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The Pursuit of God: The Human Thirst for the Divine
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.” This thirst for an intimate relationship with God, claims A.W. Tozer, is not for a select few, but should be the experience of every follower of Christ.
Here is a masterly study of the inner life by a heart thirsting after God. Here is a book for every child of God, pastor, missionary, and Christian. It deals with the deep things of God and the riches of His grace.
In The Pursuit of God, Tozer sheds light on the path to a closer walk with God.
Here is a masterly study of the inner life by a heart thirsting after God. Here is a book for every child of God, pastor, missionary, and Christian. It deals with the deep things of God and the riches of His grace.
In The Pursuit of God, Tozer sheds light on the path to a closer walk with God.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1948
12.5k people are currently reading
94.1k people want to read
About the author
A.W. Tozer
613 books1,980 followersAiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
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February 11, 2025
A.W. Tozer says if we seek meaning in our lives by pursuing a Real, Living God, we will soon find the tables turned.
For so desirous is He of giving true meaning to anyone who seeks him, God will then start pursuing US.
For the rest of our lives.
We’ll try telling a barefaced lie - and God will hound us down. We’ll find a certain lady deucedly attractive - and He’ll shout, “now what in tarnation d’you think YOU’RE doing?” We’ll ask Him for a special favour - and He’ll heap it into our lap a HUNDREDFOLD.
Don’t believe me?
Just try to find Him in your life. Seriously. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked.
He doesn’t fool around. You don’t dare mess with Him. But oh, how you cringe when the storm clouds gather... And guess what? He’s still right there, showing you a way OUT of your mess.
Some folks say that’s all nonsense. That life is what you make it. But wait 20 or 30 years, and SEE what they’ve made of it - for by then, they’ve been given stale black bread for their banquet.
Life is what you make it?
No, we’re a piece of clay in the hands of the Almighty. If he can’t make anything of you, into the fire you go. Will you get a second chance? Time will tell...
If you want frank, straight-up writing shooting straight from the hip, Tozer will deliver. Brought up poor, hungry and illiterate in rural Pennsylvania at the turn of the twentieth century, he rarely knew rest from his labours.
Life was tough.
But, meandering brokenly homeward after a gruelling day of back-breaking work, young Aiden heard snippets of a street preacher’s message at the centre of town.
How can we be saved, the message probably went? Salvation is a free gift. Our work doesn’t save us - never has and never will.
Only the free gift of supernatural Love will.
Well, so Tozer then did the impossible - he pursued God.
Yikes! When the scales fell wonderfully fell from his eyes, he KNEW God’s Love had always pursued HIM.
In his parents’ corrections and disciplines.
In the dinner that every night, miraculously appeared on the supper table.
In the robin that woke him up for another day of relentless work, serenading and INSPIRING him.
This was the Way.
God had GIVEN the Way to him.
No, friends, it was not by painstakingly memorizing who begat whom in the Book, or studying an ancient language, or even having great insight into the meaning of scripture that Tozer found true meaning in his life.
No.
It was by insight into Real, Simple Being.
And that Being, as Love - the Beatles once sang - is ALL YOU NEED.
For so desirous is He of giving true meaning to anyone who seeks him, God will then start pursuing US.
For the rest of our lives.
We’ll try telling a barefaced lie - and God will hound us down. We’ll find a certain lady deucedly attractive - and He’ll shout, “now what in tarnation d’you think YOU’RE doing?” We’ll ask Him for a special favour - and He’ll heap it into our lap a HUNDREDFOLD.
Don’t believe me?
Just try to find Him in your life. Seriously. Once you’re hooked, you’re hooked.
He doesn’t fool around. You don’t dare mess with Him. But oh, how you cringe when the storm clouds gather... And guess what? He’s still right there, showing you a way OUT of your mess.
Some folks say that’s all nonsense. That life is what you make it. But wait 20 or 30 years, and SEE what they’ve made of it - for by then, they’ve been given stale black bread for their banquet.
Life is what you make it?
No, we’re a piece of clay in the hands of the Almighty. If he can’t make anything of you, into the fire you go. Will you get a second chance? Time will tell...
If you want frank, straight-up writing shooting straight from the hip, Tozer will deliver. Brought up poor, hungry and illiterate in rural Pennsylvania at the turn of the twentieth century, he rarely knew rest from his labours.
Life was tough.
But, meandering brokenly homeward after a gruelling day of back-breaking work, young Aiden heard snippets of a street preacher’s message at the centre of town.
How can we be saved, the message probably went? Salvation is a free gift. Our work doesn’t save us - never has and never will.
Only the free gift of supernatural Love will.
Well, so Tozer then did the impossible - he pursued God.
Yikes! When the scales fell wonderfully fell from his eyes, he KNEW God’s Love had always pursued HIM.
In his parents’ corrections and disciplines.
In the dinner that every night, miraculously appeared on the supper table.
In the robin that woke him up for another day of relentless work, serenading and INSPIRING him.
This was the Way.
God had GIVEN the Way to him.
No, friends, it was not by painstakingly memorizing who begat whom in the Book, or studying an ancient language, or even having great insight into the meaning of scripture that Tozer found true meaning in his life.
No.
It was by insight into Real, Simple Being.
And that Being, as Love - the Beatles once sang - is ALL YOU NEED.
April 16, 2019
I bought this book for myself and was so moved by it that I reread it chapter by chapter often as my nightly devotional. I personally found it to be one of the best books to fill me with hope! This is the best edition of it available at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-God-W-...
November 30, 2009
First Review
I hesitate to call Tozer a theologian because his approach to Christianity and the practice of faith is very practical. He is very well read and often deals with theological topics but he typically scoffs any intellectual dealings with faith and puts forth his down to earth alternative.
The description of "down to earth" only goes so far, because Tozer is also very clearly a mystic. He focuses on experience, feeling and hearing God's voice as important to faith. He also emphasizes those to the point of relegating scripture to a close second in matters of faith.
I liked the book (this is my second time through it). Tozer has many good observation about a life of faith and good insight can be gained from reading this book. I am just not sure it strong enough to stand by itself as a guiding text for the Christian life.
----------------------------------------
Second Review
I revisited Tozer recently and concluded that I was a bit too rough on him in the first time around. It was obvious from my third reading that Tozer is a thinker. The reason from his initial distancing of his argument from scripture is because God needs to be viewed as a person to be interacted with and not a distant deity to give lip service.
I still agree with most of what I said I just think that Tozer has better
theological backing than I had once thought. His theology is intact and his view of scripture is sound.
Personally I was struck by what he had to say this time. Tozer has some good insights that struck me at the core of my being. I will be chewing on this book for a while.
I hesitate to call Tozer a theologian because his approach to Christianity and the practice of faith is very practical. He is very well read and often deals with theological topics but he typically scoffs any intellectual dealings with faith and puts forth his down to earth alternative.
The description of "down to earth" only goes so far, because Tozer is also very clearly a mystic. He focuses on experience, feeling and hearing God's voice as important to faith. He also emphasizes those to the point of relegating scripture to a close second in matters of faith.
I liked the book (this is my second time through it). Tozer has many good observation about a life of faith and good insight can be gained from reading this book. I am just not sure it strong enough to stand by itself as a guiding text for the Christian life.
----------------------------------------
Second Review
I revisited Tozer recently and concluded that I was a bit too rough on him in the first time around. It was obvious from my third reading that Tozer is a thinker. The reason from his initial distancing of his argument from scripture is because God needs to be viewed as a person to be interacted with and not a distant deity to give lip service.
I still agree with most of what I said I just think that Tozer has better
theological backing than I had once thought. His theology is intact and his view of scripture is sound.
Personally I was struck by what he had to say this time. Tozer has some good insights that struck me at the core of my being. I will be chewing on this book for a while.
November 26, 2024
Broke down in tears reading one of Tozer's prayers. Praise God for the hour I spent reading part of it today, it was as if God was hear with me sharing the wisdom from the book! Incredible book that taught me to slow down and listen to God.
October 15, 2021
The Pursuit of God is a book I had long wanted to read. Lately, the impetus to read it seemed to have sprung from somewhere deep and unsearchable. It felt like a hunger that needed to be assuaged. I read this slowly over two months and was impressed by Tozer’s clarity in describing a pursuit that might strike many of us as abstract and remote. My GR friends are most indulgent when it comes to my book reviews and I am thankful for your love and support. Do not feel obliged to read this if it is not something that appeals to you.
Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963) was an American pastor and author. He was apparently born into poverty and was self-educated. You would not have guessed his humble beginnings from how beautifully and cogently he wrote. Tozer received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton colleges. In 2000, The Pursuit of God was named to Christianity Today’s list of 100 ‘Books of the Century.’
In the introductory chapter, one of the first things that struck me was this line: ’It is theology not of the head but of the heart.’ Tozer himself said that the reflections in this book were "a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most delightful and wonderful to me.” As I read it, I was warmed by Tozer’s sincerity in conveying his personal spiritual journey. Of this book which he wrote in 1948, Tozer said, “Others before me have gone much further into these holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flames.” And gratefully, I did just that.
Just a few key takeaways.
Why do we pursue God?
If we begin with the premise that man is made in the image of God, then we have within each of us the capacity to know Him. Sometimes in our inner self, we may encounter God in our conscious personal awareness. Tozer explained, “We pursue God because, and only because He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.” He called this prevenient grace. In my limited understanding, it seems that man was created for fellowship with his creator, and that longing never ends. Augustine articulated this best: “Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”
Is this a worthwhile pursuit?
The greatest encouragement I derived from reading this book is contained in this one line: ”Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us.” That is mind-blowing – that God wants to be found by us. We see Him in the beauty of the created world; we see Him when we witness love and kindness extended by fallible human beings to each other. He is universally present.
What do we know of God’s nature?
It is in the nature of God to speak, to communicate His thoughts to others. Tozer described Him in Chapter 6 as The Speaking Voice. He spoke creation into existence. “He spake and it was done.” I thought it marvelous that it is in God’s nature to be articulate. There is also the written word (the Bible) through which He continues to speak. Here is another precious thought: “The Voice of God is a friendly Voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.”
How do we apprehend God?
Even for those who believe, we tend not to be conscious enough of the kind of communion with God that the Scriptures seem to offer. Why? Tozer said, ”The answer is our chronic unbelief. Faith enables our spiritual sense to function. Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility and numbness toward spiritual things.” Faith is indispensable in our pursuit of God.
What’s the point of this pursuit?
If we are made in God’s image and He has made us for Himself, then it seems to me that we can never be fully all we are meant to be until we are restored to a right relationship with our Creator. We are not yet home until we find communion in His presence. From a psychological perspective (if I may borrow Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs), the end of this pursuit is our spiritual self-actualization. Tozer said, ”As a sailor locates his position on the sea by ‘shooting’ the sun, so we may get our moral bearings by looking at God.” When this relationship is made right, then there is hope in our troubled world for peace on earth and goodwill toward men. This is perhaps the same as saying, ”Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified.”
At 108 Kindle pages, there is much food for thought. It is a helpful read for folks like me who feel a hard-to-define homesickness of the soul. Thank you, A. W. Tozer.
Aiden Wilson Tozer (1897-1963) was an American pastor and author. He was apparently born into poverty and was self-educated. You would not have guessed his humble beginnings from how beautifully and cogently he wrote. Tozer received honorary doctorates from Wheaton and Houghton colleges. In 2000, The Pursuit of God was named to Christianity Today’s list of 100 ‘Books of the Century.’
In the introductory chapter, one of the first things that struck me was this line: ’It is theology not of the head but of the heart.’ Tozer himself said that the reflections in this book were "a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most delightful and wonderful to me.” As I read it, I was warmed by Tozer’s sincerity in conveying his personal spiritual journey. Of this book which he wrote in 1948, Tozer said, “Others before me have gone much further into these holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flames.” And gratefully, I did just that.
Just a few key takeaways.
Why do we pursue God?
If we begin with the premise that man is made in the image of God, then we have within each of us the capacity to know Him. Sometimes in our inner self, we may encounter God in our conscious personal awareness. Tozer explained, “We pursue God because, and only because He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.” He called this prevenient grace. In my limited understanding, it seems that man was created for fellowship with his creator, and that longing never ends. Augustine articulated this best: “Thou has formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in Thee.”
Is this a worthwhile pursuit?
The greatest encouragement I derived from reading this book is contained in this one line: ”Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us.” That is mind-blowing – that God wants to be found by us. We see Him in the beauty of the created world; we see Him when we witness love and kindness extended by fallible human beings to each other. He is universally present.
What do we know of God’s nature?
It is in the nature of God to speak, to communicate His thoughts to others. Tozer described Him in Chapter 6 as The Speaking Voice. He spoke creation into existence. “He spake and it was done.” I thought it marvelous that it is in God’s nature to be articulate. There is also the written word (the Bible) through which He continues to speak. Here is another precious thought: “The Voice of God is a friendly Voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.”
How do we apprehend God?
Even for those who believe, we tend not to be conscious enough of the kind of communion with God that the Scriptures seem to offer. Why? Tozer said, ”The answer is our chronic unbelief. Faith enables our spiritual sense to function. Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility and numbness toward spiritual things.” Faith is indispensable in our pursuit of God.
What’s the point of this pursuit?
If we are made in God’s image and He has made us for Himself, then it seems to me that we can never be fully all we are meant to be until we are restored to a right relationship with our Creator. We are not yet home until we find communion in His presence. From a psychological perspective (if I may borrow Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs), the end of this pursuit is our spiritual self-actualization. Tozer said, ”As a sailor locates his position on the sea by ‘shooting’ the sun, so we may get our moral bearings by looking at God.” When this relationship is made right, then there is hope in our troubled world for peace on earth and goodwill toward men. This is perhaps the same as saying, ”Social religion is perfected when private religion is purified.”
At 108 Kindle pages, there is much food for thought. It is a helpful read for folks like me who feel a hard-to-define homesickness of the soul. Thank you, A. W. Tozer.
July 5, 2012
My review of this book can be summed up in four words – it blew me away! Tozer identifies one of the major problems in our Church today. As a Church, we are creating a new breed of Christian who understands doctrine better than at any point in history yet fails to understand what it truly means to be a follower of Christ.
Having identified the problem, Tozer offers a beautiful solution that is more practical and mystical than theological. His book is an invitation for the the reader to seek God above all else. While many Christian writers invite the reader to seek God to the point of making a decision for Christ, Tozers encourages the Christian to make the seeking of God the continual foundation upon which their life is built on.
Tozer’s book served to draw me closer to God and instilled in me the desire to come even closer. It is a book I am sure to read often in the future and gladly add to my list of essential reads.
You will also be glad to know the book is free on the Kindle!
Happy reading, Clark.
Having identified the problem, Tozer offers a beautiful solution that is more practical and mystical than theological. His book is an invitation for the the reader to seek God above all else. While many Christian writers invite the reader to seek God to the point of making a decision for Christ, Tozers encourages the Christian to make the seeking of God the continual foundation upon which their life is built on.
Tozer’s book served to draw me closer to God and instilled in me the desire to come even closer. It is a book I am sure to read often in the future and gladly add to my list of essential reads.
You will also be glad to know the book is free on the Kindle!
Happy reading, Clark.
December 3, 2019
“What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”
In this beautiful, theologically accurate yet original and deep insight into the relationship of a Christian with God, A. W. Tozer forces the readers to question the intensity of our desire for Him, our will to always put Him first and the authenticity of our pursuit for His full presence in our everyday life. It is easy to feel the presence of God when we pray, worship or read the Scriptures, it's less easy to live our lives having in mind that God is here, with us, every day; He is everywhere, and if we just open our ears and listen, we can hear Him and feel His presence in everything we do.
This book describes the beautiful, incredibly intense pull that a Christian feels when he/she thinks about God - a similar sensation to the desire for a loved one when we first met them - and in doing so encourages us to always pursue this pull, and never let it grow cold. If you ever experienced that pull, the intensity of that emotion, the tears falling down your eyes when you can really feel that the Lord is good and that He loves us and protects us, you know what the author is talking about. If you want to know more about this relationship and about its theological and scriptural references, thus growing as a Christian and never leaving the honeymoon phase with God, you should definitely read this classic. On the other hand, if you are not a believer and you just want to know more about what it means to be a Christian, and maybe you only saw people in Church checking their phones while the preacher is teaching, check this out and maybe you'll realize why we're all so crazy about this Lord of ours! 🤩 A beautiful, deep, short book, which shows the incredible knowledge and sensitivity of the author. An example of the fact that you can be both educated and emotionally and spiritually involved in a subject.
My favourite quote from the book:
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
In this beautiful, theologically accurate yet original and deep insight into the relationship of a Christian with God, A. W. Tozer forces the readers to question the intensity of our desire for Him, our will to always put Him first and the authenticity of our pursuit for His full presence in our everyday life. It is easy to feel the presence of God when we pray, worship or read the Scriptures, it's less easy to live our lives having in mind that God is here, with us, every day; He is everywhere, and if we just open our ears and listen, we can hear Him and feel His presence in everything we do.
This book describes the beautiful, incredibly intense pull that a Christian feels when he/she thinks about God - a similar sensation to the desire for a loved one when we first met them - and in doing so encourages us to always pursue this pull, and never let it grow cold. If you ever experienced that pull, the intensity of that emotion, the tears falling down your eyes when you can really feel that the Lord is good and that He loves us and protects us, you know what the author is talking about. If you want to know more about this relationship and about its theological and scriptural references, thus growing as a Christian and never leaving the honeymoon phase with God, you should definitely read this classic. On the other hand, if you are not a believer and you just want to know more about what it means to be a Christian, and maybe you only saw people in Church checking their phones while the preacher is teaching, check this out and maybe you'll realize why we're all so crazy about this Lord of ours! 🤩 A beautiful, deep, short book, which shows the incredible knowledge and sensitivity of the author. An example of the fact that you can be both educated and emotionally and spiritually involved in a subject.
My favourite quote from the book:
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshipers met together, each one looking away to Christ, are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be, were they to become 'unity' conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
November 10, 2013
I read this book over and over. It's the one I'd pick to have on a desert island. The way Tozer talks about faith and living the Christian life--he takes what religion has turned into complicated and noncommittal routines and returns to the blessed simplicity of what it means to pursue God, to fully engage your heart with His. I can't write a review that will do the book justice. It's a short one and can be read in one day, so see for yourself.
February 7, 2017
I read this many moons ago, and just now listened to it again. Very edifying book, with some brilliant sections.
June 20, 2016
An interesting and inspirational guide for Christians seeking to get closer to God.
The book is public domain and is available free from many sources. I downloaded free, from Amazon, to my Kindle. I listened to it on LibriVox, also free, as I read on Kindle.
It is about a two (2) hour read.
The book is public domain and is available free from many sources. I downloaded free, from Amazon, to my Kindle. I listened to it on LibriVox, also free, as I read on Kindle.
It is about a two (2) hour read.
November 22, 2020
A great book to bring the center of our focus to God and get our focus off of ourselves and the world.
December 4, 2013
Tozer writes, "The modern scientist has lost God amid the wonders of His world; we Christians are in real danger of losing God amid the wonders of His Word." Discuss what you feel Tozer means by the second half of his statement.
I’m not sure, but I think he fears we are in danger of living too much by our head knowledge, which is indeed a real danger for christians. We accept with our mind the theological truths of the Bible, but do not show by our actions that we have truly taken them to heart.
Give a favorite quotation from the book and discuss why and how it impacted you.
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers men together, each one looking away to christ are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become “unity” conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
This stood out because it is so easy to get caught up with reacting to the people around you instead of looking to God to give you the ability to love them.
How will what you read in this book affect your relationship with Jesus?
It definitely makes me think about really pursuing God, rather than just being happy with whatever level of spiritual growth I’ve already attained.
I’m not sure, but I think he fears we are in danger of living too much by our head knowledge, which is indeed a real danger for christians. We accept with our mind the theological truths of the Bible, but do not show by our actions that we have truly taken them to heart.
Give a favorite quotation from the book and discuss why and how it impacted you.
“Has it ever occurred to you that one hundred pianos all tuned to the same fork are automatically tuned to each other? They are of one accord by being tuned, not to each other, but to another standard to which each one must individually bow. So one hundred worshippers men together, each one looking away to christ are in heart nearer to each other than they could possibly be were they to become “unity” conscious and turn their eyes away from God to strive for closer fellowship.”
This stood out because it is so easy to get caught up with reacting to the people around you instead of looking to God to give you the ability to love them.
How will what you read in this book affect your relationship with Jesus?
It definitely makes me think about really pursuing God, rather than just being happy with whatever level of spiritual growth I’ve already attained.
November 26, 2014
This book would/will/does require thought and a solid grounding in the Bible. I find the central theme to be of immense and transcendent value.
The theme dealt with has to do with the basic idea of "finding God" vs. "knowing God" vs. "growing in God"...
I could say a lot but as those reading this will be not only atheist vs. theist but also Christians of various denominations. There are places I must disagree with some of whats taught here, but that does not mean that I disagree with the basic point of view.
I can and do highly recommend this for Christians seeking a closer relationship with God.
I won't go into basic disagreements as the bottom line is that I don't think "where we disagree" is on a point of doctrine that would "force" two Christians to have a major disagreement (though some of course would/will. We do always manage that don't we?)
As I said excellent book. Recommended especially for Christian readers.
The theme dealt with has to do with the basic idea of "finding God" vs. "knowing God" vs. "growing in God"...
I could say a lot but as those reading this will be not only atheist vs. theist but also Christians of various denominations. There are places I must disagree with some of whats taught here, but that does not mean that I disagree with the basic point of view.
I can and do highly recommend this for Christians seeking a closer relationship with God.
I won't go into basic disagreements as the bottom line is that I don't think "where we disagree" is on a point of doctrine that would "force" two Christians to have a major disagreement (though some of course would/will. We do always manage that don't we?)
As I said excellent book. Recommended especially for Christian readers.
February 12, 2015
Every Christian should read this book. This book had clairification backed up with scripture. As I was reading, I had a longing in my heart. It's focus is on the Lord, not on what I can do better, or what I need to do, or need not do. It was about surrending and the importantance of knowing who God is. In my own walk with the Lord, I am amazed every year on what there is to know about the Lord, his character, his desires and how much I lack. This book is a freeing that it releases many lies that as christians we can believe. If we believe a lie, we are in bondage in that lie. Only the truth will set us free to love and to surrender. It shows the importance of being well fed with a body of other believers. How we are to beseech the lord to show us his Glory. He is well pleased to show us his mercy but on his terms and not on ours. Which again leads to a total surrender. I loved how each chapter ended in a heart-felt prayer to the Lord. This book is a blessing to read over and over again.
January 21, 2012
I have been wanting to read this book for a long time, and I am amazed that as I completed this book I wondered that had I read it sooner it would not have been as impacting. As is the way with God, timing is everything-perfect and precise.
I will warn this is not a casual read. I found myself reading and re-reading paragraphs over and over. He has a dizzying intellect and an ability to reach to the heart of things which often is no casual venture. My favorite sections regarded pride, God's instruction on holiness, the duality of our existence and how the mundane tasks of daily life may be accepted by God as our worship. The simplicity of the pursuit and how our fallen nature and desires complicate the journey resonate with me.
I do highly recommend this book for those honestly seeking God. In fact, I plan to get a hard copy as it seems to be one of those books I would turn to time and time again for a perspective check and maybe even a new insight should I mature in my walk. May God bless your journey to seek Him wholly!
I will warn this is not a casual read. I found myself reading and re-reading paragraphs over and over. He has a dizzying intellect and an ability to reach to the heart of things which often is no casual venture. My favorite sections regarded pride, God's instruction on holiness, the duality of our existence and how the mundane tasks of daily life may be accepted by God as our worship. The simplicity of the pursuit and how our fallen nature and desires complicate the journey resonate with me.
I do highly recommend this book for those honestly seeking God. In fact, I plan to get a hard copy as it seems to be one of those books I would turn to time and time again for a perspective check and maybe even a new insight should I mature in my walk. May God bless your journey to seek Him wholly!
January 14, 2013
My fourth reading of this classic proves once again that it never fails to challenge, to encourage, and to satisfy. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. AW Tozer's genuine passion for God and to see others encounter and draw near to God is unmistakable. He is relentless with his courageous call for a life lived in opposition to nominal Christianity.
Casual, or common, Christianity is not a legitimate option in Tozer's view of things. The book is basically the author's attempt to walk through the disciplines, or methods of pursuit. He makes a case for each aspect of intentionally growing in knowledge and love for God through exploring the essence of each practice, not so much in mechanics but in spirit. He leaves room for the reader to "fit" each method to his/her own unique personality, but he is intractable with regard to the importance and meaning of each of them.
I will continue to re-visit this every couple of years. This work, along with few other selections, becomes a diagnostic tool for my heart. It is a barometer of my dedication to being a disciple and pursuer of Christ.
Casual, or common, Christianity is not a legitimate option in Tozer's view of things. The book is basically the author's attempt to walk through the disciplines, or methods of pursuit. He makes a case for each aspect of intentionally growing in knowledge and love for God through exploring the essence of each practice, not so much in mechanics but in spirit. He leaves room for the reader to "fit" each method to his/her own unique personality, but he is intractable with regard to the importance and meaning of each of them.
I will continue to re-visit this every couple of years. This work, along with few other selections, becomes a diagnostic tool for my heart. It is a barometer of my dedication to being a disciple and pursuer of Christ.
February 19, 2025
In continuing my reading of A.W. Tozer, I started this book after finishing The Knowledge of the Holy. Both books were similarly impactful in my life and opened my eyes to areas in which I need to really work on my relationship with God. I love that we have books like this readily available for us to read; they’ve been such an immense blessing in my life!
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.
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Takeaways from this book:
•”We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.”
•We have the capacity to know God because we are made in His image.
•”To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”
•We must truly desire to want and know God if we would like for Him to manifest Himself to us. “Complacency is a deadly foe of a spiritual growth.”
•Seeking God and making Him our All will not narrow our lives or restrict our expanding hearts.
•”The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”
•We must be as Abraham, having everything, but possessing nothing.
•We fear to give up our treasures to the Lord for fear of their safety, when in truth, “Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not committed.”
•We only have ourselves for our defense when we feel the need to defend ourselves, but if we come defenseless before the Lord, He will be our defender.
•”God formed us for Himself.”
•”The highest love of God is not intellectual, it is spiritual. God is Spirit and only the spirit of man can know Him really.”
•”We can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus to us.”
•It has become very prevalent to promote self under the guise of promoting God.
•”Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. There must be a work of God in destruction before we are free.”
•”We possess spiritual faculties by means of which we can know God and the spiritual world if we obey the Spirit’s urge and begin to use them.”
•”Faith enables our spiritual sense to function. Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility and numbness toward spiritual things.”
•”Imagination is not faith. Imagination projects unreal images out of the mind and seeks to attach reality to them. Faith creates nothing; it simply reckons upon that which is already there.”
•”At the root of the Christian life lies belief in the invisible. The object of the Christian’s faith is unseen reality.”
•The Presence and the manifestation of God are not the same thing, for we can have one without the other. God is always there even when we are completely unaware of it. “He is manifest only when and as we are aware of His presence. That manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face.”
•We pray for increasing degrees of awareness and a more perfect consciousness of the divine Presence. He is never absent. “He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.”
•”We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures.”
•”The voice of God is the most powerful force in nature, indeed the only force in nature, for all energy is here only because the power-filled Word is being spoken. It is the present Voice which makes the written Word all powerful. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.”
•”God breathed on clay and it became a man; He breathes on men and they become clay.”
•”The tragedy is that our eternal welfare depends upon our hearing and we have trained our ears not to hear.”
•We so often try to explain God rather than simply adoring Him.
•It is of the utmost importance that we spend alone time with God. We are to be still and wait on Him, drawing near to Him so that He may speak to our hearts.
•”A word of God once spoken continues to be spoken.”
•”Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”
•”Faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Truine God. Believing, then, is directing the heart’s attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to “Behold the Lamb of God”, and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.”
•”Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus. Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line.”
•”You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him.”
•”Essentially, salvation is the restoration of a right relation between man and Creator, a bringing back to normal of the Creator-creature relation.”
•”We must begin with God. We are right when, and only when, we stand in a right position relative to God.”
•We owe God every honor that is in our power to give to Him.
•”The pursuit of God will embrace the labor of bringing our total personality into conformity to His.”
•”Not perfection, but holy intention (makes) the difference.”
•God offered rest in meekness. We must drop our artificiality and not care what people think so long as we are right with God. We must recognize that in ourselves we are nothing, but in God, everything.
•Rest is simply release from the heavy burden borne by mankind. “It is not something we do; it is what comes to us when we cease to do.”
•The words of Jesus are the essence of truth. He never guessed; He always knew and knows.
•We try to divide our lives into two categories: secular and spiritual. This does not lead to a life of peace, but instead causes feels of unrest and misgivings. We should have God in ALL aspects of our lives. All that we do should be done to bring Him honor and glory.
.
.
.
Takeaways from this book:
•”We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge within us that spurs us to the pursuit.”
•We have the capacity to know God because we are made in His image.
•”To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”
•We must truly desire to want and know God if we would like for Him to manifest Himself to us. “Complacency is a deadly foe of a spiritual growth.”
•Seeking God and making Him our All will not narrow our lives or restrict our expanding hearts.
•”The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One.”
•We must be as Abraham, having everything, but possessing nothing.
•We fear to give up our treasures to the Lord for fear of their safety, when in truth, “Everything is safe which we commit to Him, and nothing is really safe which is not committed.”
•We only have ourselves for our defense when we feel the need to defend ourselves, but if we come defenseless before the Lord, He will be our defender.
•”God formed us for Himself.”
•”The highest love of God is not intellectual, it is spiritual. God is Spirit and only the spirit of man can know Him really.”
•”We can never exaggerate our obligation to Jesus or the compassionate abundance of the love of Jesus to us.”
•It has become very prevalent to promote self under the guise of promoting God.
•”Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. There must be a work of God in destruction before we are free.”
•”We possess spiritual faculties by means of which we can know God and the spiritual world if we obey the Spirit’s urge and begin to use them.”
•”Faith enables our spiritual sense to function. Where faith is defective the result will be inward insensibility and numbness toward spiritual things.”
•”Imagination is not faith. Imagination projects unreal images out of the mind and seeks to attach reality to them. Faith creates nothing; it simply reckons upon that which is already there.”
•”At the root of the Christian life lies belief in the invisible. The object of the Christian’s faith is unseen reality.”
•The Presence and the manifestation of God are not the same thing, for we can have one without the other. God is always there even when we are completely unaware of it. “He is manifest only when and as we are aware of His presence. That manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face.”
•We pray for increasing degrees of awareness and a more perfect consciousness of the divine Presence. He is never absent. “He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts.”
•”We have within us the ability to know Him if we will but respond to His overtures.”
•”The voice of God is the most powerful force in nature, indeed the only force in nature, for all energy is here only because the power-filled Word is being spoken. It is the present Voice which makes the written Word all powerful. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years.”
•”God breathed on clay and it became a man; He breathes on men and they become clay.”
•”The tragedy is that our eternal welfare depends upon our hearing and we have trained our ears not to hear.”
•We so often try to explain God rather than simply adoring Him.
•It is of the utmost importance that we spend alone time with God. We are to be still and wait on Him, drawing near to Him so that He may speak to our hearts.
•”A word of God once spoken continues to be spoken.”
•”Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God.”
•”Faith is not a once-done act, but a continuous gaze of the heart at the Truine God. Believing, then, is directing the heart’s attention to Jesus. It is lifting the mind to “Behold the Lamb of God”, and never ceasing that beholding for the rest of our lives.”
•”Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus. Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line.”
•”You can see God from anywhere if your mind is set to love and obey Him.”
•”Essentially, salvation is the restoration of a right relation between man and Creator, a bringing back to normal of the Creator-creature relation.”
•”We must begin with God. We are right when, and only when, we stand in a right position relative to God.”
•We owe God every honor that is in our power to give to Him.
•”The pursuit of God will embrace the labor of bringing our total personality into conformity to His.”
•”Not perfection, but holy intention (makes) the difference.”
•God offered rest in meekness. We must drop our artificiality and not care what people think so long as we are right with God. We must recognize that in ourselves we are nothing, but in God, everything.
•Rest is simply release from the heavy burden borne by mankind. “It is not something we do; it is what comes to us when we cease to do.”
•The words of Jesus are the essence of truth. He never guessed; He always knew and knows.
•We try to divide our lives into two categories: secular and spiritual. This does not lead to a life of peace, but instead causes feels of unrest and misgivings. We should have God in ALL aspects of our lives. All that we do should be done to bring Him honor and glory.
October 11, 2019
Excellent book. Rich in theology and scripture, and also full of practical wisdom. It challenged and encouraged me and I highly recommend!
September 14, 2016
"God is here when we are wholly unaware of it. He is manifest only when and as we are aware of his presence. On our part there must be surrender to the Spirit of God, for His work it is to show us the Father and the Son. If we cooperate with Him in loving obedience, God will manifest himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the Light of His face."
I am thankful for this book at this time in my life. I feel like it taught me things I hadn't considered before, and showed me the areas where I was deficient in my relationship with Christ. I will be reflecting upon this book for weeks to come.
I am thankful for this book at this time in my life. I feel like it taught me things I hadn't considered before, and showed me the areas where I was deficient in my relationship with Christ. I will be reflecting upon this book for weeks to come.
February 27, 2018
I would recommend this to any Christian. In fact, once I finished, I ran down to Barnes & Noble and bought 2 extra copies for friends.
I took my time to read it (4.5 months). Read it, shared excerpts with others, meditated on it.
This explores the importance of passion in seeking God by a man who lived with passion for God. It is so easy to get distracted by a noisy and demanding world and this book is spiritual succour
I took my time to read it (4.5 months). Read it, shared excerpts with others, meditated on it.
This explores the importance of passion in seeking God by a man who lived with passion for God. It is so easy to get distracted by a noisy and demanding world and this book is spiritual succour
February 17, 2011
This book was one of the most fruitful and refreshing school assignments I've ever received. I have heard much talk of Tozer lately and now that I have read him I understand why. Every sentences drips with wisdom that has been soaked in much prayer. He writes beautifully and poetically. Such crafted language is beautiful enough to make one want to pursue God. Yet it is not the outer beauty of the writing that captures a person in this book, it is the passionate heart-filled exhortations which overflow with love for Jesus that make one desire to pursue God after reading this book. Tozer writes not only with passion, but also with God-exalting humility. This is seen in his own description of the book:
"This book is a modest attempt to aid God's hungry children so to find Him. Nothing here is new except in the sense that it is a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most delightful and wonderful to me. Others before me have gone much father into these holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame."
I have found light in this book that has enlightened my dull vision and warmth which has impassioned my heart. I greatly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to draw nearer to and deeper with God.
"This book is a modest attempt to aid God's hungry children so to find Him. Nothing here is new except in the sense that it is a discovery which my own heart has made of spiritual realities most delightful and wonderful to me. Others before me have gone much father into these holy mysteries than I have done, but if my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame."
I have found light in this book that has enlightened my dull vision and warmth which has impassioned my heart. I greatly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to draw nearer to and deeper with God.
March 10, 2020
This beautiful little book is a must-read for every Christian. I will be rereading it again, hopefully in the near future. Tozer has a sensitive heart, but he also isn’t afraid to tell it like it is. I underlined and copied out many meaningful lines on which to meditate later. This book is a call to the heart of the believer to get back to the very basic gospel and to seek the Lord with all of oneself. Truly challenging and encouraging at the same time!
February 12, 2021
Full review at a later date.
April 26, 2012
One of the most profound books I’ve ever read was A.W. Tozer’s book The Pursuit of God. Even before I ever read this book and before I even heard of John Piper, God was already laying the foundations in my heart, teaching me the discipline of seeking Him.
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:5 esv
When I first read The Pursuit of God it was like water to my dry soul. I hadn’t ever read anything like it and I couldn’t put it down. Since them I have read it more times than I can count. I now have the added advantage of having it on audio, so I listen to it regularly. Each time I read it I am encouraged in a new way.
I think it would be in line with Tozer to say that we do not take the time to truly study anything anymore. With the dawn of the digital age, we are more susceptible to just move on to the next book without actually grasping everything there is to know in the last one. The Pursuit of God is one of those books that ought to be studied by everyone. It’s not very long, but each chapter is very deep.
While there are several orthodoxy points I would probably take issue with, I cannot read The Pursuit of God without worshiping. Ever chapter finishes with a prayer that convicts my heart and brings the lessons that much closer to my soul.
Next week WOTG will dedicate the whole week to specific lessons from The Pursuit of God and Tozer’s life. I hope that you’ll find value in the lessons, but more-so, I hope you find the time to not only ready Tozer, but to study and know him as you pursue God.
Check out my book reviews every Wednesday at worthyofthegospel.com
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:5 esv
When I first read The Pursuit of God it was like water to my dry soul. I hadn’t ever read anything like it and I couldn’t put it down. Since them I have read it more times than I can count. I now have the added advantage of having it on audio, so I listen to it regularly. Each time I read it I am encouraged in a new way.
I think it would be in line with Tozer to say that we do not take the time to truly study anything anymore. With the dawn of the digital age, we are more susceptible to just move on to the next book without actually grasping everything there is to know in the last one. The Pursuit of God is one of those books that ought to be studied by everyone. It’s not very long, but each chapter is very deep.
While there are several orthodoxy points I would probably take issue with, I cannot read The Pursuit of God without worshiping. Ever chapter finishes with a prayer that convicts my heart and brings the lessons that much closer to my soul.
Next week WOTG will dedicate the whole week to specific lessons from The Pursuit of God and Tozer’s life. I hope that you’ll find value in the lessons, but more-so, I hope you find the time to not only ready Tozer, but to study and know him as you pursue God.
Check out my book reviews every Wednesday at worthyofthegospel.com
November 29, 2021
As Tozer puts it, Our pursuit of God is successful only because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us. We find Him only because He is eager to be found. (Jeremiah 29:13-14)
Many Christians believe in God, but don't live in intimate fellowship with Him. What makes some people so much more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings and correction? What makes some people so willing to give up all this world's "toys" to serve selflessly and wholeheartedly? Tozer proposes that those who actively pursue Him put into place certain attitudes and actions that help them to cultivate their life in Christ. They practice certain spiritual habits and avoid others.
One hindrance to communion with Christ is what Tozer calls "hyphenated sins." They are not something we do; they are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and power. The self-sins are these: self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them. These hidden sins must be rooted out if we are to live in glad obedience to our loving heavenly Father.
This devotional classic is chock full of admonitions and insights. If you want to go deeper in your relationship to Christ, Tozer will point you in the right direction. But be warned, if you are used to fluffy Christianity that requires little or no effort on your part, you may be offended by what Tozer has to say.
Many Christians believe in God, but don't live in intimate fellowship with Him. What makes some people so much more sensitive to the Holy Spirit's promptings and correction? What makes some people so willing to give up all this world's "toys" to serve selflessly and wholeheartedly? Tozer proposes that those who actively pursue Him put into place certain attitudes and actions that help them to cultivate their life in Christ. They practice certain spiritual habits and avoid others.
One hindrance to communion with Christ is what Tozer calls "hyphenated sins." They are not something we do; they are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and power. The self-sins are these: self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them. These hidden sins must be rooted out if we are to live in glad obedience to our loving heavenly Father.
This devotional classic is chock full of admonitions and insights. If you want to go deeper in your relationship to Christ, Tozer will point you in the right direction. But be warned, if you are used to fluffy Christianity that requires little or no effort on your part, you may be offended by what Tozer has to say.
October 6, 2015
Considering Tozer wrote this classic on an all night train from Chicago to Texas, I'm challenged to redeem the time I spend on airplanes!
This intensely spiritual yet practical book gets beyond emotive arguments for pursuing God. Tozer stimulates a hunger for God and teaches us to find him in various ways and placed. He kindles the fire so that we become dissatisfied to religious programs and orthodox theology alone. Nothing less than the presence of God will satisfy.
I was especially challenged by the chapters on meekness, possessing nothing, hearing the voice of God, and apprehending God by faith. Difficult yet worthy goals of discipleship.
A book worth your time.
This intensely spiritual yet practical book gets beyond emotive arguments for pursuing God. Tozer stimulates a hunger for God and teaches us to find him in various ways and placed. He kindles the fire so that we become dissatisfied to religious programs and orthodox theology alone. Nothing less than the presence of God will satisfy.
I was especially challenged by the chapters on meekness, possessing nothing, hearing the voice of God, and apprehending God by faith. Difficult yet worthy goals of discipleship.
A book worth your time.
August 13, 2023
Can’t go wrong with Tozer! This book was very inspiring to me.
September 22, 2022
This book dives deep into spiritual truths and how we can strip away foolish lies we tell ourselves and truly pursue God with our whole heart. There are chapters about what real spiritual treasure is worth compared to earthly riches, how Christ has removed the barrier of our sin so that we can approach God, and the "universal Presence" of God and how we can be more aware of His Presence in our lives. I especially loved the chapter about "The Gaze of the Soul" and how faith is simply looking to God and turning our spiritual eyes to Him. There is also a lovely chapter about the meekness of Christ and how we can rest in Him.
The writing style is simple enough for anyone to follow, but it dives into really deep and meaningful ideas. Every paragraph is so powerful that it speaks to your soul in a special way!
I had to take my time reading this little book, just reading a few pages a day, and then stopping to reflect and pray over what I had read.
I really loved that there is a prayer at the end of each chapter that you can pray, helping you to apply the things you have read to your own spiritual journey.
The writing style is simple enough for anyone to follow, but it dives into really deep and meaningful ideas. Every paragraph is so powerful that it speaks to your soul in a special way!
I had to take my time reading this little book, just reading a few pages a day, and then stopping to reflect and pray over what I had read.
I really loved that there is a prayer at the end of each chapter that you can pray, helping you to apply the things you have read to your own spiritual journey.
December 6, 2021
So enjoyed this! Listened on audio and really felt a stirring in my spirit with many of the things that were talked about. Encouraged me in my walk. Definitely recommend!
October 31, 2021
Thought provoking and worth the read! It's not a long book and I think it's easy to get online for free 😉 honestly, there was a lot Tozer wrote that has hit me after a big life change and things I've noticed within in the church. As Christians, we need to seek God more instead of rituals that are man made.
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