The secret to spiritual formation is to be conscious of God’s presence as much as possible. Why? Imagine that Jesus Christ physically appeared to you right now. And He went with you wherever you went. You physically saw Him at all times. He was visibly with you every waking moment. Would this have any effect on your conduct and behavior? The answer is obviously yes.

The twelve disciples were changed simply by being with Him. “And they [the leaders of the Sanhedrin] took note that these men [Peter and John] had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13). Brother Lawrence called the active consciousness of God’s presence the art of “practicing His presence.” For Brother Lawrence, to practice God’s presence is to be mindful of Him all day long. It includes conversing with Him throughout the day.

This would be akin to drawing my attention to my nose constantly. Although my nose is always with me, I may or may not be conscious of it. It all depends on where my attention is centered.

From Revise Us Again by Frank Viola, author