Many years ago I read Letters by a Modern Mystic, and Game with Minutes by Frank Laubach, and The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence. They were wonderful little booklets/books that deeply inspired me. I began to 'practice His presence' but as time progressed and busyness crowded into my life I had slowly relinquished this discipline.
I recently came across a new edition of these books. The Library Of Spiritual Classics have updated the language since Brother Lawrence's book was written in the 1600's and Frank Laubach's in the 1930's, and combined the three in one small book entitled Practicing His Presence. I have begun the 'practice' again. Obviously it was time to revisit 'old wells'. The book is available through Amazon. I highly recommend it!
Here is an excerpt from Letters of a Modern Mystic
October 11, 1931
There are three questions we may ask, "Do you believe in God?" That's not getting very far. "The demons believe and tremble." "Are you acquainted with God?" We are acquainted with people with whom we have had some business dealings. Third, "Is God your friend?" or putting it this way, "Do you love God?"
It is the third stage that is really vital. How is it to be achieved? By doing things together. The depth and intensity of the friendship will depend upon the variety and extent of the things we do and enjoy together. Will the friendship be constant? That again depends upon the permanence of our common interests, and upon whether or not our interests grow into ever widening circles, so that we do not stagnate. The highest friendship demands growth. "It must be progressive as life itself is progressive." Friends must walk together; they cannot long stand still together, for that means death to friendship and to life.
Friendship with God is the friendship of child with parent. As an ideal son grows daily into a closer relationship with his father, so we may grow into closer love with God by widening into His interests, and thinking His thoughts and sharing His enterprises.
Far more than any other device of God to create love was the cross where the lovingest person the world has known hangs loving through all His pain. That cross has become the symbol of love for a third of the world becaue it touches the deepest depths of human love.
I recently came across a new edition of these books. The Library Of Spiritual Classics have updated the language since Brother Lawrence's book was written in the 1600's and Frank Laubach's in the 1930's, and combined the three in one small book entitled Practicing His Presence. I have begun the 'practice' again. Obviously it was time to revisit 'old wells'. The book is available through Amazon. I highly recommend it!
Here is an excerpt from Letters of a Modern Mystic
October 11, 1931
There are three questions we may ask, "Do you believe in God?" That's not getting very far. "The demons believe and tremble." "Are you acquainted with God?" We are acquainted with people with whom we have had some business dealings. Third, "Is God your friend?" or putting it this way, "Do you love God?"
It is the third stage that is really vital. How is it to be achieved? By doing things together. The depth and intensity of the friendship will depend upon the variety and extent of the things we do and enjoy together. Will the friendship be constant? That again depends upon the permanence of our common interests, and upon whether or not our interests grow into ever widening circles, so that we do not stagnate. The highest friendship demands growth. "It must be progressive as life itself is progressive." Friends must walk together; they cannot long stand still together, for that means death to friendship and to life.
Friendship with God is the friendship of child with parent. As an ideal son grows daily into a closer relationship with his father, so we may grow into closer love with God by widening into His interests, and thinking His thoughts and sharing His enterprises.
Far more than any other device of God to create love was the cross where the lovingest person the world has known hangs loving through all His pain. That cross has become the symbol of love for a third of the world becaue it touches the deepest depths of human love.
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