Practicing the Presence of the Living God

Book excerpt: This book, Practicing the Presence of the Living God, intends to be a guide for a spiritual journey. It can be used in a retreat center, at home, or at work when you are able to secure a few moments of quiet solitude and silence. It is structured around seven days - the number of days normally used for a spiritual retreat. However, the seven days can be reduced to a weekend if this is all the time you can afford. It can also be spread to a much longer time if your circumstances do not allow you to have this amount of hours at the same time. All that you need is your total self. God is totally present to you and you should be totally present to God also. It is based on Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection's little book, The Practice of the Presence of God. The content of Brother Lawrence's book encompasses a lifelong application that is life-changing. Its message is transformative in its utmost clarity and simplicity because it reveals the heart and soul of everyone's life purpose and work - to live joyfully in the presence of God no matter what our circumstances are. In his book, Brother Lawrence reveals a very ordinary life that most of us would not really desire and yet as he fulfilled his everyday duties in the midst of the most mundane and tedious tasks, he learned to live the happiest and most rewarding life. With his gracious humility, "he thought...only of doing little things for the love of God since he was not capable of doing great things." Indeed, he modeled a life lived in the glory of God's love, peace, and joy. No wonder his book was called a "little spiritual classic," a "devotional masterpiece," an "unparalleled classic," and a book "relevant and timeless." Jean Maalouf in his thorough knowledge of Brother Lawrence's teachings becomes an exceptional guide for a retreat with Brother Lawrence. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Jean Maalouf has two doctorates from Paris-Sorbonne University and L'Institut Catholique de Paris. He is the author and editor of more than twenty-five books that include the bestseller, Experiencing Jesus with Mother Teresa and the three books on prayer: The Healing Power of Prayer, I Can Tell God Anything: Living Prayer and Bold Prayers from the Heart. He also wrote numerous articles on spiritual, educational, psychological, philosophical, cultural, and social issues, as well as contributed to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought, Social Science, and Social Policy. He is a member of several associations that include the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, the American Academy of Religion, the Society of Christian Philosophers, and Contemplative Outreach: Centering Prayer.