“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. Those only can comprehend it who practise and experience it; yet I do not advise you to do it from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this exercise; but let us do it from a principle of love, and because God would have us.”– Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
Have you ever had a phone conversation with someone you hardly realized you were speaking for hours? Have you ever spent a day with a dear friend feeling at the end of it that the time you spent together was too short?
If we can have such thoughts and feelings with other people, could it be that we could also feel something similar when we are in God’s presence?
And if we could practice sensing the presence of God each day, wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to talk with Him during the day?
We can talk with Him in the morning as we prepare ourselves for the day’s tasks. We can talk with Him as we go about our duties. We can talk with Him when we’re having our meals. We can talk with Him before we go to sleep.
He is our dear Friend, the One who loves us and watches over us. May we find the time today to have these sweet conversations with Him as we bask in the light of His Presence.
“Wherever I go, God is with me in my poor heart. That’s the little house where I dwell; it’s my heaven here on earth. I live with God; and despite being on walks, we converse with each other without anyone being able to surprise us or interrupt us. If you knew Him enough, you would love Him. If you were with Him for one hour, you’d know just what heaven on earth is.” -St. Teresa of the Andes (letter 40)
“It is not necessary for being with God to be always at church. We may make an oratory of our heart wherein to retire from time to time to converse with Him in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar conversation with God, some more, some less. He knows what we can do. Let us begin, then. Perhaps He expects but one generous resolution on our part.”– Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God
The thing about hope is that it’s a positive force that shines the most when it’s dark. When everything’s going well, we hardly notice it’s there. But when things go against us, when our dreams fade and when we see no immediate reprieve from our troubles, that’s when hope does its best work for us.
"Where Hope Can Be Found"