The Pursuit of God: Updated Edition

What started on Twitter as an interest in the things this man said--I found myself "liking" and "retweeting" everything he was quoted as saying--has become a full-fledged soul connection as I continued reading this gem. "The Pursuit of God" is incredibly "fresh"'in its language--Tozer's directness and simplicity/conciseness of wording transcend these seven decades; most anyone could pick up this text and easily connect to the ideas presented within. He says things and addresses issues within the modern church and believers which are absolutely just as relevant as ever before--if not moreso. Each chapter concluded with a prayer, and while a bit on the formal side in their construct, I found myself stopping to pray, reading each prayer out loud, and, many times, repenting for my own flawed ways of thinking. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who feels an urge or stirring within them to press in closer to the Lord. I would recommend this to anyone who, like me, looks around and wonders how "off course" the church, Christians, & self have become--because he addresses issues that are still plaguing us today. One more thing, if I may: I am not someone who reads many books based on someone else's ideas about man's relationship with God--& if/when I do, I usually only read parts of the book--rarely all. I read every word of this book and underlined passages from start to finish. I will absolutely read it again, and soon, to prayerfully ascertain what needs to be embedded forever in my spirit. Nothing replaces the reading, studying, & contemplation of the Bible itself, of course, but this text applies the Word in a modern cultural context which, I believe, is absolutely necessary--it most certainly is for me, at least. So thankful I "stumbled" upon this book when I did!

This book has become a classic of the Christian faith. Knowing God, knowing more and more about God, His attributes, and His heart is essential for a full and satisfied life. This book can help jump-start your own pursuit of God. Following are a few quotes to whet your appetite to read on: The man who has God for his treasure has all things in One. Many ordinary treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or if he must see them go, one after one, he will scarcely feel a sense of loss, for having the Source of all things he has in One all satisfaction, all pleasure, all delight. Whatever he may lose, he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in One, and he has it purely, legitimately, and forever. The way to deeper knowledge of God is through the lonely valleys of soul poverty and giving up of all things. The continuous and unembarrassed interchange of love and thought between God and the spirit of the redeemed man is the throbbing heart of New Testament religion. the presence of God is the central fact of Christianity. At the heart of the Christian message is God Himself waiting for His redeemed children to push in to conscious awareness of His presence. The world is perishing for lack of the knowledge of God, and the church is famishing for want of His presence. The instant cure of most of our religious ills would be to enter His presence in spiritual experience, to become suddenly aware that we are in God and that God is in us. God is here. Wherever we are, God is here. There is no place, there can be no place, where He is not. Ten million intelligences standing at as many points in space and separated by incomprehensible distances can each one say with equal truth, God is here. No point is nearer to God than any other point. It is exactly as near to God from any place as it is from any other place. No one is in mere distance any farther from or any nearer to God than any other person is. Let any man turn to God in earnest, let him begin to exercise himself unto godliness, let him seek to develop his powers of spiritual receptivity by trust and obedience and humility, and the results will exceed anything he may have hoped in his leaner and weaker days. Any man who by repentance and a sincere return to God will break himself out of the mold in which he has been held, and will go to the Bible itself for his spiritual standards, will be delighted with what he finds there. The facts are that God is not silent, has never been silent. It is the nature of God to speak. The second person of the Holy Trinity is called the Word. The Bible is the inevitable outcome of God’s continuous speech. It is the infallible declaration of His mind for us, put into our familiar human words. I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once spoken, but it is also a book which is now speaking. 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 meeting 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. So let us begin with God. Behind all, above all, before all is God. He is first in sequential order, above in rank and station, exalted in dignity and honor. As the self-existent One, He gave being to all things, and all things exist out of Him and for Him.

Tozer is a classic religious writer. He has his way with words and expressions to the most astounding degree. This could be the result of utmost absorption of his mind in God and also his unfathomable gift. The following quote is rather long, but it's worth the read. "The sincere plain man knows that the world is real. He finds it here when he wakes to consciousness, and he knows that he did not think it into being. It was here waiting for him when he came, and he knows that when he prepares to leave this earthly scene it will be here still to bid him good-bye as he departs. By the deep wisdom of life he is wiser than a thousand men who doubt. He stands upon the earth and feels the wind and rain in his face and he knows that they are real. He sees the sun by day and the stars by night. He sees the hot lightning play out of the dark thundercloud. He hears the sounds of nature and the cries of human joy and pain. These he knows are real. He lies down on the cool earth at night and has no fear that it will prove illusory or fail him while he sleeps. In the morning the firm ground will be under him, the blue sky above him, and the rocks and trees around him as when he closed his eyes the night before. So he lives and rejoices in a world of reality. With his five senses he engages this real world. All things necessary to his physical existence he apprehended by the faculties with which he has been equipped by the God who created him and placed him in such a world as this." Chapter 4, "Apprehending God", P. 36,37 I have nothing much else to say except that this work will become world classic literature. Tozer would stand up among men as much as a Steinbeck or a Hemingway of religion. A person would gain so much from reading him and will come out feeling more blessed than ever. "In himself, nothing; in God everything. " Chapter 9, Meekness and Rest, P. 89

This author had a way of putting his finger, ever-so-gently and precisely upon the stinking thinking that keeps us from intimacy with the Almighty. Starting with the fact that this is something our Creator desires and ending with the fact that our fellowship with Him can be unbroken, even in the most mundane, ordinary tasks, Tozer takes the mysticism our of walking with God and makes it simple, practical and attainable for the person willing to make God first. Each chapter is like a devotional, starting with a Scripture passage and ending with a prayer, with great teaching in between. Due to its age, this classic work uses archaic language and quotes the King James Version of the Bible, which may require more concentration for some readers. However, the editors of this updated edition have helped somewhat. From his tone, I imagine the author must have been one of those quiet, reverential people who seem to walk in such peace and tranquility, so patient and kind. If you want to know God that way and live people as you ought to, this is a book that will quietly reorder your priorities and bring your heart into alignment with the one who delight in your presence even more than you knew it was possible to enjoy His! And the best part is that this ebook, like God’s grace to the hungry soul, is free!

This is a must read for every Christian regardless of denomination or creed. It's honestly is one of the best books I've read in my 42 years as a Christian. When I was a newly saved believer it had a big impact on my walk with God. I just reread it and my hunger for God is starting to grow.

I had read this book a long time ago and it was so refreshing to read it again. It is a timeless book that speaks to the heart of every man and woman who is in the pursuit of God. This edition has been updated so is easier to read and understand. I was amazed as I read The Pursuit of God as it seemed like it had been written today. Sometimes we forget that the troubles of man never change and that the things we're seeing today have been seen before. Not only that, but the heart of man is always looking for an answer and it is the pursuit of God and the relationship with God that fulfills us. So many in the church are not being fed the Word of God. As Miilton says, "The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed." So many of our churches are feeding us milk and platitudes when what we need is meat and something substantial. Tozer gives us so much in this little book in teaching us how to grow closer to the Lord. How to get more out of our time that we spend with the Lord. He inspires us to long for the Lord, and in that longing, to spend the quality time in getting to know him and be in a true relationship with Him. This book has ignited the soul fires for me again. I highly recommend this book as it will grow your relationship with God and give you a fire for that pursuit of Him! I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. *This book was provided to me by the publisher Aneko Press

Wow! What a good book. Read a chapter or two a day for a week and was looking forward to it everyday. The updated version includes the scriptures already written out so you do not have to reference them, highly recommend this version. The book may have been from 1948 but was very timely and current in same type of problems we now deal with. A. W. Tozer was obviously led by the Spirit in his writing of this book. Very thoughtful and insightful in his understanding of what it truly means to be a Christian in the modern world. Some great understanding and knowledge of how to help others pursue a God who loves us and wants a relationship with him. Interestingly enough I read this book for my personal extra read time while leading a small group through Frances Chan's "Crazy Love" while in chapter 6. Was very good timing even if not totally intentional. Yes, the style of English it's written in was old proper but it did not hinder my read or comprehension of the material written. At the end of each chapter is a small conclusive prayer, which was great. I would pray what was written adding a few other thoughts and meditate a little at this point. Even sometimes pause while reading to meditate on the author's thoughts or scripture included. This book will help you to understand our Lord and Savior. It will help you to draw close to Him. It will aide your journey to live a life for Jesus with purpose and overcome some of the difficulty we face. This book will make you question, think, seek and desire The Pursuit of God.

If you were attracted to the title and perhaps the history of this fine author I will say with surety that this work will not disappoint!! It is a book for the serious of heart and desiring to draw closer to God and reap the benefits of communion and a greater anointing. Author A.W. Tozer holds nothing back in his straightforward way of revealing how sin, self, and pride are stumbling blocks preventing true union with God. In each of these chapters the reader will gain greater clarity on how to pursue God and follow hard after Him. His illustration of the Old Testament tabernacle will relay how the interior journey of the soul goes from sin to God's presence. The many sins of "self" will need to be brought to the cross, he states before the veil of true communion can take place. "Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. We must confess, forsake, repudiate the self life and then reckon it crucified ". As you discover how a defective faith can result in spiritual numbness, too will be the revelation of how obedience can give Inward revelation and acute perception, enabling us to experience God as one pure in heart. Programs and church attendance can still leave one inwardly bankrupt. Tozer exhorts us to get still to wait on God to hear him speak to our hearts. Accept His full Lordship and give forth complete submission. "We will acquire a new view point and mindset and a new power will begin to surprise us". This book, quite frankly, will revolutionize your life if you determine wholeheartedly to be a "doer"and not just a "hearer". These are simple, yet profound principles upon which any believer can follow if they choose to do so. I give this book a five star rating for the quality content and to the point principles. Allow it to change your life forever.

Out of all of A.W. Tozer’s books, this one is by far my favorite. It’s not the kind of book you read just once—it’s one you return to again and again, especially in seasons when your hunger and thirst for God begin to fade. Every time I read it, it helps realign my heart and renew my love and desire for the Lord. A truly powerful and soul-stirring read.

Amazing book written by a true man of God. Can not recommend this book highly enough

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Oh God... Where are more of your men, and women like this?

I am grateful to God for encountering this book this lifetime, for it has enlightened and deepened my intimacy with God. I recommend this book to all who earnestly seek God and desires to know how to go about it. God be exalted🙌