Recently it was the third anniversary of Dallas Willard’s death so Kristi and I have been remembering him and thanking God for his influence in our lives. It’s easy to be impressed with Dallas’ great intellect and his achievements as a philosophy professor and Christian author. But of all the ways Dallas impacted me the…
A great way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day is to pray his Breastplate Prayer as a Christ Shield.
Instead of a prayer life, seek a praying life. Frank Laubach’s writing on “Christ the Answer” shows us how to cultivate Jesus’ praying life and it’s power. Here’s an excerpt from Laubach’s book, “Prayer: The Mightiest Force in the World.”
Thomas Kelly’s words on holy obedience (excerpts from “A Testament of Devotion”) invite us into a God-intoxicated life of joy, peace, and love for others.
The heart of the Brother Lawrence writings, his letters and conversations, is his personal story of practicing God’s presence. Here are a few of the best excerpts from “Practicing His Presence.”
In the later years of high school I learned about Brother Lawrence’s classic book Practicing the Presence of God. Immediately I was won over to the beauty and goodness of a life devoted to praying without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). But he was a monk from the 17th Century! Could an ordinary person like me in the modern…
“Pray without ceasing,” the Apostle Paul taught us (1 Thess. 5:17). He also said, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). John Wesley referred to this as “continuing instant in prayer.” Probably you’re more familiar with the terminology of “practicing God’s presence.” Mark in his Gospel seeks to draw…
“How are you experiencing God?” This is what I asked a group of pastors and ministry leaders today. I wonder if you’ve thought about your experience of God today. (It helps to have someone you trust who checks in with you on this!) Experiencing God is not well understood by most people today. We tend…
An ancient tool for helping us learn to practice God’s presence and grow in a more intimate relationship with the Lord is called the Examen of Consciousness or simply “The Examen.” The Examen? If you’re not familiar with it then it probably doesn’t sound appealing! The idea of being examined is something most of us want to…
We say, “I love God.” But do we say this with endearment? Delight? Affection? Maybe we’re embarrassed to show affection for God, to let our heart hang out for him. Or maybe it’s that as we go about our day we forget him — we get distracted. If we’re not careful the presence of the…