In my last blog I talked about how the book "The Practice of the Presence of God" helped changed my life by helping me to learn how to commune regularly with God. Brother Lawrence, in this book, guides you into some great understanding of how the average Christian can deeply commune with God. By communing with God, we gain spiritual insight that guides us in our every day lives.
But the real key is learning how to abandon our selfish desires, and give ourselves totally to God. Brother Lawrence says: "He sacrificed all of the pleasures in his life to God. But rather than punishing him, God gave him nothing but wholehearted satisfaction." By giving ourselves to God, we can learn how to live for God, and by living for God we gain satisfaction in our lives.
On top of this giving ourselves to God, we need to learn how to be faithful, even in the dry periods. I know that there are ups and downs in our lives and in our faith. In those times when we don't feel close to God, in those times when we don't feel like life is going well, we need to be even more determined to surrender ourselves to God and trust God. By doing this, we will become a more mature Christian, and learn that God is always there with us.
At the end of the first conversation, p. 9, Brother Lawrence says: "When we are willing to accept God's help and guard our souls according to His desires, we may commune with Him whenever we like." I have found great strength in learning to commune with God regularly. I encourage you to see God's help and presence in your lives.
I would love to hear how you have had success or have struggled with this.
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