Practicing His Presence
Frank Laubach's "Practicing His Presence" emerged from his profound spiritual awakening during his missionary work in the Philippines in the 1930s. Isolated on the island of Mindanao after his wife's death, Laubach began what he called "the game with minutes" — an intensive practice of turning his thoughts toward God throughout each day. His letters and journal entries from this period, later compiled into this volume, document his systematic attempt to maintain continuous awareness of God's presence amid ordinary daily activities.
The book presents Laubach's method for cultivating what he termed "conversational prayer" — brief, frequent communications with God woven seamlessly into work, conversation, and routine tasks. Rather than advocating withdrawal from the world, Laubach developed techniques for transforming mundane moments into opportunities for divine encounter. He describes specific practices: offering silent prayers while listening to others, asking for God's guidance before speaking, and maintaining an inner dialogue with Christ throughout the day. The work emphasizes that this continuous communion requires no special theological knowledge or mystical gifts, but simply the disciplined redirection of attention that anyone can develop through practice.
Laubach's approach has influenced generations of Christians seeking to bridge the gap between formal prayer times and lived spirituality. His emphasis on accessibility and practicality made contemplative prayer available beyond monastic settings, inspiring movements in spiritual direction and contemplative spirituality across denominational lines. The book's enduring appeal lies in its concrete methodology and Laubach's honest documentation of both breakthroughs and failures in his spiritual experiment.
Who should read this: Christians seeking practical methods for deepening their prayer life and those frustrated by the separation between formal spiritual practices and daily responsibilities. This is not for readers looking for theological analysis or those uncomfortable with highly personal spiritual writing.