Read: Jeremiah 19:1-21:14, 1Thessalonians 5:4-28, Psalm 82:1-8, Proverbs 25:9-10
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Relate: One of the most life changing books I’ve ever read is a book that took me maybe an hour, cover to cover. Now, I’ve read lots of books. Some of them are really good. Some of them are really popular books that I personally thought were terrible (Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter, etc). Outside the Bible, though, I think the greatest book I’ve ever read was actually the collected sayings of an illiterate monk who died more than 300 years ago. If you’ve never read it, you can grab a free kindle version or a paperback for less than $5 here.
The book is about Brother Lawrence, born Nicolas Herman, a laymen in a Carmelite monastery. For 53 years of his life he never left the monastery as he worked as a cook and, later, as a shoe repairmen. What made him famous was that he did his best to make his life such that every action, every thought, every task was an act of prayer. Think about it: this man was a cook for ascetics and a shoe repairmen for an order of barefoot monks. He couldn’t read and write and never got a promotion in over 50 years of faithful service. Yet he was visited by Archbishops, Dukes and Barons. His thoughts and testimony has been printed in dozens of languages in millions of copies and has influenced the lives of men like Wesley and Tozer.
React: I used to equate my godliness with how much time I spent in prayer. I’d read about men like Praying Hyde and comments Luther made on prayer and made it my goal to spend 3 hours every morning in prayer. Those days I did it, I was only doing my duty, those days I didn’t… I was living in guilt. This book was huge in changing my mindset. It wasn’t just about how much time I spent on my knees. It was also about how I spent my time once I got off them. Brother Lawrence said there was no difference for him between his time in the kitchen and his time in the chapel. Every moment, every act, he would strive to live in the presence of the Father. That is what a life of prayer is about. That is what Paul means when he says, “Always be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants for you.”
Respond:
Dear God, help me to live in Your presence. Help my every thought to be one pleasing to You. Help every action be one of praise to You. Help me to be aware that my every moment can be spent in communion with You. As I go from this place, go with me.
THE RIVER WALK 
Great post, man. I’m glad this is the first post of your’s I read. I have been trying to get people to see that you can get so much more done by a selfless walk, focused on others.
“thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants for you” just what I needed.
Reblogged this on thedreamyactiveinertbrain and commented:
PRAY- –to pray and keep on praying is the best way and a powerful weapon to bear the weight of your loads (worries, anxieties, )…and a constant communication to GOD, the Father, the helper, the healer, the adviser…. my best friend. In HIS presence is fullness of joy.
JESUS, lover of my soul…
JESUS, I will never let you go…
“Every moment, every act, he would strive to live in the presence of the Father.”
Plenty of room for guilt there, too, I suppose – but this is part of what Salvationists mean by “sacramental living”. If we live every moment in God’s presence – then we will also be a sign to the World of who God is and what he has done in Christ. By the grace of God …
Blessings on you.
Being thankful in ALL circumstances proves to be tough – but when we reckon that ALL things work together for the good for those who love God… it does become a little easier and make perfect sense 🙂
So true!
“Take it as an offering,” “More than words..” Thank you for sharing this encouraging post and that song!
I read that book years ago and read it periodically. F Scott Peck, in one of his books, also talks about how as he matured as a Christian, he found himself praying less and meditating more. For myself, I would say there is no “beginning or ending” to my praying. I do a lot more reading and reflecting these days and then try to act on what I’ve learned. Somedays when my life is so hectic, my life IS my prayer. It is so true that it’s what we do when we get off our knees says the most about us and our relationship with God.
My blog “depressionsgift” often addresses prayer and the importance of prayer in managing depression. But I would say that depression responds just as well to our response to our prayers, meaning we can’t just pray about our depression, we have to do our part in sending it on its way.
Anyway, God bless.
Reblogged this on A Christian Warrior and commented:
Every moment, every act, he would strive to live in the presence of the Father. Father help me to live this way as well
Very much the life of Jesus. While He took time alone to pray, it was easy to see that every step of His was about doing His Father’s Will. Would that as typing this, stuck in traffic, teaching a course, deciding which book to read, my mind, body and spirit was focused on Jesus and His path for my life. Thanks for posting and prayers for blessings. Doug
Reblogged this on Gab & Graffiti and commented:
Transformation Tune brought to you by Sanctus Real on The River Walk. Get alone with /god and just talk to him. Don’t hold back either.
Pingback: Reminder to Never Stop Praying | itsawonderfilledlife