"The Pursuit of God" by A. W. Tozer

“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, oh God.”

- Psalm 42 verse 1 -

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“There is deep insight, sobriety of style, and a catholicity of outlook that is refreshing. The author has few quotations but he knows the saints and mystics of the centures—Augustine, Nicholas of Cusa, Thomas a Kempis, von Hegel, Finney, Wesley and many more. The ten chapters are heart searching and the prayers at the close of each are for the closet, not pulpit. I felt the nearness of God while reading them.”

Dr. Samuel M. Zwemer

“The Pursuit of God was the fruit of A. W. Tozer’s spiritual exploration into the essence of God’s nature. What resulted from the efforts of this obscure pastor from the Southside of Chicago has left a profound mark on the evangelical church. The 1949 publication of this book thrust Tozer into a respected position of spiritual leadership that he maintained for the remainder of his life. Tozer’s ministry became a spiritual oasis for those of the “fellowship of the burning heart,” to use the phrase he delighted in.”

“...Tozer’s walk with God was a priority with him and he allowed nothing to interfere. It was the basis of his attraction to the Christian mystics. Their absorption in the daily practice of the presence of God was a stimulus for him and he delighted in their spiritual fellowship. He could forgive anyone almost anything if he discovered they had pure intent towards God. Dr Tozer’s prayer life was quite remarkable. His regular habit as to sprawl on his study floor, facedown, and worship God. Often, according to his own testimony, he would lie in silent, wordless worship of God, usually oblivious to his surroundings. Such prayer and worship marked the foundation of his study and preparation for public ministry.”

 “The desire to worship God and to inspire others to a deeper awareness of God are clearly evident in the Pursuit of God. For the person thirsting for the things of God without distracting embellishments, this book will become a faithful companion. There are some books that can be enjoyed by one reading, others are enhanced by many readings, The Pursuit of God is one of the latter.”

James L. Snyder

Preface

“In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct “interpretations” of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water. … “

“But this hunger must be recognized by our religious leaders. Current evangelicalism has (to change the figure) laid the altar and divided the sacrifice into parts, but now seems satisfied to count the stones and rearrange the pieces with never a care that there is not a sign of fire upon the top of lofty Carmel. But God be thanked that there are a few who care. They are those who, while they love the altar and delight in the sacrifice, are yet unable to reconcile themselves to the continued absence of fire. They desire God above all. They are athirst to taste for themselves the “piercing sweetness” of the love of Christ about Whom all the holy prophets did write and the psalmists did sing. There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the principles of the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach the fundamentals of the faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is in their ministry no manifest Presence, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. They minister constantly to believers who feel within their breasts a longing which their teaching simply does not satisfy. I trust I speak in charity, but the lack in our pulpits is real. Milton’s terrible sentence applies to our day as accurately as it did to his: “The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed.” It is a solemn thing, and no small scandal in the Kingdom, to see God’s children starving while actually seated at the Father’s table. The truth of Wesley’s words is established before our eyes: “Orthodoxy, or right opinion, is, at best, a very slender part of religion. Though right tempers cannot subsist without right opinions, yet right opinions may subsist without right tempers. There may be a right opinion of God without either love or one right temper toward Him. Satan is proof of this.” …”

“Sound Bible exposition is an imperative must in the Church of the living God. Without it no church can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition may be carried on in such way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere words that nourish the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in personal experience, they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an end in itself, but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence, may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core and center of their hearts.” - A. W. Tozer.

As with Tozer’s “Knowledge of the Holy”, we find once again a man committed with the task of taking us from the outer sanctuary into the holy of holies, at least figuratively. This is his quest, to connect us to God. Not just to knowledge about God, but to an encountering of our spirit with His. As with the previous book, his writings have a timeless feel to them and leave one pondering each insightful chapter. I recommend you add this to your library and take it into your prayer closet.

Below is a list of the chapter titles. I will attempt to give an accurate gist of each chapter, quoting many portions that I found insightful and compelling. I encourage all to join with me through this read and make comments where you will.

1.     Following Hard After God

2.     The Blessedness of Possessing Nothing

3.     Removing the Veil

4.     Apprehending God

5.     The Universal Presence

6.     The Speaking Voice

7.     The Gaze of the Soul

8.     Restoring the Creator - Creature Relation

9.     Meekness and Rest

10.  The Sacrament of Living