David Given Schwarm

Dear Friend

Since you are so seriously interested in knowing how I attained the ability God granted me to dwell in His presence, I will try to explain it. But I must ask you not to show my letter to anyone. If I thought you were going to let someone else read it, I would not discuss the matter, despite all of my desire for your spiritual growth.

Although I found several books describing how to know God and mature spiritually. I believed they would only serve to confuse my soul. What I wanted was simply to belong totally to God, so I decided to give everything I could give in order to attain the greatest blessing in return–knowing Him. I gave myself completely to God, accepting His forgiveness of my sins, after which I renounced everything that might offend Him. I began to live as if there were no one but God and myself in the world.

Sometimes I thought of myself as a criminal standing before him, my Judge; at other times I regard Him as my Father. I tried to keep my heart in this father/child relationship sas much as I could, adoring Him there. I held my spirit in His holy presence, recalling it whenever it went astray. This exercise was rather difficult. Yet, I was able to continue it without being disturbed when I was involuntarily distracted. it occupied as much time during my regular working day as it did in my praye rtime. At all times–every hour and every minute–I drove everything out of my spirit that might take me from the thought of God.

This has been my everyday routine since I began my walk with the Lord. Although sometimes I practice it timidly and with a great many mistakes, I am still quite blessed by it. This has to be due to the great goodness and mercy of God. We can indeed do nothing without Him (which is truer for me than for others). Yet, when we faithfully keep ourselves in His holy presence and always remember that He is before us, we avoid offending Him (at least voluntarily). Then we may take the holy liberty of asking Him for the grace we need. By continuing this practice of His presence, he becomes more familiar to us, and his presence becomes a natural thing. Thank god for His goodness to us!