God Is With Us, Experiencing God’s Presence

Christmas is a special day when the world reflects on the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son, born as a human child. This event is a powerful reminder that Jesus, who is Immanuel—meaning “God with us”—came to be present with us in a way we can understand. Yet, for many, even those who have grown up in church or read the Bible, it can be difficult to feel a deep, personal connection with God. After all, we are told that our relationship with God is built on spiritual connection. But what does that even mean? How can we relate to someone we cannot see, touch, or hear?
One of the most profound testimonies on how to connect with God comes from a 17th-century French monk named Brother Lawrence. A lay brother of the Carmelite Order, Brother Lawrence’s primary duties were simple—cooking, cleaning, and washing dishes. Yet, through his everyday tasks, he discovered a powerful way to experience God’s presence. His writings, compiled in a book called Practicing the Presence of God, have influenced countless people in their spiritual journeys.

Brother Lawrence’s teachings are not complicated theological concepts but simple, practical disciplines that anyone can adopt to experience God’s presence in the everyday moments of life.
1. Constant Awareness of God
The foundation of Brother Lawrence’s approach is maintaining a constant awareness of God’s presence. He believed that no matter what we are doing—whether it’s working, eating, or walking—we can cultivate this awareness. In his view, God is with us in all moments, not just during formal prayer or church services. By practicing this awareness, we enter into perpetual communion with God.
2. Simple Prayer and Conversation with God
For Brother Lawrence, prayer wasn’t confined to church or specific times of the day. Instead, he advocated for short, simple prayers that could be repeated throughout our daily tasks. This turns every activity into an opportunity to converse with God. Whether washing dishes or walking through the store, we can speak to God as we would to a close friend.
3. The Importance of Love and Humility
Brother Lawrence emphasized that love for God should be at the core of everything we do. It’s not about doing tasks well to impress others or to check them off a list, but about doing them as an act of love for God. Humility and sincerity are essential in this practice. Through humble service and loving actions, we recognize God in every moment and every person around us.
4. Faith in God’s Presence
One of the most powerful teachings of Brother Lawrence is the faith that God is always present, even when we don’t feel it. Often, we wait for a physical sensation to prove God’s nearness, but Brother Lawrence encourages us to trust that God’s presence is constant. Simply acknowledging that God is with us—whether in the car, at work, or folding laundry—can allow us to experience His presence.
5. Transforming Ordinary Life
One of the most inspiring lessons from Brother Lawrence is that God is present in all of life, regardless of our job or position. He believed that you can experience God while doing something as ordinary as washing dishes just as much as when you are in church. The key is remembering that God is always with us, and this awareness transforms even the simplest tasks into holy moments.

As a child, I often struggled with feeling disconnected from God, despite my upbringing in church and my attempts to pray. But Brother Lawrence’s teachings helped me understand how to practically cultivate a deeper connection with God. It seemed so simple, yet the impact was profound. As it says in Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
This Christmas, if you find yourself yearning for a deeper connection with God, I encourage you to try Brother Lawrence’s approach. By reminding yourself that God is always with you—right now, in this moment—you’ll begin to experience the reality of His presence. Jesus Himself said that those who believe without seeing are blessed (John 20:29). He knows how difficult it is for us to relate to Him through our spirits, but if we simply exercise the faith He has given us, He will meet us where we are.

Merry Christmas, and may you experience the reality of Immanuel—God with us—in every moment