Brother Lawrence's letters and conversations were put into the book The Practice of the Presence of God which presents his quest to fellowship with God in every moment of each day, as much as possible.

It seems Brother Lawrence felt the best way to continually stay close to God was for his motive to be that everything he did to be purely for the love of God. His motive was not to do things to get God's help or blessings.
He was determined that there would be no sacrifice or suffering that would be too difficult that would prevent him from loving God.
Many consider it a Christian classic.

Brother Lawrence was a lay brother at a Catholic monestary in the 1600's in France. The book is popular with Catholics and Protestants. It was recommended by John Wesley and A. W. Tozer.

His given name was Nicholas Herman. He entered a Catholic monastery. Because he didn't have enough education to be cleric, he was a lay brother. His religious name was "Lawrence of the Resurrection."

He worked in the monastery in the kitchen for many years. In his later years, he repaired sandals at the monastery.

Even though he had a low position at the monastery, people probably flocked to him because they felt he had a very close relationship with God (according to his letters and conversations in the book).

It seems that at some point in his early years at the monastery, he decided to focus on loving God as much as possible. He was determined that there would be no sacrifice or suffering that would be too difficult that would prevent him from loving God.

He desired to love God in everything he did, even in the hectic environment of the kitchen.

He only wanted to please God to the point that he would not pickup a piece of straw [like a single stalk of wheat] against God's order.

He felt so close to God most of the time -- he felt he was "constantly in prayer" -- so that he felt setting aside a specific time of prayer wasn't necessary.

The letters and conversations explain what he did and what he believes concerning being in constant relationship with God.

His letters and conversations seem to show he achieved it or at least came close to it.

Please be aware that book has much insight, so I'm not going to attempt to explain the content of the book any further.

Please note that he was a Catholic so there are some things that Protestants may not agree with.

The original letters and conversations were in French and was translated into English.
Please be aware that the original English version was published around 1700, but there are many edited versions of it. Many versions were probably revised to modern English, so it would be easier to understand.

Please also be aware that comments Amazon on the original English book and the other versions may be grouped together. This means you may not know which version of the book is being commented on.

Gutenberg Project provides free online viewing (and copying) of a version that is not in modern English.
( http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/13871 )

Christian Classics Ethereal Library (Calvin College) website ( www.CCEL.org ) also provides free online viewing (and copying) of a version that is not is not modern English.
( http://www.ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice.html )
(Also labeled as "blppog10.xxx")
(On the copyright page of Jim Johnson's book, the CCEL.org version is referred to.)
(Near the end of the CCEL.org document, its source is mentioned:
"The text given here is taken from a 16vo paperback pamphlet of unknown date; Edgar Charles Barton was Book Steward of the Epworth Press from the time of the Methodist Union of 1932 until 1948, which gives the limits within which the edition came out.")





One of the best modern English versions (and is also Free online) of The Practice the Presence of God book, which consists of the letters and conversations with Brother Lawrence, is written by Light Heart (I think this is a pen name, and if it is, I don't know what the person's real name is).
Light Heart's website ( www.PracticeGodsPresence.com ) has information about Brother Lawrence that Jim Johnson (the editor of the book below) adapted and used in his (Johnson) thoughts about Brother Lawrence in his (Johnson) book.





Another really good modern English versions is Practice the Presence of God: New Revised Version in Modern English .