Born After Midnight

by A.W. Tozer

Revivals, says Tozer - require a serious mind and a determined heart to pray past the ordingary into the unusual. Urges readers to find their place in the realm of intimate union with Christ.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Christian Living, Faith, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christian Non Fiction

142 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1959

About the author

Aiden 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.

Reviews

[Collin Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Books like these make you ask the question “am I even a Christian?” And then I lift my eyes to my Savior where my salvation rests and breathe a sigh of relief.

Tozer accurately depicts cultural Christianity and pokes and prods at the Christian who is half-hearted. I found this super convictional and motivating to pursue after Christ and formation unto him with a renewed zeal (or at least that is my prayer).

This type of renewal comes to those who want it bad enough, and often after midnight.

[Jimmy Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Classic Tozer! Tozer never disappoints whether it be one of his famous titles, or one not quite as well known like this one. I’ve read most of his titles by this point and loved them all, but this one is even better than several others. This title is one where he seems a little less on edge, but as challenging as ever. The title is a reference to his belief that revivals are born after midnight because that’s the time most have already given up. He really aims at personal spiritual renewal in this book. He tackles several subjects in light of renewal in his indomitable style.

He writes of our now missing inner witness that should radiate from Christians. He explains the concept of spiritually living in times of crisis. He explains the hollowness of words without deeds. There’s far more chapters than I can relay in this review, but he tackles dealing with the devil, our thinking, failure, “sanctifying the ordinary”, and much more. The chapter on wealth was especially good.

Moody has a whole series of these fine paperback Tozer titles and it’s a great idea to secure them all. Get this one near the beginning of your acquisitions! It is a dandy!

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Humphrey Kutosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tozer's Born After Midnight has profoundly taught me that revival comes to those who most earnestly seek it. Throughout the book, Tozer's words have continually pricked at my heart, calling me from a state of slumber and complacent Christianity. I am beginning to experience revival in my life, and I can testify to its impact. My prayer is that this fire continues to burn.
This is a book I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone longing to see revival in their life. While it won't bring about revival on its own—that's God's work—it can certainly be the spark that ignites your journey. Born After Midnight may stir you to wrestle with God for revival in your life.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compilation of writings by A.W. Tozer, combined into 34 chapters exhorting readers to move past settling for mediocre Christianity that is no Christianity, but to continue striving, growing, and clinging close to God for sanctification.

Tozer quickly has become one of my favorite authors after reading a few of his books like Knowledge of the Holy. The chapters are short in length but chock full of edifying and convicting insights that encourage me in my faith and remind me to stay alert.

The title of this book comes from the saying that revivals are born after midnight, not because that is the best part of the night, but because those with a genuine seeking faith will continue in endurance, pushing past the midnight hour and into eternity. We must not settle for a convenient faith, one that fits into a nice little box, but one that continues to strive to walk more nearer God, and bring greater glory.

Easy to read, concise, and powerful. This book took a while for me to get through not because it was long in length, but because often I would have to takes breaks to sit back and meditate or absorb the chapters, and often out of a convicted heart. Highly recommend this book, well worth the read, and excellent book on living the Christian life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Brother Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Probably best read as a devotional. The chapters could all be independent of one another. Tozer's emphasis on experience vs solely knowledge of God is a good emphasis that all evangelicals should look deeply into.

[Cory Jew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Filled with so many spiritual insights I highly recommend! Tozer has a way of writing that speaks not just to the heart but opens your mind in an engaging way.

[VikToriya Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

A. W. Tozer was a strong theologian, who could explain main topics of Christianity and Christian living… In Born After Midnight he wrote about faith is a journey, not a destination. What do we do after we’ve got saved? Topics like keys to life, power of God, words and deeds, lust vs spiritual, the reality of God as the Light vs the reality of devil as a shadow, our focus on God, the greatness came to serve, the power of sanctifies thought, quality of living, humble heart, refined, return the “Oh!” in our prayers, little matter the most.

Strong theological points.

[Jeffrey Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very convicting! Some excellent thoughts within these pages. Here are a few thoughts I gleaned from this book:



Man is as filled with the Spirit as he wants to be.

Is our Christianity today that of the first century Christians? It should be.

Man is lost but not abandoned.

We Christians are long on talk but short on deeds.

We don’t expect our prayers to be answered, and would be shocked if they were.

It’s easier to pray for God’s help to carry our cross then to actually pick it up and carry it.

To be right we must think right. Psalm 119:59

True greatness lies in character, not in position.

If my will is to do God’s will, no conflicts will be a surprise.

God cares more about quality than He does size.

Releasing is the Bible way of keeping.

The world cannot help us with matters of the heart.

The Christian that withdraws from other Christians greatly harms his own soul. God made us to need each other.

Trust God in the darkness until the light returns.

God saves men to make them worshippers.

Fellowship with God leads directly to obedience and good works.

No man has fallen into sin without dwelling on it first.

[Meg Lyall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well thought out book with succinctly made points that use logic and also speak from the heart.

“We should, for instance, accept the wisdom of God in nature. In the course of a lifetime, there may be a thousand things we could wish had been different, but the word wish is not in the Christian's vocabulary. This very word connotes a fretful rebellion against the ways of God in His universe. Let's accept that universe.

Again, accept yourself. Apart from sin, which you have forsaken and which you mean to practice no more, there is nothing about yourself which you need be ashamed. That you are who you are and what you are, that you were born of your particular hereditary line, that you are of your particular sex, race, colour, size; that you were born into these times and not into some other period of history - for these things, thank God sincerely and accept your divinely appointed status. Cease to vex yourself about anything over which you have no control. "Keep thy heart with all diligence" (Proverbs 4:23), and God will look after the universe. It's remarkable what peace this simple spiritual philosophy will bring to the soul."

[Dianne Bright · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the believer or just the searching soul—go deeper in your understanding of God and Spirit and the realm that awaits us all. Remind yourself that there is a Creator, who holds us all inside his creative hands. “Every advance made by mankind in any field began as an idea to which nothing for the time corresponded. The mind of the inventor simply took bits of familiar ideas and made out of them something that was not only wholly unfamiliar but that, up to that time, was altogether nonexistent. Thus we create things and, by so doing, prove ourselves to have been made in the image of the Creator.”

[Will Norrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have gained much from Tozer and his writings over the years, but the structure of this book does not provide enough room/flow to develop his thoughts or tie them effectively to the central theme. Tozer’s critical spirit too comes out more in these short bursts- he was a prophetic voice, but when he comments more on culture (as he does here about the 1950s emerging evangelical America context) and moves away from his intimate connection to the God of Scripture, his tone suffers.

Read Tozer, and read this book, but I would not choose this book as an introduction to him or to evaluate his best work.

[Justin Ruszkiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal read, which doesn't surprise me because A.W. Tozer is just a phenomenal writer and man of God! I liked how this book covered a multitude of topics and didn't just stick to one thing. liked how each chapter was short but right to the point with some pretty practical and powerful truths. And I liked how sincere and intentional Tozer is with each of his words throughout this book. I definitely will be reading this again someday, as this has become one of my favorite reads from this year.

[Angelynn Ballew · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Tozer is able to get to the root of his topic. He is not one to mince words. This book is easily read as a devotional, as the chapters are short. Encouraging for faith and truths that are counter-culture.

[Rachael Hoffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is it that writings for 50+ years ago can be as true today as the day it was written. We are a culture that worship Eros and we reap the world wind of his fruit.

Let our hearts and minds follow and believe with truth and sincerity to effect real change.

[joyce a stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tozer declares truth

A. W. Tozer declares the truth in a deep and countercultural way. He does not accept popular fads of our culture or religion. He is only satisfied with proclaiming biblical truth.

[Marcella Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

“It may be said without qualification that every man is as holy and as full of the holy spirit as he wants to be. He may not be as full as he wishes he were, but he is most certainly as full as he wants to be.”

[Christine Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Jordan Reichert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tozer is always good. This is Tozer at his best, I think. I liked this one better than the standard go-to top 1 or 2.

[Gordon Paisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lot's of good insight, efficiently delivered. This book gave me lots to think about in terms of the connection of my actions with what I claim to believe. This is one to re-read.

[Laverne Ombadykow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book prayerfully, asking God to show me where I need to humbly confess sin and change. Life changing read.

[Trushal]

good

[Aryanne De Ocampo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tozer writes with humble urgency, and calls attention to day to day things that may simply be slipping by a Christian's mind. Offers challenge, and hope.

[Levi Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book (Possibly due to the short length of the chapters). My favorite chapter was on why Christians are (tragically) lukewarm about Christ’s return.

[Daevora Weger · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, A.W. Tozer, a man of God, always full of wisdom. This book is so soul-piercing!

[Kunle Obiy]

Good

[Joyce Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep, practical, faith-stretching book as you would expect from Tozer.

[Ifeoluwa Shobande · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very great reread for me. This book is deep, touches a lot of areas that we Christian have changed or let Go..



Thank A. W. TOZER for this book. God bless you bountiful 💗💗💗❣️❣️❣️❣️❣️

[Dlynn1116 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn’t give this book enough time. I need the hard copy

[Fayye Ann Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tozer's words are resounding sobering even to this generation.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Classic Tozer. Amazingly current though written almost 58 years ago.