The Practice of the Presence of Jesus

Daily Meditations on the Nearness of Our Savior

By: Joni Eareckson Tada, John D. Sloan - contributor

Narrated by: Joni Eareckson Tada, Adam Verner

Discover the joy of intentionally dwelling in the presence of God as the beloved author of Joni weaves contemporary insights with the timeless wisdom of seventeenth-century monk Brother Lawrence.

"Suffering has a way of heaving you beyond the shallows of life where your faith feels ankle-deep. It casts you out into the fathomless depths of God."—Joni, from the Introduction

Brother Lawrence lived through the drudgeries of monastery kitchen duty during the turbulence of 1600s France. Joni Eareckson Tada suffered a terrible accident that broke her neck and left her paralyzed. This tragedy led her from a life of distant faith to a life as a devout Christian, and she later became a worldwide disability advocate and influencer, sharing her experiences of suffering with grace. In both their lives, they each found the secret to peace, joy, and a way of being in constant conversation with the Father . . . every day and every hour . . . practicing the presence of God.

The Practice of the Presence of Jesus ushers in wisdom from these two everyday saints, more than 400 years apart, to teach and inspire you to experience the nearness of God in your life. Through rich devotional content from Brother Lawrence’s The Practice of the Presence of God, accompanied by original art and never-before-published insights from Joni, you’ll experience a unique blend of past and present wisdom on such themes as humility, thankfulness, fear, worship, obedience, and more. Each devotion ushers you into the peace of the Good Shepherd.

©2023 Joni Eareckson Tada and John D. Sloan (P)2023 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The Practice of the Presence of Jesus celebrates the legacy of Brother Lawrence, bears witness to Joni’s remarkable life of faith, and most of all, honors the Savior they both love. With remarkable biblical, theological, emotional, and artistic range, these daily devotionals touch on nearly every aspect of our walk with God. The result is a new devotional classic that bears marks of the author’s suffering and also sings with ineffable joy. It is not merely Christ-centered; it is Christ-saturated.” —Philip Ryken, president of Wheaton College

“I know few people more in tune with God’s tender, loving presence than Joni. She radiates joy and peace, and every interaction with her makes it clear that she keeps close company with her Savior. Her reflections on the beloved writings of Brother Lawrence are sure to provide readers with the inspiration and encouragement they need to practice the presence of Jesus.” —Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family

“In this amazing book, Joni doesn’t just tell us how to practice the presence of Jesus; she also shows us by the powerful example of her own pain-filled life. Thank you, Joni, for renewing my earnest desire to have an enlarged heart of worship and love for Jesus . . . a heart like yours.” —Anne Graham Lotz, author of Jesus in Me, international Bible teacher

Deeper Thoughts

This book caused me to look deeper into my relationship with Jesus. It caused me to dive deeper.

So good

This audio book should be mandatory for all theological seminaries.
Very well done, just finished my first listen, starting on my 2nd.
This book has and will continue to be a part of my Christian Armour. Thank you Joni. Love from South Africa.

Joni’s Authenticity and Vulnerability Is Refreshing

The daily encouragement hearing from Brother Lawrence and Joni in parallel is special. Every believer walks a path of suffering at some point in this short term missions trip called life. Don’t go it alone. Joni provides a respite for the soul in small bites and in just the right way.

Gloriously Alive

Such depth of understanding coming from a person who has and is experiencing moment by moment the truth of the gospel… dead to self but gloriously alive in Jesus.

Prayful and real

Sacred. Precious. Incredibly inspiring. Written by a woman who truly knows Our Lord. Through this book, I am lead to prayer today.