Leader’s guide · 12 weeks

Leader’s guide: The Practice of the Presence of God (For Children)

Brother Lawrence

Back to the book

Using this guide with a class? See Ochorus for schools or homeschool families

This guide walks a Sunday school class, homeschool group or family through “The Practice of the Presence of God (For Children)” in twelve weeks, one chapter a week. It works for a small family around the table or a class of up to twenty, and is best for ages 6–12; the youngest will enjoy the action games, and older children can do more of the writing.

Each session takes about 30 minutes. Welcome everyone and say the memory verse together (3 minutes). Read the chapter aloud (5–7 minutes). Talk together using the chapter’s three questions (5–10 minutes). Do the activity (10 minutes). Close by praying the chapter’s prayer, or your own (2 minutes).

To prepare, read the chapter yourself beforehand and have paper, pencils and crayons ready; a few weeks need nothing at all. The book is gentle throughout, but the last two chapters talk about illness, danger and Brother Lawrence’s death in old age, so read them calmly, answer questions simply and truthfully, and keep coming back to the book’s one big idea: God is with us all through the day, in every ordinary job and every hard moment.

Week 1 — The Young Man Who Broke Things

We meet Lawrence as a young footman, a servant who waited on an important treasurer, Monsieur Fieubert. He was big and clumsy and called himself “a great awkward fellow who broke everything,” yet God was not looking at his clumsy hands but at his heart. The big idea: God doesn’t love us because we are clever or careful; he looks at the heart and can use anyone.

“People look at the outside, but the Lord looks at the heart.” — from 1 Samuel 16

Memory verse

The LORD, you have searched me, and you know me.

Psalm 139:1

Talk together

  1. What job did Lawrence do when he was young?

    He was a footman, a servant, for an important man called Monsieur Fieubert, the treasurer.

  2. What did Lawrence say about himself?

    He said he was “a great awkward fellow who broke everything”, which means very clumsy.

  3. Have you ever felt clumsy or not good enough? What does God look at?

    The chapter’s point: God doesn’t look at how skilful we are on the outside. He looks at the heart, and he can use anyone.

Activity

What God Sees

You will need: Paper and crayons

  1. Fold a sheet of paper in half.
  2. On the front, draw yourself doing something you find tricky, like spilling a drink or dropping a ball.
  3. Inside, draw a big heart and write “God looks at my heart.”
  4. Colour the heart in and take your card home as a reminder that God loves you just as you are.

Pray

Dear God, thank you that you don’t love me because I’m clever or careful, but because I’m yours. Please look after my heart. Amen.

Read chapter 1

Week 2 — The Tree in Winter

At eighteen, in winter, Lawrence looks at a bare tree and thinks about how its leaves, flowers and fruit will come back in spring. He suddenly sees how strong God is and how faithfully he looks after everything he has made, and that thought filled him with a love for God that lasted the rest of his life. The big idea: the things God made around us can show us how great and kind he is.

“Ever since God made the world, his great power has been plain to see in the things he has made.” — from Romans 1

Memory verse

The LORD, how many are your works! In wisdom have you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.

Psalm 104:24

Talk together

  1. What did Lawrence see when he was eighteen?

    In winter he saw a tree with no leaves, and he thought about how its leaves, flowers and fruit would come back.

  2. What did the bare tree teach him about God?

    It showed him God’s great power and how faithfully God looks after everything he has made. It made him love God for the rest of his life.

  3. What could you look at outside this week that reminds you of God?

    The chapter’s point: everything God made can remind us how strong and caring he is, just as one bare tree did for Lawrence.

Activity

Bare Tree, Full Tree

You will need: Paper and crayons

  1. Fold a sheet of paper in half so you have two sides.
  2. On the left side, draw a bare winter tree with brown branches and no leaves.
  3. On the right side, draw the same tree in spring and summer, with green leaves, flowers and fruit.
  4. Write “God looks after what he made” across the bottom.
  5. Share your trees with a neighbour and say one other thing God made that you will look out for this week.

Pray

Dear God, thank you for the trees and all the things you have made. Help me to see how great and kind you are. Amen.

Read chapter 2

Week 3 — A Happy Surprise

Lawrence joins a monastery and becomes “Brother” Lawrence, expecting to be told off for his clumsiness and ready to give up every pleasure for God, even if it made him miserable. Instead God “disappointed” him in the best way: he found nothing but happiness there. The big idea: God is not a grumpy king; being close to him is the happiest place there is.

“You fill me with joy when I am with you.” — from Psalm 16

Memory verse

You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. In your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11

Talk together

  1. Why did Brother Lawrence think he would be unhappy in the monastery?

    He thought he would be punished for his clumsiness and mistakes, and that he would be giving up all of life’s pleasures.

  2. How did God surprise him?

    Instead of being miserable, Brother Lawrence found nothing but happiness there. He joked that God had “disappointed” him.

  3. Do you think following God makes people happy or sad? Why?

    The chapter’s point: God is kind, not grumpy. Coming close to him brings real joy, just as Brother Lawrence found.

Activity

Grumpy King or Kind Father?

You will need: Nothing

  1. Explain the game: if a sentence is true about God, stand up tall with a big smile; if it is not true, crouch down with a grumpy face.
  2. Call out sentences such as “God loves to give us joy,” “God only wants us to be sad,” “God is kind,” “God gets cross every time we make a mistake,” “God is happy when we come close to him.”
  3. After each one, say briefly why it is or isn’t true.
  4. Finish by everyone standing tall, smiling, and saying the memory verse together.

Pray

Dear God, thank you that being close to you is the best and happiest place to be. Fill me with your joy. Amen.

Read chapter 3

Week 4 — Too Many Books

Brother Lawrence reads lots of books about coming close to God, but they all say different things and only muddle him. So he keeps it simple: he gives himself to God and lives as if there were only God and him, thinking of God as often as he can. It was not easy; his mind wandered and for years he worried, but he kept trusting until a deep, quiet peace filled his heart. The big idea: loving God doesn’t need clever rules; we can simply remember he is with us and tell him we love him.

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” — from Matthew 22

Memory verse

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

Matthew 22:37

Talk together

  1. Why did all the books muddle Brother Lawrence up?

    Each book gave a different method for coming close to God, and all the different ideas confused him instead of helping.

  2. What simple thing did he decide to do instead?

    He gave himself wholly to God and lived as if there were only God and him in the world, thinking of God as often as he could.

  3. When could you remember today that God is with you?

    The chapter’s point: loving God doesn’t have to be complicated. We can simply remember he is with us and tell him we love him.

Activity

A Quiet Minute with God

You will need: Nothing

  1. Sit comfortably, close your eyes or look down at your hands, and keep very still.
  2. For one minute, while the leader keeps time, tell God silently in your heart, “God, you are here, and I love you.”
  3. If your mind wanders off, don’t worry: just come back and say it again, like Brother Lawrence did.
  4. When the minute is up, talk together about how it felt and whether it was hard to stay still.
  5. Choose one quiet moment this week, such as bedtime, to try it again at home.

Pray

Dear God, I want to love you with all my heart. Help me to remember you are with me, today and every day. Amen.

Read chapter 4

Week 5 — The Kitchen He Didn’t Like

The monastery makes clumsy Brother Lawrence the cook, a job he naturally disliked. His secret was to plan his work, then ask God to stay close to him, help him, and take all his work as a gift; he kept talking to God quietly as he worked, and the job became easy. He did it for fifteen years. The big idea: any job, even one we don’t like, can become a gift of love to God when we ask his help and do it for him.

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” — from Colossians 3

Memory verse

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men.

Colossians 3:23

Talk together

  1. Why was it surprising that Brother Lawrence became the cook?

    He didn’t like kitchen work at all. It went against what he naturally enjoyed.

  2. What was his secret for doing the work?

    He asked God to help him and did everything for the love of God, talking to God as he worked. Then the job became easy.

  3. Which job do you find hard to do? How could you do it for God?

    The chapter’s point: any job, even one we don’t like, can become a gift of love to God when we ask his help and do it for him.

Activity

Chore Prayers

You will need: Nothing

  1. Together, name some jobs children don’t always like, such as tidying a bedroom, making the bed or putting shoes away.
  2. Make up a short “chore prayer” for each one, like Brother Lawrence’s, for example “God, you are here with me; help me do this for you.”
  3. Everyone mimes doing one of the jobs while saying the chore prayer quietly.
  4. Each child chooses one chore and one chore prayer to use at home this week.

Pray

Dear God, when I have a job I don’t like, help me to do it for you, and to remember that you are right beside me. Amen.

Read chapter 5

Week 6 — A Straw on the Ground

Brother Lawrence said he was glad to pick up even a single straw from the ground for the love of God. He taught that God doesn’t look at how big a job is but at how much love it is done with, so stirring a pot or sweeping a floor can be done for God. The big idea: small, everyday things done out of love for God are precious to him, and children can do them today.

“Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” — from 1 Corinthians 10

Memory verse

Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Talk together

  1. What tiny thing was Brother Lawrence happy to do for God?

    He was glad to pick up a single straw from the ground for the love of God.

  2. What does God look at, according to Brother Lawrence?

    Not how big the job is, but how much love it is done with.

  3. What is one little thing you could do for God today?

    The chapter’s point: small, everyday things done out of love for God are precious to him. We don’t have to wait to do something big.

Activity

Straws on the Floor

You will need: A few sheets of scrap paper, scrunched into small balls

  1. Before the game, scatter the scrunched paper “straws” around the room.
  2. On “Go,” children walk (not run) and pick up one piece at a time.
  3. Each time someone picks one up, they say “For you, God!”
  4. When the floor is tidy, sit down and each name one small job you could do for God at home or school this week.

Pray

Dear God, help me to do little things today because I love you. Thank you that even small things matter to you. Amen.

Read chapter 6

Week 7 — Pots, Pans and Prayer

Dinner time in the monastery kitchen is noisy, with pots and pans clattering and several people calling for different things at once, yet Brother Lawrence stays calm, never rushing and never lazy. He prayed in his heart all the time and said, put simply, that in the noise and clatter of his kitchen he had God as peacefully as if he were on his knees. The big idea: prayer isn’t only for quiet, special times; we can stay close to God in the busy, noisy parts of our day.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.” — from 1 Thessalonians 5

Memory verse

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Talk together

  1. What was the kitchen like at busy times?

    It was noisy, with pots and pans clattering and several people calling for different things all at once.

  2. How did Brother Lawrence stay calm?

    He kept praying in his heart while he worked. He said his working time was no different from his prayer time.

  3. When is the busiest, noisiest part of your day? Could you talk to God then?

    The chapter’s point: prayer isn’t only for quiet, special times. We can stay close to God in the middle of busy, noisy days.

Activity

Noisy Kitchen, Quiet Heart

You will need: Nothing

  1. Pretend the room is a busy monastery kitchen: everyone mimes stirring pretend pots and clattering pretend pans, making kitchen noises.
  2. When the leader calls “Quiet heart!”, everyone freezes and whispers, “God, you are here with me.”
  3. On “Kitchen!”, start the noisy pretend work again; repeat three or four times.
  4. Talk together about the busiest, noisiest moment in your own day, and agree to whisper a prayer then this week.

Pray

Dear God, thank you that I can talk to you anywhere. Help me to stay close to you when things are busy and noisy. Amen.

Read chapter 7

Week 8 — Talking with God Like a Friend

In letters to his friends, Brother Lawrence explains that talking with God is simpler than we think: we don’t need to shout, because God is very near, and we can make our hearts into a little prayer room. His prayers were often short, like “My God, here I am, all yours,” and he said it would be rude to leave a visiting friend sitting alone, so we shouldn’t leave God alone either. The big idea: practising the presence of God means remembering he is here and talking with him like a friend.

“Come near to God and he will come near to you.” — from James 4

Memory verse

The LORD is near to all those who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

Talk together

  1. Where did Brother Lawrence say you could go to talk with God?

    Anywhere. He said you can make your heart into a little prayer room and talk with God there, and you don’t need to shout, because God is very near.

  2. What picture did he use about a visiting friend?

    It would be rude to leave a friend alone who came to visit you, so we shouldn’t leave God alone either. We should think of him often.

  3. What is one short prayer you could say to God today?

    The chapter’s point: talking with God can be simple and short, like talking to a friend who is always with us.

Activity

My Heart Prayer Room

You will need: Paper and crayons or pencils

  1. Draw a big heart and turn it into a little room, with a door, a window and something cosy inside.
  2. Draw yourself in the room, and show that God is there with you, perhaps with light or warm colours.
  3. On the door, write a short prayer of your own, like “God, here I am, all yours.”
  4. Take it home and use your door prayer whenever you remember God this week.

Pray

Dear God, thank you that you are always with me. Help me not to leave you alone, but to talk with you all through the day. Amen.

Read chapter 8

Week 9 — The Boat Full of Barrels

Brother Lawrence is sent to Burgundy to buy the community’s wine, a business job he felt he was no good at, and his lame leg meant that on the boat he could only get about by rolling himself over the barrels. Instead of worrying, he told God it was God’s business and trusted him with it, and it went very well, as an earlier trip to Auvergne had too. The big idea: when a job feels too hard for us, we can give our worries to God and trust him to help.

“Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” — from 1 Peter 5

Memory verse

Casting all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

Talk together

  1. Why was the trip to Burgundy hard for Brother Lawrence?

    He wasn’t good at business, and he was lame, so on the boat he could only get around by rolling himself over the wine barrels.

  2. What did he do instead of worrying?

    He told God it was God’s business he was doing and trusted him with it, and the job went very well.

  3. What is something hard you have to do soon? How could you give it to God?

    The chapter’s point: when a job feels too hard for us, we can hand our worries to God and trust him to help.

Activity

A Boat Full of Worries

You will need: Paper and pencils or crayons

  1. Draw a boat on the water with several round barrels on its deck.
  2. Inside each barrel, draw or write something that feels hard or worrying for you; this picture is just for you and God.
  3. Across the side of the boat write “God’s business” and draw a smiling sun above it.
  4. Fold your picture and hold it while the leader prays, giving all the worries to God.

Pray

Dear God, when I have to do something hard, help me to give my worries to you and trust you to take care of me. Amen.

Read chapter 9

Week 10 — When He Got It Wrong

Brother Lawrence wasn’t perfect: sometimes he forgot God for a long time or did things he knew were wrong. When he did, he didn’t sulk, give up or make excuses; he simply told God, asked for help, then stopped worrying and went back to loving God, trusting that his sins were forgiven because of Jesus. By getting up again after every fall, little by little, he learned to think about God all the time. Keep this week’s talk general and never ask children to name their own wrong things aloud. The big idea: when we get it wrong, we can tell God, trust Jesus to forgive us, and start again.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us.” — from 1 John 1

Memory verse

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Talk together

  1. What did Brother Lawrence do when he made a mistake?

    He told God about it honestly, asked God to help him, and then stopped worrying and went back to loving God.

  2. Why didn’t he need to keep worrying about his sins?

    Because he trusted that his sins were forgiven through Jesus, not because he was good enough.

  3. What can you do the next time you get something wrong?

    The chapter’s point: when we mess up, we can tell God, trust Jesus to forgive us, and start again without carrying our mistakes around.

Activity

Wobble and Start Again

You will need: Nothing, then paper and crayons

  1. Everyone stands and tries to balance on one foot while the leader counts slowly.
  2. When you wobble or put your foot down, say “Start again!” and try once more, just as Brother Lawrence got up after every fall.
  3. Sit down and, on paper, draw a bright sunrise with the words “Jesus forgives. I can start again.”
  4. Keep the picture somewhere private at home to remember on a day when you get it wrong.

Pray

Dear God, I’m sorry for the wrong things I have done. Thank you that Jesus forgives me. Help me to get up and keep going with you. Amen.

Read chapter 10

Week 11 — Letters to Friends in Trouble

Older now, Brother Lawrence writes letters to friends in hard times. He tells one that a young soldier in danger can lift up his heart to God for a moment even while marching, and that short prayers make him braver; he tells a friend who is very ill that God is often nearer in sickness than in health, and prays for strength and patience to bear the pain, trusting God as a loving Father. Handle this gently: some children may know someone who is ill, so let them share only if they want to and keep the focus on God being close. The big idea: God stays near when we are sick, sad or scared, and even “Help me, God” is a prayer he hears.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are with me.” — from Psalm 23

Memory verse

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

Talk together

  1. What did Brother Lawrence say a soldier could do, even while marching with his sword?

    He could lift up his heart to God for a moment. Short prayers like that are pleasing to God and make a soldier braver.

  2. What did he tell his friend who was very ill?

    That God is often nearer to us in sickness than in health, and to keep talking with God, trust him, and ask for strength to bear the pain.

  3. Have you ever been sick, sad or scared? What could you say to God then?

    The chapter’s point: God stays close in hard times. Even a very short prayer, like “Help me, God,” is heard by him.

Activity

A Get-Well Prayer Card

You will need: Paper and crayons

  1. Fold a sheet of paper in half to make a card.
  2. On the front, draw something cheerful, such as flowers, a rainbow or a sunny window.
  3. Inside, write a very short prayer, like Brother Lawrence’s, such as “God is near you. Help them, God.”
  4. Give the card to someone who is ill or having a hard time, or keep it to pray for them yourself.

Pray

Dear God, when I am sick or scared, thank you that you are near me. Please give me strength and help me to trust you. Amen.

Read chapter 11

Week 12 — Going Home to God

Brother Lawrence grows old, almost eighty, and has walked with God for more than forty years since he saw the bare tree. Often ill, he asked not for the pain to go but for strength to bear it, and said he was always happy because God was with him; soon after his last letters he died and went home to be with God. His letters kept giving the same invitation: think of God often, talk with him, trust him, “Let us begin.” Speak of his death simply and peacefully, as the chapter does, as going home to the God he loved. The big idea: Brother Lawrence’s invitation is for children too; anyone can begin today.

“I am going there to prepare a place for you.” — from John 14

Memory verse

In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you.

John 14:2

Talk together

  1. How old was Brother Lawrence near the end of his life, and what did he hope for?

    He wrote that he was almost eighty, and in his last letters he said he hoped to see God soon.

  2. What invitation did Brother Lawrence keep giving in his letters?

    To think of God often, talk with him and trust him. “Let us begin,” he wrote, and he said it was the best and easiest way he knew.

  3. How could you begin to practise being with God this week?

    The chapter’s point: Brother Lawrence’s invitation is for children too. Anyone can start today by remembering God is near and talking with him.

Activity

My Day with God

You will need: Paper and crayons or pencils

  1. Draw a winding path across your paper, from waking up at one end to bedtime at the other.
  2. Along the path, draw five or six stops from your ordinary day, such as breakfast, getting dressed, school, a chore and playtime.
  3. At each stop, write or draw a tiny prayer or a way you could notice God there.
  4. Put a star at the stop where you will “begin” this week, and share it with the group if you would like to.

Pray

Dear God, thank you that you are with me always. Help me to begin today to talk with you and trust you, all my life long. Amen.

Read chapter 12