The Pursuit of God

by A.W. Tozer, Samuel M. Zwemer (foreword)

To have found God and still seek Him is a love paradox, rejected by the too-easy-satisfied religious person, but justified by the offspring of the flaming heart in happy experience. This heavenly contradiction was expressed by Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in a musical four-line poem that will be quickly grasped by every worshiping We taste Thee, O Thou Living Bread, And long to feast upon Thee We drink of Thee, the Fountainhead And thirst our souls from Thee to fill.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality, Christian, Christian Living, Christianity

128 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1968

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

[Rebekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As usual, I’m here to say the most recent listening to classic books for equipping, exhorting, and encouraging my faith indeed had me feeling equipped, exhorted, and encouraged. I’ll probably have to listen again!

Listened on Spotify; read by Michael Beck (Back? couldn’t hear recording properly lol).

[Kade Sorenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read! Each page required reflection and consideration to my own personal life and experience with God. I would strongly advise to read this book slowly because there is so much to chew on! I enjoyed how Tozer provided not just propositions on Christian living, but practical examples of how we can truly live out what God has called us to. I would encourage every Christian to read this book at some point. My favorite quote from the book is as follows, “The pursuit of God is a dangerous thing, but it is the only thing worth pursuing." This book is a classic for a reason! :)

[Nick Froese · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can read it in an afternoon, please do. This will change your life, and your walk with God

[Haley Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

ummmm so this is life changing. I am OBSESSED!!! I audibly said “WOW” so many times while reading. this should be read by every Christ follower.

[Heath Kirkwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have heard Tozer quoted and referenced almost as much as CS Lewis. To listen through this book is to find deep, reflective thoughts on God that are also approachable and understandable. In the pursuit of God, Tozer clarifies that this requires the person to know his or her place in relationship to God, with the urgent desire to pursue him continually. In his view of God, I especially appreciated his point that God speaks and His words are still speaking; he resists the view of God’s activity as limited to the past. He also emphasizes faith as seeking our unseen reality. This is worth the listen, and might be better to read and highlight.

[Laura Dauphinee Metz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Language and writing style

Language was very different than what I’m used to. Great insight and I highlighted many passages but it was hard for me to get through this one.

[Ani Martinez · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Above the noise of selfish strife
We hear Thy voice, O Son of Man."

This book is a reflection, a reminder of, and an insight to the theology of the heart. "His track I see and I'll pursue" - The overall premise is simply: don't be complacent in your spiritual growth & don't stop seeking God.

"The man is 'saved' but he is not hungry nor thirsty after God. In fact he is specifically taught to be satisfied and encouraged to be content with little // Promoting self under the guise of promoting Christ is currently so common as to excite little notice." - The sad truth for many Christians is that it's easy to bear the title, but harder to truly walk the walk. Man, would Paul have a field day with the current state of our church as a whole. Not only because of how we behave/think, but because we also so easily get swept into idolatry & become spoonfed by the modern church-leaders instead of relying on God & His word.

"Wherever we turn in the church of God, there is Jesus. He is the beginning, the middle, and the end of everything to us // Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can be removed only in spiritual experience // God must do everything for us. Our part is to yield and trust."

This book is filled with such good reminders and I like how he states from the jump that this isn't anything new conceptually yet it's through seeing it in his perspective that makes it "new." Overall, it's so good to annotate along to.

[T. Ellis| writer and reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE OF MY FAVORITES THIS YEAR!

I read this book as a part of a fundraising challenge. I found the experience of reading this book within the time constraints to be unpleasant. While I greatly enjoyed the novel and may not have read it otherwise, I wish I had more time to read it and really sit with the material. Here I am weeks later, still thinking about Tover’s work. A master of meaningful, raw, and real words. Here are some things I noted and enjoyed about this book:

“To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love, scorned indeed by the too-easily satisfied religionist, but justified in happy experience by the children of the burning heart” (page 8).

Tover has a clear hunger for knowing God in the most intimate ways. He urges believers to step out of their religious ways and seek out God’s character. His work explores the fall of man and how it affects believers (yes, even still today), the redemptive character of God, and how to grow closer to Him.

“The whole work of God in redemption is to undo the tragic effects of that foul revolt, and to bring us back again into right and eternal relationship with Himself (page 20).

What an experience it was to read this book. If you’re looking for something to make you think and bring truth to your soul, read this book. You won’t be disappointed.

[Patrick Lacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the top Christian book of all times and certainly in the top 10 in the 20th century. Tozer should be read by all.

Everything is made to center upon the initial act of “accepting” Christ (a term, incidentally, which is not found in the Bible), and we are not expected thereafter to crave any further revelation of God to our spirit. We have been snared in the coils of a false logic which insists that if we have found Him, we need no more seek Him. This is set before us as the last word in orthodoxy, and it is taken for granted that no Bible-taught Christian ever believed otherwise; thus, the whole testimony of the worshipping, seeking, singing church on that subject is crisply set aside. The experiential heart-theology of a grand army of fragrant saints is rejected in favor of a smug interpretation of Scripture, which would certainly have sounded strange to a Saint Augustine, a Samuel Rutherford, or a David Brainerd.”

— The Pursuit of God

[Marlon Torriente-Ramos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Tozer

Clearly who ever is familiar with Tozer's writing will know already that he was a great theologian and a great thinker of the matters of God and God's word. This book is sincere, inspired, deep and thought provoking. Especially chapter 5 when Tozer dives into the universal presence of God and just how easy we forget or lack understanding of it. What difference would we have on this world and what more could our Lord not accomplish through us if we just understood that He is here now. That God who created the heavens is HERE and NOW. Here with me while I write and there with whomever reads. Here Tozer explores the concept of «receptivity» as it pertains to God's working.
This book is great, and a repeat reader through the years. Not a once and done but a book we should revisit often. May God bless you.

[Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of wisdom and I have 54 highlights which is the most I’ve ever had in one book.

The description of why Abraham was commanded to kill his own son was extremely insightful and I will definitely be studying it more.

“I never intended that you should actually slay the lad. I only wanted to remove him from the temple of your heart that I might reign unchallenged there. I wanted to correct the perversion that existed in your love. Now you may have the boy, sound and well. Take him and go back to your tent.”

[Chelsea Hauser · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book!!! Definitely definitely recommend. The topics were convicting and powerful and the way it was written was very eloquent yet easy to follow and read. In just 10 short chapters, Tozer digs at the heart of humanity and reveals the common patterns of thought and actions humans do that need to align better with genuine relationship with a living God! This book was certainly an eye opener and I feel like my relationship and understanding of God has strengthened heaps!

[Keith Yarter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pursuit Life

This is my second reading of Tozer's Pursuit! I world highly recommended it to be initially read or a return to its pages! Every believer needs a reminder that God is near now and pursues us first, way before we pursue Him! A.W. reminds us and gives proper instructions, within these pages, how to live an abundant and free life in Jesus Christ!

[Keri Weddle · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this read as it really challenged me to think a lot on my own personal walk with the Lord. Tozer’s points were clear but yet very detailed and filled with lots of knowledge. However, since this was written in the 40s, the writing style made it a bit more challenging of a read for myself but I will probably reread it again as its wisdom is always needed.

[Matthew Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I gave this 4 stars is because it was written a long time ago and was a bit hard for me to read haha. Yet, it was extremely rich and encouraging to my soul. I enjoyed Tozers' words and was challenged by his personal pursuit of God.

[Randa couch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything Tozer wrote is amazing. This is one that is on my repeat reading list. This is probably the third reading for me and I glean yet more each time. Love this book.

[Carol Ghattas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the 1948 copy owned by my father. It's a classic and excellent work.

A recommended read.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short encouraging book to gauge where your internal compass is pointed. Worth another slower and reflective read.

[Brendon McCarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A spiritual Gem for any Christian longing to experience a deeper relationship with God.

[JoeBob Trash · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just don’t know.

[Traci Carson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read this book over and over. It has helped to deepen my relationship with God by revealing areas where I am deficient.

[Samuel Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because a dear brother of mine said it was one of his favorite books. I'm pretty sure it was good and I'm pretty sure I liked it.

[terry curtis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Godly wisdom amen

This is an amazing book full of Godly wisdom and one of the best Christian books I have read all Christian's should read it

[Carl Leiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing.

[ignacio L. Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

the pursuit of God

This classic is paramount to today’s books. The context is authentic and genuine to living a life of faith toward God.

[Sarah Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book club pick! I was always confused and appreciated the conversations centered around each chapter

[Sara Krivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a small book and so many highlights! Will definitely read again (and again).

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great points, though a bit confusing at the beginning. (Was just it me or because Tozer wrote the book overnight?) I found the message coming through clearer as the book progressed.

[Lennox Bradshaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book but not a great audiobook. I should have read a hard copy so that I would focus better.

[Breana Pope]

This book was SO good. I highly recommend it.