The Practice of the Presence of God
Brother Lawrence and the Art of Finding God in the Kitchen
The Practice of the Presence of God is both a book and a spiritual method associated with Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (1614–1691), a Carmelite lay brother who spent most of his religious life working in the monastery kitchen. His simple practice—maintaining continuous awareness of God's presence amid ordinary activities—has influenced millions of Christians seeking contemplation without leaving daily life.
The Life of Brother Lawrence
Nicholas Herman was born around 1614 in Lorraine, France. As a young soldier, he had a profound experience while looking at a tree in winter. Seeing the bare branches waiting for spring, he was struck by God's providence and power. This simple insight planted a seed that would flower into a lifetime of mystical union.
After being wounded in the Thirty Years' War and working briefly as a footman, Nicholas entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris around 1640. As a lay brother (not a priest), he was assigned to the kitchen—a role he kept for most of his religious life.
Brother Lawrence, as he was called, initially disliked kitchen work. Yet over time, this very dislike became his path to God. He learned to do everything—washing dishes, preparing meals, scrubbing pots—as an act of love for God. The kitchen became his chapel.
"The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament."— Brother Lawrence
The Practice Explained
Brother Lawrence's method is disarmingly simple: maintain a habitual, loving awareness of God's presence in everything you do. Not just during prayer times, but while working, eating, walking, resting—always.
1. Constant Conversation
Talk to God throughout the day—not formal prayers necessarily, but simple conversation. "Lord, here I am, all Yours." "Help me do this well for Your sake." "Thank You for this moment."
2. Every Action for God
Before each task, briefly offer it to God. The most menial work—washing a pot, answering an email, changing a diaper—becomes sacred when done for love of God.
3. Gentle Return
When you notice your mind has wandered from God, gently return. No self-condemnation. No elaborate effort. Just turn back to God as naturally as breathing.
4. Love, Not Effort
The practice is sustained by love, not willpower. Brother Lawrence emphasized that forced attention exhausts; loving attention energizes. Start with desire, and the capacity grows.
5. Faith Over Feeling
Don't depend on feeling God's presence. Act in faith that He is present whether you feel it or not. The feeling may come later—or may not. It doesn't matter.
Brother Lawrence's summary: "We must do all things for the love of God, renouncing all else. We need to realize that God is infinitely nearer to us than we imagine. His presence is everywhere."
The Book
Brother Lawrence never wrote a book. The Practice of the Presence of God was compiled after his death from four sources:
Conversations
Four conversations with Abbé Joseph de Beaufort, who visited Brother Lawrence and recorded his teachings.
Letters
Fifteen letters Brother Lawrence wrote to various correspondents seeking spiritual guidance.
Spiritual Maxims
Brief principles distilled from his teaching.
Character Portrait
A description of Brother Lawrence's life and virtues by those who knew him.
The book is very short—it can be read in an hour. But its influence has been immense. Protestant and Catholic, Orthodox and Evangelical, have all found wisdom in this humble kitchen monk.
Key Teachings
God Is Already Present
We don't need to seek God in special places or times. He is already here—closer to us than we are to ourselves. The practice is simply becoming aware of what is already true.
No Sacred/Secular Divide
Brother Lawrence saw no difference between formal prayer and kitchen work. Both can be equally holy, equally close to God. The division is in our minds, not in reality.
Habit Forms Through Faithfulness
At first, the practice requires constant effort. But over time—Brother Lawrence said about ten years for him—it becomes as natural as breathing. The habit grows by patient repetition.
Suffering Transformed
Even suffering can be offered to God and united with His presence. Brother Lawrence endured painful gout but maintained interior peace, turning each pain into an occasion of love.
Simplicity, Not Complexity
Brother Lawrence distrusted complicated methods. "We make prayer too difficult," he said. Simple, loving attention is enough. God does not need our elaborate systems.
"We ought not to be weary 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
How to Begin the Practice
Brother Lawrence's practice requires no special training or equipment. Here is how to begin:
- Start your day with a brief offering. Before getting out of bed or as you rise, acknowledge God's presence and offer the day to Him.
- Before each task, pause briefly. Just a second or two: "Lord, I do this for You." Then begin.
- During the task, return gently. When you notice your mind has wandered, simply return to awareness of God. No self-condemnation.
- Use simple phrases. "Lord, I love You." "Help me, Lord." "Thank You." Keep it simple.
- At day's end, review briefly. How often did you remember God today? Thank Him for those moments. Ask for growth tomorrow.
- Be patient. Brother Lawrence said it took him ten years to form the habit. Expect slow progress. Persist anyway.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Straining too hard. This is love, not effort. Let it be gentle.
- Condemning yourself when you forget. Just return. The returning is the practice.
- Expecting immediate results. Habit forms slowly. Be patient with yourself.
- Making it complicated. Brother Lawrence's genius is simplicity. Keep it simple.
Connection to Carmelite Spirituality
Brother Lawrence was a Discalced Carmelite—part of the reform founded by Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross. His practice connects deeply with Carmelite themes:
Teresa's Mental Prayer
Teresa defined mental prayer as friendship with God—being with Him who loves us. Brother Lawrence's practice is this friendship extended to every moment.
John's Loving Knowledge
John of the Cross taught that contemplation is "loving knowledge." Brother Lawrence's practice is loving attention—simple, wordless, sustained.
Carmelite Simplicity
The Carmelite tradition emphasizes that love matters more than method. Brother Lawrence embodies this perfectly.
Contemplation in Action
Like Teresa's seventh mansion where Martha and Mary work together, Brother Lawrence shows that contemplation and action can be unified.
Brother Lawrence makes Carmelite spirituality accessible. Not everyone can spend hours in formal prayer. Everyone can turn their work into prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this practice compatible with my tradition?
Yes. The Practice of the Presence of God has been embraced by Catholics, Orthodox, Protestants, and Evangelicals. Its simplicity transcends denominational boundaries. It is essentially the biblical command to "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17) made practical.
How is this different from mindfulness meditation?
Secular mindfulness cultivates awareness of the present moment. Brother Lawrence's practice cultivates awareness of God's presence in the present moment. The content of attention is different—God Himself, not just the moment.
What if I work in a demanding job that requires full concentration?
Brother Lawrence's kitchen was demanding too—multiple people calling for different things simultaneously. The practice becomes the background, not the foreground. You offer the work to God, then focus on the work itself. The offering sanctifies it.
Does this replace regular prayer times?
No. Brother Lawrence maintained the Carmelite practice of regular prayer times. The practice of presence extends prayer into daily life; it does not replace dedicated prayer times. Both are needed.
Continue Exploring
- Mental Prayer — The Carmelite foundation Brother Lawrence built upon.
- St. Teresa of Avila — Founder of the Discalced Carmelites.
- St. Thérèse of Lisieux — Another Carmelite who found holiness in small things.
- Contemplation in Action — Integrating prayer and daily life.