Day 245

It's Day 245 of  The Red Shoe Project and as the sun goes down, I am sitting at the kitchen table, wearing a new pair of wooly RED socks that my Mom made me.  Today has proven itself to be a much needed time of rest.  I didn't think I needed to rest, but my body begged to differ.  I found myself dozing off a few times today and being away on retreat gave me the liberty to chill out and allow God to strengthen me.  God is good!

Today, amongst other things, I read a book by Brother Lawrence entitled:

 The Practice of the Presence of God.

  I thought this a good way to start off my five days away with God.  I'm not sure what I was expecting to discover within the pages, but what I did find is that I'm on the right track.  Much of what Brother Lawrence expressed is a great confirmation of what I've been experiencing day by day in The Red Shoe Project.

The gist of Brother Lawrence's message can perhaps be summarized in these five points:

1.  The Pre-requisite is to:  Receive Christ as Lord and Savior becoming "Born Again."

2.  Continually practice being in God's presence.  (It's the whole 24/7 thing!  God lives in you, so talk to Him continually.)

3.  When you have to be about life's business, (like work), do your best to focus on God even then.  Don't allow problems and anxiety to take your focus off the Lord.  Brother Lawrence was known for doing the most menial tasks, "unto the Lord" with a loving heart, while continuing to stay connected to God.

4. Focus you attention on staying in God's presence.  That means make it your continual objective.  Keep it as your top priority.  (This is easier said than done, but if you practice, you'll get better at it.)

5.  The Result of all this is:  You'll see God everywhere with a pure and loving vision.

My biggest take-away from all this is that I must make the time and effort to "JUST DO IT!"  Even while I'm away on this little retreat.  I could spend time reading and studying and being inspired, but in and of itself, that could easily become nothing more than a bunch of head knowledge.  I have to apply it.  That means... At some point(s) I have to stop everything, focus on God and talk with Him.

It all sounds so easy, doesn't it?  It actually is pretty simple --  So simple that so few do it.  When I think of all the effort by so many that's put into going to church service after church service, following rule after rule, and attempting to be the best person one can be...  If we just followed Brother Lawrence's suggestions -- as simple as they are -- Wow!  What a difference that would make.

Until tomorrow,

Gail