Practicing the Presence of God

Happy Sunday. Since I retired a few years back, I've had more time to pursue one of my hobbies. I love to play the guitar. I used to be somewhat proficient, and now that I have time to practice, I'm getting back there.

We've all heard that practice makes perfect. The great violinist Yasha Heifetz said, "If I don't practice one day, I know. Two days, the critics know. Three days, the public knows." Practice is important. Former Indiana Hoosier basketball coach Bobby Knight said, "The key is not the will to win. Everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." Practice is that important.

Today we're going to talk about practice: practicing the presence of God. Can you think of anything more important in your life? I've been rereading a little book entitled Practicing the Presence of God. It's a small book about a monk called Brother Lawrence.

He was born in France in 1610. His name was Nicholas Herman. He was seriously injured in the 30-year War. He was crippled and in chronic pain until his death in 1691. Sometimes in his 30s he entered a newly established Monastery in Paris.

He became the cook and dishwasher, and after 15 years there he shifted to the Sandal repair shop. After his death, Joseph de Beaufort published letters and writings of Brother Lawrence into the little book Practicing the Presence of God. Brother Lawrence maintained that we should continually communicate with God. He felt that it was silly to think that times of prayer should be different from any other time. He wanted a constant connection.

Brother Lawrence took literally the words from First Thessalonians 5:17, "Pray without ceasing." He based his life on this. He called prayer a holy habit. He practiced a lot.

He also loved John 15:4 and 5, where Jesus said, "Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself and let it abides in Divine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can't do nothing. Apart from me you can do nothing." Meant a lot to Brother Lawrence, and so he thought he never wanted to be apart. So he practiced saying connected to God. He wanted to always be aware of his presence, always.

As you likely know, that has its challenges. And what leather letter Brother Lawrence wrote to a friend, he said, "You are not the only one who's troubled with wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely wandering." Brother Lawrence's friend had asked a question about, you know, "When I'm praying, my mind wanders." I can relate, can't you?

One minute you're praying, and the next minute you're wondering what's for dinner, and where your keys are, and what the calendar looks like ahead, and when that show was over, and what that movie really mean, and your mind wanders. Brother Lawrence advised his friend whose mind wandered. He said, "I believe one remedy for this is to humbly confess our faults and beg God's mercy and help." Humbly confess our faults and beg God's mercy and help. That's great advice.

We must realize that God wants always to be close to us. He wants to help. If it is our desire, he will help us. James 4:8 promises. It says this: "Draw close to God, and God will draw close to you." Period.

Told you before that I believe that the devil's biggest weapon against us is distraction. It could take on many forms. Cell phones and tablets and televisions and radios did not exist when Brother Lawrence spoke of a Wandering mind. It's tough to focus then, and really now. We must practice if we are to always stay connected to God.

I had a habit once upon a time. When I got into my vehicle, I would turn on the radio, and usually it was talk radio. I knew that driving was a time when I could pray, but the radio was there calling me to distraction. You know what I did? I took the knob off the radio and put it in the glove box. That's how I handled it, so I would pray.

Ing without ceasing requires effort. Psalms 46:10 tells us, "Be still, and know that I am God." Here's my question about that: can we be surrounded by Distraction and at the same time be still and know? The answer is yes. You must practice, and that's what I'll encourage you to do.

I saved a story from the news when we lived in Indiana. The story was from Cincinnati, Ohio. The police were looking for a suspect in an armed Robbie robbery. He was 20 years old. They said that he would be easy to identify by a tattoo on his neck.

On his neck were the words "Thank God for my blessings." "Thank God for my blessings," and he was wanted for armed robbery. I would have liked to have talked with that young man. He didn't stay connected. He didn't practice God's present presence, and when we don't, Trouble Comes.

May God bless you today as you practice his presence. Pray with me. Lord, I think about that Christmas song: "Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by me forever and love me, I pray." That's a good prayer for us on this summer day.

Be close to us. Let us be keenly aware. Let us be connected. You're the vine, we're the branches. Help us to pray without ceasing. We all need that practice so we can perform like champions. In Jesus' name, amen.

Thanks for joining me today.