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Contents
Vision
A Willing Heart
God Is Within
Little Things
Take Comfort
Vision
1. "Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe." These words of Our Lord are from the account of John, the beloved disciple. In this same book of The Gospel, John tells us why he wrote his account: "that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that, believing, you will have life through His Name."
Believing, faith, trust. These are the basic ingredients that make possible our practicing God's presence. In the beginning, we go to God with a little mustard seed in our trembling hand. It is so tiny, has no roots and, surely, is unworthy of becoming a plant of true faith.
Yet, when we humbly offer Him the little mustard seed and continue to engage in the practice of the presence of God, He will prepare the soil; He will plant, water, and nourish the little seed, so its roots are deep and healthy; and He will breathe His life into it.
In this act, which we repeat as often as necessary, there is no ceremony, no public show, or open demonstration. As all things we do in practicing God's presence, we offer the little seed in private because, Our Lord explained, what we offer in private is of the greatest value to Our Father. In this way, God will reveal Himself to us. He will enlarge His image in our heart. He will share His vision sufficient for us to think, say, and do what is pleasing to Him.
2. The gift of God's vision is one of the most wonderful aspects of becoming established in the practice of the presence of God. In The Gospel we read these words, "I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Is this not the same as we experience, moment by moment, in His presence? As we go about our day in gentle joy,
God's presence is the light of our life. His presence becomes our vision.
We have two indispensable tools that enable us to become receptive and open to God's vision. 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' is our handbook for practicing God's presence. All we need is found in the conversations and letters of Brother Lawrence.
The Gospel is our guide to knowing God and living according to His will and way. The four books of The Gospel give us the complete and perfect whole, even as each book is complete in itself. What a generous gift God makes available to us!
Brother Lawrence was well grounded in The Gospel. He lived in a religious community that had been refocused to reflect more closely the basic teachings of Jesus Christ. In fact, the leading figure in reforming the society was John of the Cross, whose many beautiful writings attest to his well known devotion to The Gospel.
As we read Brother Lawrence's words, we see that many of his phrases and references call to mind whole passages and descriptions from The Gospel. Brother Lawrence's words especially mirror those words Our Lord shared with those closest to Him.
The more we read 'The Practice Of The Presence Of God' and The Gospel, the more we see how each, in simple and direct words, is synchronized to the other. The importance of this is, the more we recognize and become receptive to God's way, the deeper and stronger grow the roots of faith and the mustard seed begins to flourish.
3. When Our Lord said, "Blessed are they who have not seen and yet believe," He referred to physical sight and He blessed those willing to believe in the spiritual seed of faith. Brother Lawrence, when he was well advanced in age and his eyesight was failing, brings us full circle with these words: "I see Him in such a manner as might make me say, sometimes, I believe no more, but I see." The practice of the presence of God leads us to a level of seeing that is far greater than physical sight and exceeds even the full grown plant of faith.
"He who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." It is God's light of life, as stated by the Son of God, that are the words to which Brother Lawrence refers. This is the sight that surpasses faith. In God's presence, our seed of faith grows and becomes spiritual vision, the light of Our Father's dwelling within
us.
A Willing Heart
1. "Brother Lawrence noted that there was a great difference between the acts of the intellect and those of the will. Acts of the intellect were comparatively of little value. Acts of the will were all important."
In the beginning was the word, the thought, the idea, the concept, the complete plan; the very Mind, Heart, and Spirit of God. It ever was, is now, and ever shall be. Our Father sent His Son into human being with the message that all things shall pass away except the pure and perfect will and way of God. All came from God, belongs to God, and returns to God.
Of all God's creatures, He gave each of us a mind with the ability to think and reason and, in Brother Lawrence's words, "some more, some less." However, even the best of human minds have their blind spots of faulty thinking and reasoning. This is something of which Brother Lawrence was well aware both from personal experience and observation of others.
"People seek methods of learning to know God. Is it not much shorter and more direct to simply do everything for the love of Him?" This statement is not really a question, but a conclusion Brother Lawrence made as a result of the way God drew him into His presence. This way of love, the way of faith and willingness to trust ourselves completely to God's care, is a way that anyone can follow. Anyone, regardless of intellectual ability, can live in God's presence.
Brother Lawrence certainly does not dismiss the thinking and reasoning acts of the intellect. However, as a way of getting to know God, these acts are time consuming and unpredictable. As with everything else, our time is not our own. It belongs to God and we must use it wisely. Even our reasoning tells us, if there is a shorter and more direct way to know God, we must take it. Our Lord said, 'Follow Me'. We must trust and obey.
Brother Lawrence calls the will the mistress of all our faculties because it is in the will, not the intellect, where the power to choose resides. Perhaps it is also the seat of our arrogance and self-pride. God gave us free will and this ability to choose is often a snare.
It is very easy to trap ourselves in our own free will. We can become locked into a position, a stand, or an attitude that not only colors the intellect but affects all of our senses. For example, when we choose to be contrary just because we can and then make a habit of it, sooner or later, the heart hardens, whether we are aware of it or not. When we choose to question God's rules or demand an explanation from Him before we act, we become unfocused, confused, and rebellious.
Only an act of the will, a definite choice that comes from the heart, such as a 'Yes, Lord' or a silent 'Thank You, Father' can begin to open the door of communication with God. As soon as that door is open, we must ask Him to show us the truth. We must beg Him for a thorough cleansing of the heart. We must ask Him to change any of our offensive
attitudes and turn our self-will into His will.
Just as our positions, stands, and attitudes became habits as a result of acts of the will or choosing, so, too, we must turn our new acts of choosing God's will into habits. Once again, we cannot do this alone. It can only happen through our complete cooperation with God and 'Father, do with me as You will'.
One simple and sincere act of the will, one choice made to lift the heart to God, one resolution to put God first, pleases Him very much and brings His refreshment and renewal. With repetition comes the habit. With the habit comes a new way of life, God's way.
2. "You search the scriptures and think that in them you have eternal life. They testify of me. Yet you will not come to me for that life!"
These words of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, found in chapter five of The Gospel Book of John, are meant especially for those who focus on the acts of the intellect rather than the will, those who value the head more than the heart, those who 'think' but 'will' not.
How well the Son of God sees through us when we take the intellectual approach to Him but do not choose to go to Him humbly from the heart. He is asking, 'How can you believe you have eternal life when you find the words but do not heed them by opening your heart and coming to me? The words you find in scripture all point to me and say you will find eternal life in me. The words alone do not give eternal life. For eternal life, you must choose to follow me. Give yourself to Our Father and obey Him as I obey Him and you will share the
divine eternal life.'
The difference is between knowing what to do and being willing to do it. Brother Lawrence wrote: "We search in reasoning and in sciences, as in a poor copy. What we neglect to see is God's painting Himself in the depth of our soul." Through the practice of the presence of God we see that God is real and present in each and every moment.
With faith and a willing heart we realize the search for eternal life is over. When we become established in the practice of the presence of God, we have arrived. When we acquire what Brother Lawrence called 'the holy habit', we are where we belong. Through our conversation with God and walking with Him in faith, love, humility, and simplicity,
we daily experience the eternal life of His presence, because eternal life is in His holy presence.
3. "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." With these words Our Lord shared with those close to Him the personal and private way to pray to Our Father. The words, above all else, express a sincere desire that all be done God's way on the physical, material earth the same way all things are done in the larger spiritual, non-material heaven.
In a very personal way we affirm that, by doing God's will, the physical mirrors the spiritual. In a very personal way we offer a heart willing to be a reflection of His perfect spiritual presence, a little flame that projects the kingdom of heaven.
The only way we can do this is by surrendering our will and desires to God. We must be willing to give up our selfish and worldly ways for God's ways. We must be willing to give all for the All. Imperfect and unworthy as we are, our willingness and ready-heartedness leaves us open to God's working within, around, and even through us.
When we give all our attention to faith, humility, simplicity, and love; talk to God plainly and honestly, and live to please Him in everything, we become established in the holy habit of the practice of the presence of God. As a result we discover that in this way we do surrender. We also discover that in turning the will over to God, we lose
nothing of any lasting value.
In fact, through our choosing God's will in all things, we gain something we all greatly desire but can never obtain through our own will. Try as long and as hard as we might, it is only through habitually choosing God's will that we ever find real freedom, what Brother Lawrence called 'holy freedom.' By living according to God's will and way, we
find the true and lasting freedom of Our Father's love.
God Is Within
1. "Let us seek Him often by faith. He is within us. Seek Him not elsewhere." ... Brother Lawrence
Nothing this side of heaven comes close to the experience of our fully and finally realizing the true meaning of 'God is within'. Yet, the idea that God is within us, unless understood in a framework such as the practice of the presence of God, is one of the most individually confusing and generally misused concepts in the broad category called
modern spirituality.
Misuse and misunderstanding seem especially noticeable today, though we can easily trace the difficulties with 'God is within us' back to the time of Our Lord when Christ met with much resistance, especially from those of influence and authority.
One of the reasons for the personal confusion and general misuse of 'God is within us' in contemporary times has been the rapid growth and emphasis on instant access and immediate availability. Though many good things have come out of this trend, it has taken its toll on the godly virtue of patience. We want it now; we want it fast; and we want it
in three easy steps or less.
This, coupled with a blurring of the lines between the spiritual and material, where worldliness has spilled into and diluted all spirituality, has resulted in much misuse of the idea that God is within us. Yet, again, this is only a surface difference from what we read in The Gospel. In fact, most likely the chief reason for so much of today's
difficulty with understanding 'God is within' is simply the low value placed on The Gospel and just reading The Gospel.
In the book of Luke we read that, when the Pharisees demanded to know when the kingdom of God should come, Jesus answered, "The kingdom of God does not come by observation. No one will say, Look here! or, look there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you."
Few Pharisees, the authorities on religious correctness, behavior, and laws, were able to comprehend this in the least. This statement of Our Lord made about as much sense to them as did all His other references to and parables about the kingdom and the Father's presence.
The Pharisees were focused on form and outward appearance and the importance of their rightful need to assume authority and control over others. Any
idea that God and His kingdom might be within His individual human creatures was a stretch that the imagination of many of them was incapable of making and many others unwilling to make.
Yet, is that really any different from today? The Pharisees then were a distinct and highly visible group. Today, the distinctness and visibility are gone because The Pharisee, the attitude of The Pharisee, is commonplace. The leaven of the Pharisee, about which Our Lord warned His disciples, is worldliness. Worldliness sees self as the center of
all and values pride, status, power, and riches above all else. Through the leaven or yeast of worldliness, self expands and becomes so inflated that God has no place in His creature. Yet, whether we look back in history or look around us today, we need to look with compassion, because few of us, if any, could cast the first stone.
When we understand how this yeast spreads and poisons, we see that there is nothing harmless about engaging in even a little worldliness. We recognize that without a willingness to live according to God's will and way, the Pharisee within remains active and grows stronger. God will always give us courage, strength, and patience; lead us from
temptation; and deliver us from evil when we turn to Him.
When we resolve to cultivate a personal relationship through practicing God's presence; surrender our will to God's will and way; and learn to walk with Him through The Gospel way of love, faith, humility, and simplicity; we begin to discover the true God who dwells within. His presence is beyond compare!
2. "I say again, let us enter into ourselves. ... We must always work at it, because not to persevere in the spiritual life is to go back." ... Brother Lawrence
Referring to the practice of the presence of God, Brother Lawrence points out the obvious; yet what we may, from time to time, forget. Unless we persevere, persist, and continue our practice, we lose ground in the kingdom. We need to stay on the path we know to be the only path worth traveling. We need to remember that it is a path. This path
leads us ever closer to God, even when we think we cannot get any closer than our current place.
The work Brother Lawrence speaks of is not hard work and does not require much physical exertion. Nonetheless, like any habit, we can slip into an
unconscious mode where we might begin to take it for granted. This is especially a possibility in the early years, when we see the profound difference practicing God's presence has had on us. We may
wish to stay, spiritually, right where we are, without realizing, that the next small steps on the path will deepen and enhance our experience of God's holy presence. We must see every next step as
an opportunity to fortify God's dwelling place within us.
Yet, so sweet and delightful is the holy habit, that, once we become established in Our Father's presence, it is difficult to imagine going back to
anything other than the present moment. When love for God is our only motive, we welcome His continuing to refine us to His satisfaction. We continually ask for Our Father's refreshment and
renewal.
Another way of looking at Brother Lawrence's words is to consider the result of persisting. With God, when we persist, knock and keep knocking, He
answers us with His holy presence. In this sense, then, the result of persistence is attainment.
Once we have persisted and attained, or become established in the practice of the presence of God, we then need to be consistent in all we think, say,
and do. This, again, seems obvious; but there seems to be a quirk common to most of God's human creatures: we stop or slack off doing a thing only to later wonder why we ever stopped doing it!
While it seems highly unlikely that, once established in the practice of the presence of God, we would or could completely break the holy habit, not
one of us is completely free of laziness. We all have a tendency to get lax or complacent.
Unless we are consistent, which greatly pleases God and brings His support, we can lose bits and pieces of His kingdom and presence. Rather than erode
our holy ground through neglect or inattention, we must continuously ask Our Father to enliven our faith. When we do this we will see His generosity and the quickness of His response!
Brother Lawrence ended one of his letters with words that are a perfect summary: "I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments that
you may compare them with your own. May they serve to re-kindle them, if at any time they may be even a little cooled."
Little Things
1. "In the beginning of the spiritual life we ought to be faithful in doing our duty and denying ourselves and then, after a time, unspeakable pleasures follow." ... Brother Lawrence
What, in the beginning, we call doing our duty and denying ourselves, becomes, when we are established in the practice of the presence of God, a habit
of simple acts of love. When we have surrendered ourselves to God's will and ways; when we think, speak, and act to please God above everything else; and go about our days putting Him first in all we
do, we experience God's pleasures in a thousand ways!
The worldly view of 'duty' often prompts negative attitudes, because it implies that duty is something other than what we would do if left to our own
choice. This is the case for everything from day-to-day living to moral and religious training. We are conditioned to associate duty with something unpleasant and, sometimes, even something to be
avoided. Thus, the world offers an ever-growing array of convenience, time-saving, and work-saving devices and methods; and mountains of books and information on how to avoid doing just about
everything.
Be that as it may, in the practice of the presence of God, we come to Our Father with a great sack full of attitudes and, on faith alone, ask Him to
help us sort through this weighty sack and make changes and corrections according to His will and way. In our sack is our attitude about 'doing our duty', both spiritual and otherwise.
What better time is there for us, while we are learning to be honest with God, to examine our conscience in view of His commandments? Revisiting and
reviewing the original Ten Commandments becomes an eye-opening experience when we hold them up to the light of the Son of God's message. Jesus said that He did not come to earth to destroy the
commandments of old but to fulfill them. He was sent to complete and perfect them. Then Our Lord goes on to deliver Our Father's exact meaning and clears up a great deal of confusion and
misunderstanding.
The four books of The Gospel come to life for us in a new way. We have only to read chapters five through seven of the Book of Matthew to bring our
understanding of God's basic requirements of faith, love, humility, and simplicity into focus. Here, the Son points out the difference between the old way and the new way, which is Our Father's
purpose in sending His Son to us. Only through the words and example of the Son can we understand our duty to Our Father. It is this to which Brother Lawrence referred when he said that we ought to
be faithful in doing our duty.
In the practice of the presence of God, whether we have a crystal clear understanding of 'doing our duty' or not; whether our attitude is changed or
not; in faith, we sincerely set out on a path of discipline, obedience, and self-control. In the beginning it is far better to err on the side of being too strict with ourselves than too lenient.
2. "Do not always scrupulously confine yourself to certain rules or particular forms of devotion. Instead, act in faith with love and humility." ... Brother Lawrence
It is very easy for us to get caught up in details, lists, and rules. In fact, it is so natural to us that, if there are no specifics given, we make
them up! This is not necessarily a bad thing in itself. However, the minute our own rules become the priority, we are headed for trouble of our own making, because God, and not our self-made rules,
must be our primary focus.
Too often man-made rules are given a higher priority than God's rules. Sometimes the complexity of man-made rules nearly prevents living by God's
simple rules and often separates God's children from each other.
Even though the practice of the presence of God has been called 'the methodless method', by the very nature of continually conversing with God; walking
with Him in faith, simplicity, humility, and love; and making every effort not to offend God in our thoughts, words, and deeds; we build a reliance on Our Father's guiding us in all things. In this
way we come to understand that God's way and manner of simply doing our duty is the same for all His children.
If we keep in mind, as much as possible, that we are not alone, because Our Father is guiding us every step of the way; if we can commit ourselves to
the phrase of the heart, The Silent 'Thank You, Father;' it will not be long before we begin to experience the unspeakable pleasures referred to by Brother Lawrence. We will find the peace that
surpasses all understanding. We will begin to enjoy the benefit of obedience, holy freedom.
3. "This practice does not tire the body. It is, however, proper to deprive it sometimes, nay often, of many little pleasures which are innocent and lawful." ... Brother Lawrence
Acts of self-denial are important in order to overcome self-indulgence, that worldly idea that we should treat ourselves well and, in fact, have a
right to special care. 'After all', says the world, 'if we don't, who will?' 'How can we treat our neighbor well if we do not treat ourselves well?' Despite the fact that this is totally upside down,
when we hear it and see it constantly, we cannot help but start to believe it.
It is not until we begin to be really honest with Our Father that we realize the extent of our self-pride and self-righteousness. The way out of our
selfish ways and habits is by forming a new habit through the exercise of denying ourselves 'many little pleasures which are innocent and lawful.'
We usually think of 'little pleasures' as material things and this is a very broad category. As to what and when to deny ourselves these things, we
must look to Our Father for guidance. The things that may please Him for one of us to give up or deny, may offend Him for another. Sometimes it is more a matter of changing our attitude from
self-reward and self-indulgence to sincere and humble gratitude for a gift God chooses to bestow on us. However, if we know a thing to be pure self-reward or self-indulgence, we should not hesitate
to deny ourselves these foolish vanities.
There is another category where a habit of self-denial reaps major and multiple benefits. We may call this category 'self expression'. It includes the
non-material ways of indulging and pleasing ourselves by emphasizing our individuality over God's image and likeness. These are the ways we use to get recognition and attention.
Some of the things we can do to tame our self-serving desires include: refraining from making complaints, voicing criticism, rendering judgment,
offering opinions, and volunteering comments and observations; as well as avoiding emotional outbursts and self-righteous behavior. The effort we make to deny our selfish desires pleases God greatly
and goes a long way toward building a solid foundation in Our Father's presence and kingdom.
There is no point in going to extremes because good habits are only built in God's way and time. Step-by-step, little thing by little thing, He gently
guides us and we calmly and silently say, 'Thank You, Father.' Then, what in the beginning we call 'denying ourselves', becomes, when we are established in the holy habit of the practice of the
presence of God, a simple act of love.
4. Once upon a time there was a man traveling by camel across a great desert. Night fell. The darkness became thick and heavy. The desert night grew cold. The traveler became weary and
started to look for a place to take rest until morning.
After many miles of searching, he finally came to a small inn. He praised God and slid down from his camel. Just inside the door he found the innkeper
who had seen him approaching. Having but one bed left that night, the innkeper apologized for the poor accommodation he was able to offer him. The weary traveler said he was only too pleased to find
any warm place to sleep.
As he started for the stairs to the loft, the innkeper said, "Sir, I could not help but notice that you did not tie your camel?" The traveler hesitated
for a moment, then said, "I trust in God," and proceeded up the stairs.
In the morning, after paying the innkeper, the traveler went outside and, having looked everywhere, realized, indeed, that his camel was nowhere to be
found.
There is, of course, a very simple moral told at the end of this story: Trust in God and tie your camel!
However, there is much more we can learn from this tale. In addition to using the common sense God gave us, it is a story about listening to good
advice. There is a lesson about letting pride and selfishness get in the way of doing what we ought to do. This is also a tale about the need for good stewardship.
Most importantly, this story is a mighty lesson about faith and trusting God in little things. If the traveler had full faith, he would have trusted
God to give him just a little more strength for the few extra seconds it would take to do the prudent thing and tie his camel.
When Our Lord was in the wilderness being sorely tried by Satan, one of His retorts to the foul tempter was that we must never test God. When we dare
put Our Father to a test we place pride between ourself and God. This is a great offense and justly incurs His wrath. Any time we test God we automatically lose. We lose to the degree of the test
which may well be much more than a camel; it may be our very soul.
5. "We ought not grow tired of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." ... Brother Lawrence
What a different place is the presence and kingdom of God from the world! The world operates on pride, power, greed, and competition, generally
presented in respectable, often noble, clothing. Worldly ways, the common ways of mankind, seem inevitably to lead to an insatiable hunger for more and greater; and quantity, often at the expense of
quality.
It is difficult to imagine that anyone would not be attracted to the presence and kingdom of God if they could but get a glimpse of the difference.
Living in the world to glorify God and take pleasure in all His creation is absolutely delightful. Living to please God is so much easier and immensely more satisfying than living to gratify one's
self.
We have a Father who is Goodness beyond words and wants nothing more than for us to share in His Goodness. To serve a Master "who regards not the
greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed," is the holy freedom found plentifully in God's presence and kingdom and is rarely, if ever, found in the world.
Dear One, consider this: If God was not pleased with the little things, when we come to love Him deeply, we could easily become caught up in the same
'more and greater' trap of the ways of the world. Even the tiniest bit of faith tells us that this cannot be. Among the countless reasons God's kingdom is greater than the world is God's emphasis on
the small, pure, true, and simple.
Consider how difficult it would be for us to continually do great things without drawing attention to ourselves, especially when Our Father wants our
relationship with Him to be personal and private. If God requires great things of us, we must, of course, be willing to do them at all costs, but always aware that all praise belongs to Him.
With regard to both little things and great works, the Son of God not only taught but lived these words: "Let your light so shine that others see your
good works reflecting only your Father in heaven."
6. "I will always continue to act purely for the love of God. I shall have this good, at least, that until death, I have done all that is in me to love Him." ... Brother Lawrence
This is the essence of the holy habit of the practice of the presence of God. It is the simple secret to a happy life and a happy death. It is the way
to live a life of quiet joy and be peaceful and content.
Brother Lawrence acted purely for the love of God day by day for almost forty years. Even as he was dying, when asked about his final acts, he said he
was praising and loving God as he hoped to do through all eternity.
Dear One, if we can begin our day by asking God to guide us to do what is pleasing to Him and continue to stay close to Him, moment by moment, we will soon become God-contained. God will be always on our mind and in our heart. If at the end of each day, like Brother Lawrence, we can say, "I have done all that is in me to love Him," Our Father will bless us with His
peace and contentment.
This is why it pleases God when we read, reflect on, and then live The Gospel. God cares very much for our desire to learn and understand how to please Him. He cares very much, because The Gospel is the complete source for living the way He created each of us to live. The message of the Son is the direct word of Our Father. Jesus said, "If you know me, you know my Father also."
What a wonderful Father we have! He creates us out of love so we may reflect that same love back to Him. Instead of keeping us in the dark and having
to guess what might please Him, He sends His Son to leave, forever recorded, the complete guide for us. Then, as if that were not enough, He promises enlightenment through His presence and spirit to
anyone who sincerely desires to live according to The Gospel guide. He gives each of His children understanding sufficient for the day, little thing by little thing.
7. The Gospel has special significance for those who practice God's presence. As God's children of light, who are in the world but not of the world, Our Lord's special remarks made to
those close to Him are as meaningful today as they were when He spoke the words as they were given Him by Our Father. Those words are meant for us, here and now.
When we come to understand this through our daily communion with God, we begin to take Christ's words very personally. For example, as we prayerfully
read chapter fourteen of the Book of John, the words come alive in God's holy presence. No matter how many times we read the opening words, "Let not your heart be troubled," we immediately draw
closer to Him as we prepare to receive anew the gift of comfort and consolation God gives His children of light.
Each day and through all life's phases, in God's presence we are always peaceful and content. In the simple and quiet way of practicing the holy habit, in each little thing we do, our delight is to do all that is in us to love Him.
Take Comfort
"Comfort yourself with the Sovereign Physician of both soul and body... He is the Father of the afflicted and always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we can imagine... Comfort yourself with Him, and give thanks for all."
... Brother Lawrence
Dear One, take comfort. In God's presence, He is our strength and all the courage we ever need. He holds our hand, puts His arm around our shoulder, guides our steps, quiets our mind, orders our thoughts, and soothes our heart. Always, He wants to give us comfort. Always, He wants to nourish us from His fountain of grace. As we fix our inner gaze
on Him and speak a silent 'Thank You, Father', we take comfort.
Our Lord said: "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God. Believe in me also. In my Father's house there are many mansions. ...I will come again and receive you to myself so that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you will know, and you will know the way."
Take comfort. Through the practice of the presence of God, we fully experience Our Lord with us right here and right now. Jesus Christ, Our Lord, reveals to us Our Father's mansion within. Through the message of the Son of God we discover the way to Our Father. All we need to do is simply believe and He comforts us from His unlimited bounty of peace.
Then said Our Lord: "I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. ...Every branch that bears fruit, He prunes and purges so it may bring forth more fruit."
Dear One, take comfort. Our Loving Father cradles us in the palm of His gentle hand while He trims and cleanses us so we may reflect more of Him. As a little branch, we relax as we call to mind the perfect love expressed in His will and way. In simple faith we give thanks for all.
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