I’ve been reading the journal of a missionary named Frank C. Laubach. He set out at the age of 45 to devote every moment of every day towards a constant inner conversation with God and to live in complete obedience to His voice – very much a modern day Brother Lawrence.
This is the first entry in his journal…
January 3, 1930 – Windows open outward
To be able to look backward and say, “This, this has been the finest year of my life” – that is glorious! But anticipation! To be able to look ahead and say, “The present year can and shall be better!” – that is more glorious!
If we said such things about our achievements, we would be consummate egotists. But if we are speaking of God’s kindness, and we speak truly, we are but grateful. And this is what I do witness. I have done nothing but open windows – God has done all the rest.
Laubach set out to have the best year of his life, his strategy… simply open the windows of his life outward towards God, and trust God to do the rest. I am challenged by this thought of continually gazing upon God and practicing instantaneous obedience. Truthfully, I believe it is the truest example of what Christ meant when He said, “I only do what I see the father doing, I only say what I hear the father saying.”
I wonder what would happen if we choose to practice this for a period of time within each day. I wonder what affect that might have on us. Admittedly the thought is a bit fearful, while at the same time incredibly tempting. If we want to break the complacency of our present Christianity, we need only practice the presence of our Christ!
9 months after Laubach began this journey he wrote this in his journal…
This concentration upon God is strenuous, but everything else has ceased to be so. I think more clearly, I forget less frequently. Things which I did with a strain before, I now do easily and with no effort whatever. I worry about nothing, and lose no sleep. I walk on air a good part of the time. Even the mirror reveals a new light in my eyes and face. I no longer feel in a hurry about anything. Everything goes right. Each minute I meet calmly as though it were not important. Nothing can go wrong excepting one thing. That is that God may slip from my mind if I do not keep on my guard. If He is there, the universe is with me. My task is simple and clear.
I wouldn’t suggest this to the faint of heart, but to the revolutionary, I bet it has already become a spark!
