing. His book, The Practice of the Presence of God,* is all about learning to recognize that and connect with Him throughout your day. Being a Christian isn’t about fancy prayers or being in a special place—it’s about hanging out with God in the everyday stuff, from peeling potatoes to sending emails. Lawrence found a real joy and peace in just being with God all the time—and we can too. God isn’t some far-off being, but a close-by friend who is always excited to spend time with you.
*Affiliate Links: I hope you find this book summary helpful on your journey to practicing God’s presence. If you want to buy the book, I’d appreciate if you did using a link on this page. (Doing so will give me a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me maintain this website!)
