SWEETLY divine in the most human of
ways — the writings of Brother Lawrence (1614–1691). Such do these writings
occur as direct from the courts of God that a reader will readily be caught up in
a firestorm of much delight for learning The
Practice of the Presence of God.
“God often permits that we should suffer a
little in order to purify our souls and oblige us to continue with Him… Take
courage, offer Him your pains incessantly, and pray to Him for strength to
endure them.”
Oh divine
plot that resonates within,
That sense
within that we’re in a spin,
Help me,
Lord, to now attain,
Knowledge
of how wonderful
It’s to lose to gain.
“Often permits…” as in the Joban account, God does not bring
this suffering about, but the evil that wishes to test our righteousness (that
we say we have in Jesus’ name) is given scope to test, because God has faith in
us; in our ability to overcome through the power in his name. And because this
is how God thwarts the enemy; the Lord knows we only grow in patiently enduring
the cauldron in making of us a crucible.
“Suffer a little…” as compared with the Christ man; that man
suffered more than we could ever contemplate in truth or more fully imagine.
Our suffering seems so much for us, and God knows it is; that it tips us over
into dependence on him, if our pride can be capitulated. Pride is the biggest
problem in suffering, for suffering in humility is the bridge to growth.
“To purify our souls…” for further allegiance to, and going on with,
God. Here is a transaction for you: consider purity of heart as a direct
correlation to the practice of the Presence of God. We cannot come very close
to God, in the reality of his Spirit, if we haven’t been daily cleansed and
renewed. The great test of purity of soul is to see the truth; as Brother
Lawrence puts is, “I would willingly ask of God a part of your sufferings, but
that I know my weakness — which is so great that if He left me one moment to
myself, I should be the most wretched man alive.”
Purity of heart is
to know our weakness, and our propensity of harm without God.
It’s a most
paradoxical value. When we think of ourselves least, where God is most, and all
others are most worthy of our love, we’re blessed with purity of heart.
“Continue with Him…” into the glory of his Presence, more and more.
Brother Lawrence wants to testify to the fact of his faith: he can no longer be
in any ways lost, for his faith is indelible to the truth: God is good, and he
never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Even when life is
horrible, there is much cause for joy. And only the one and only true God — through
Jesus Christ — can do that in our hearts.
Experience it
once, believe it to be true of our experience, and we see it ever more.
We cannot let go
of him who has sought us and bought us and wrought us.
“Take courage… and pray” for this is our duty night and day. God will
not fail to show us his shimmering esteem when we truly give our all to him in
prayer.
© 2015 Steve Wickham.
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