A.W. Tozer gives 46 devotional thoughts wrapping around the idea of the individuals development in godliness. The topics varied around true worship, cruciformity, being over doing, love by faith and not sight, etc. Tozer, in his conviction and piercing writing style, is perfect for the new believer that needs the commander-style discipler, learning the values of discipline and consistency in devotion. Though this is the highlight of the book (of the author mainly) it is also the lowlight.
Tozer does not seem to have taken the step from young, developing religion into the mature non-dualistic spirituality of an elder. This is seen by his contradictory writing. At the end of his chapter "To Be Not To Do" (chapter 21) Tozer states, "The message 'Christ in you, the hope of glory' (Col. 1:27) needs to be restored to the Church. We must show a new generation of nervous, almost frantic, Christians that power lies at the center of the life.... The desire to be dramatically active is proof of our religious infantilism; it is a type of exhibitionism common to the kindergarten" (92). The point is valid, but in the context of the rest of the book, it is confusing. Tozer writes as a schoolmaster, harking at actions and simultaneously shaming the being. Is it not a contradiction to value the inner life by whipping the body? To continue this point, Tozer later writes how "we can work and walk without music and if we have true faith we can walk with God without feeling" (153). This is said within a paragraph that has so much potential to lean towards a stage theory, dark-night-of-the-soulesque type understanding, yet stops too short. I believe in Tozer's hard pressed teaching, but only for the immature believer that needs the power of discipline and self-control within his journey. However, for him to infuse his schoolmaster style with teachings that "seem" mature yet is not fully fleshed out is confusing for the reader and frustrating for those trying to make it past the hump of immature to mature religion. For that reason, this book receives its two stars.