Brother Lawrence 
The Practice of the Presence of God and The Spiritual Maxims 

Spirituality meets philosophy in the Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection collection ‘The Practice of the Presence of God and the Spiritual Maxims.’ This challenging yet fruitful read describes Brother Lawrence’s philosophy that a relationship with God is more important than the service and work done in God’s name. Through a series of letters to nuns and other monks, he states that people become caught up in trying to prove their worth to God. According to Brother Lawrence, people should instead focus on knowing God’s love. He attests that this love was the strongest experience in the Carmelite monk’s life. While ‘The Practice of the Presence of God’ is a short read, it makes up in theology what it lacks in length. Audiences read through Brother Lawrence’s text multiple times because of his rich, complex, and uplifting ideas. His spiritual conversion in his early 20’s, followed by his astounding religious insight as a monk, provides readers with thought-provoking ideas. He encourages them to question their own lives and see if they truly have a relationship with God. ‘The Spiritual Maxims’ also details Brother Lawrence’s philosophy about God’s presence in daily life. These short but thoughtful texts can be read throughout the day for an inspirational boost. ‘The Practice of the Presence of God and the Spiritual Maxims’ is no doubt a book that has changed many Christians’ lives and is a must-read for anyone seeking spiritual or philosophical growth.