Quotes from Brother Lawrence

Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God. Perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity.

The most holy and important practice in the spiritual life is the presence of God - that is, every moment to take great pleasure that God is with you

Men invent means and methods of coming at God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?

I did not pray for any relief, but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility and love.

The end we ought to propose to ourselves is to become, in this life, the most perfect worshipers of God we can possibly be, as we hope to be through all eternity.

Emptiness is that which frees us from religiosity and leads us to true spirituality.

And it is not necessary to have great things to do. I turn my little omelette in the pan for the love of God.

In order to know God, we must often think of Him; and when we come to love Him, we shall then also think of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.

Love sweetens pain; and when one loves God, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage.

We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king.

That we ought, once for all, heartily to put our whole trust in GOD, and make a total surrender of ourselves to Him, secure that He would not deceive us.

To worship God in truth is to recognize Him for being who He is, and to recognize ourselves for what we are.

It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.

Many do not advance in Christian progress because they stick in penances and particular exercises, while they neglect the love of God, which is the end.

That there needed neither art nor science for going to GOD, but only a heart resolutely determined to apply itself to nothing but Him, or for His sake, and to love Him only.

We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.

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 practice and experience it.

Do not be discouraged by the resistance you will encounter from your human nature; you must go against your human inclinations. Often, in the beginning, you will think that you are wasting time, but you must go on, be determined and persevere in it until death, despite all the difficulties.

I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the presence of GOD. For my part I keep myself retired with Him in the depth of centre of my soul as much as I can; and while I am so with Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable.

Let us think often that our only business in this life is to please God. Perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity.

That we should establish ourselves in a sense of GOD's Presence, by continually conversing with Him. That it was a shameful thing to quit His conversation, to think of trifles and fooleries.

Think often on God, by day, by night, in your business and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave him not alone.

That all things are possible to him who believes, that they are less difficult to him who hopes, they are more easy to him who loves, and still more easy to him who perseveres in the practice of these three virtues.

We should fix ourselves firmly in the presence of God by conversing all the time with Him...we should feed our soul with a lofty conception of God and from that derive great joy in being his. We should put life in our faith. We should give ourselves utterly to God in pure abandonment, in temporal and spiritual matters alike, and find contentment in the doing of His will,whether he takes us through sufferings or consolations.