Let us begin this letter by imagining a situation in your context. Suppose you have got an opportunity to live with God. He is always with you—sometimes He is playing with you, sometimes eating with you, sometimes doing household chores for you. Do you think this is merely a wishful thinking? No, such things have actually happened in lives of devotees of God. We say with certainty that such things can materialize in your lives also if you know how to live with God while living in this world.
Living with God is living in the presence of God. Brother Lawrence of the seventeenth century France, a humble Christian devotee, always lived in the presence of God. In the later part of his life he was a cook in a monastery. In the book entitled 'The Practice of the Presence of God' he says, "In the noise and the clatter of the kitchen when several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament."
Brother Lawrence has given many hints about how to live in the presence of God. We are mentioning below a few of them for you in a simple language.
—Pray to God everyday at the appointed hour of prayer. Think that God is actually present before you while you are praying. Talk to him mentally while you pray. (Prayer is your dialogue with God.)
—Pray to God through your prayers at the time of prayer. Pray to God through your actions when you are engaged in them.
—Never forget that you are a lover of God and He is the most precious object of your love. Think that you are doing your works for Him at His bidding. Be happy to carry out the orders of the One whom you love the most. Work to express your love of Him.
—Before taking up any task, or when you are engaged in it or when you have performed it, say with all your heart to God, "I am wholly yours. I love you. Truly I love you."
—Perform your actions with prayers for God's grace. Pray to Him by saying, "Be with me in my work and dwell within my heart."
—Even when you are doing such works which are very personal in nature (like having a bath, eating food, going on a road, reading books), you should not be forgetful of God. You should keep praying to Him.
—The time of prayer is not different from any other time. Every moment is the time of prayer.
—When you fail to do a work which you should do or when you commit a mistake while doing a work, say to God, "Just don't leave me to myself. Give me strength to overcome this situation."
—Preserve your God-mindedness (remembrance of God) at any cost. Leave no stone unturned to let the current of God-mindedness flow uninterruptedly.
Brother Lawrence has assured us that by the practice of living in the presence of God one can have 'unclouded vision of God'. God never denies this gift to those who persevere to be blessed with it.
Dear children, can there be any joy greater than the joy of living in the presence of God? Can there by any person more fortunate than the one living in the presence of God?
May you never be forgetful of God! May you be blessed with the vision of God! May this vision culminate in your intimate relationship with God!
We will be happy to know what you think about the contents of this letter.
With all love and Om,
Yours affectionately,
The Divine Life Society Headquarters
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