Practicing the Presence of God: a lifestyle and an art

Today I will be blogging about the Practice of the Presence of God or some have called it "Abiding."  It is a very simple task you see.
 It is done by simply conversing or talking to God throughout the day.  In the Practice in the Presence of God foreword by Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, Brother Lawrence says in his spiritual maxims that by 'practicing in the presence of God' we are worshiping him in spirit and truth.  It is also a daily adoration of God in all things.
It is also a reminder that he is with his throughout our days.  This daily practice helps center our lives on God says Brother Lawrence.  It gives our souls an inward focus on only him and him alone.
Monsier L'Abbe' Joseph de Beaufort Grand Vicar of Cardinal Noailles observed that Brother Lawrence whether he was walking, working, conversing, resting, or reading he continued to pray. He called the Practice in the Presence of God the shortest road to Christian perfection,the very form and life of virtue, and the a great protection against sin.
 "Abiding," in God as we discussed in the study this summer at Dicipleship Focus, is also a practice that is very similar to the Practice in the Presence of God. "Abiding," is being aware of God's presence, being available and obedient to Him, and trusting in his resources and not in our own human abilities.
 It is also a reminder that he can't do anything in this life on our own.  We can't produce anything worth spiritual value without Jesus in our life.  This is evidenced by Paul in 1st Corinthians 3:5.  In John 15:5, he says apart from Jesus we can do nothing! This means if we are abiding in him, he will help us grow in him if we surrender things in our life to him.  If we are not abiding in Jesus, we will not be able to produce anything of spiritual value.
In 1st Thessalonians 5:18, Paul tells us to pray continually for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.  In this, he references abiding and Practicing the Presence of God.  "Abiding," is described also as a constant openness to God that he will prompt us, encourages us, direct us, or stop us if we are giving into temptation.
   Brother Lawrence was so tune with God throughout the day he continued to remind of God's goodness even on his deathbed.
It is this way that we have to make the Practice in the Presence of God and "Abiding" a lifestyle.  In this way, we will be in step with the one who created us and redeemed us from death.