OzThoughts - Thursday, 23rd April, 2009.

OzThoughts - Thursday, 23rd April, 2009.

Yesterday, we thought about “the time of worship” and concluded with the prayer in the Song:

Fill thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor e'en the praising heart
I ask, but for a life made up
Of praise in every part!

Today, as we continue meditating on the remained of Psalm 34, I am reminded of the 17th century monk , Brother Lawrence, who practised the presence of God in all things, and at all times. He wrote:

"I make it my business to rest in His holy presence," he said, "which I keep myself in by a habitual, silent, and secret conversation with God. This often causes in me joys and raptures inwardly, and sometimes also outwardly, so great that I am forced to use means to moderate them, and prevent their appearance to others."

“The time of business does not differ from the time of prayer; And in the noise and chatter of my kitchen while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great a tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”
( Brother Lawrence, The Practice of the Presence of God.
[ You can read selections from Brother Lawrence's The Practice of the Presence of God here: http://www.spiritsite.com/writing/brolaw/index.shtml ].

So it is through that constant communion with the Holy Spirit that our life comes into line with what God requires of us. Brother Lawrence actually referred to that constant communion as “Practicing the Presence of God.” What a challenge and example Brother Lawrence gives when he says that he stated he felt as close to God doing the chores of the kitchen, and the garden and in the marketplace as he did in the holiest moment of the Lord’s Supper. That’s the type of communion God makes himself available to us for.


Psalm 34:11-22 (The Message)

11 Come, children, listen closely;
I'll give you a lesson in God worship.

12 Who out there has a lust for life?
Can't wait each day to come upon beauty?

13 Guard your tongue from profanity,
and no more lying through your teeth.

14 Turn your back on sin; do something good.
Embrace peace—don't let it get away!

15 God keeps an eye on his friends,
his ears pick up every moan and groan.

16 God won't put up with rebels;
he'll cull them from the pack.

17 Is anyone crying for help? God is listening,
ready to rescue you.

18 If your heart is broken, you'll find God right there;
if you're kicked in the gut, he'll help you catch your breath.

19 Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time.

20 He's your bodyguard, shielding every bone;
not even a finger gets broken.

21 The wicked commit slow suicide;
they waste their lives hating the good.

22 God pays for each slave's freedom;
no one who runs to him loses out.

Listen: Tune: - Melcombe: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_981.mp3 ]

New every morning is the love
Our wakening and uprising prove,
Through sleep and darkness safely brought,
Restored to life and power and thought.

If on our daily course our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still of countless price
God will provide for sacrifice.

Old friends, old scenes, will lovelier be
As more of Heaven in each we see;
Some softening gleam of love and prayer
Shall dawn on every cross and care.

The trivial round, the common task,
Will furnish all we ought to ask;
Room to deny ourselves, a road
To bring us daily nearer God.

Only, O Lord, in thy great love,
Fit us for perfect rest above;
And help us, this and every day,
To live more nearly as we pray.
Author: John Keble (1792-1866)
The Salvation Army Song Number: 668


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