Living Before God: Deepening Our Sense of the Divine Presence

I've read many helpful books on spiritual formation in my seminary work, for other classes I have taken, and on my own. I have many more lined up to read. Few that I have read have been more helpful to me than Ben Campbell Johnson's Living Before God: Deepening our Sense of the Divine Presence. This is one book that I will come back to often. This book had much to say to me about what concerns me most at my stage of life experience. Johnson brings more that 50 years of his own experience in "living before God" to share with his readers in a most personal and engaging way. He shares his life with you, not just his ideas. The importance of not spending one's life "asleep" to the presence of God is the subject of the first chapter. Life-sleep is living life on the surface, either unaware of life's deeper meaning or unwilling to explore it. Waking up means being aware of where life is taking you, where God wants to take your life. Such awakening is a life long process, not a singular event. It involves gaining an appreciation for the wonder and mystery of life that we so easily miss in staying asleep or distracted. "`Wondering' describes us as seeking, questioning, searching beings who are trying to make sense of our experiences and milk their meanings." The search for meaning and fulfillment "points to a mysterious presence that surrounds and engulfs our lives." "Wonder will not permit us to live complacent lives filled with ready-made answers. But wonder without information and discipline can often lead us astray; it requires substantive material for its task. In the words of Scripture we find material to nurture and inspire wonder." On that basis, Johnson proceeds to give the reader a very fine introduction to the slow and meditative reading of Scripture known as the ancient practice of lectio divina (divine reading). As important as the scholarly interpretation and exposition of Scripture is, it doesn't do the whole job of allowing us to engage the living Word of God on a level that fills our hearts as well as our minds. Mediation on Scripture, and the contemplation of its meaning, allows its message to enter our lives in our own unique circumstances and work a change in us that allows us to respond passionately and sincerely as well as intellectually. Living before God with openness and expectation is not easy. It involves significant levels of trust in the face of the most difficult and doubtful situations of life. It involves resisting what Johnson calls "the biggest lie" of the Devil-that God can't be trusted to be God-without denying our hard feelings and serious doubts. Johnson briefly discusses ways of listening for God and reflecting on God's work in the ordinary events of the day. One of the chapters most helpful to me was "Coming to the Present." Living in the present moment is something that I have a very hard time doing. I tend to be too absorbed with concerns about the future or distracted by memories of the past to fully appreci

I came upon this book by chance. I have read past books by Mr Johnson and have found all of his writing to go beyond the superficial spiritual issues. Ben Johnson discusses how truely difficult change can be and why. Within the pages of "Living Before God" I found inspiration and understanding of the human heart. I could not put the book down, even for a moment, in my want to see further into how I can grow closer to God. Life can present many challenges to close your heart and mind to God, through the author I found ways to relax and allow myself to hear God again. I recommend this book to everyone traveling their own spritual journeys.

Written to share some of the things Johnson has learned about posturing ourselves in God's presence in a way that honors God, this book is for anyone interested in a deeper spiritual life. Using scripture, writings of the early mystics and personal anecdotes, Johnson keeps our interest.He reminds us to be spiritual aware--not life- sleepers and advises us to create wonder. How to study the Word, and listening to God in our everyday lives are other meaningful chapters.There is too much to explore in a review. Read the book. You'll love it.