A.W. Tozer Pursued God and Found Him

Many people pursue God half-heartedly. A.W. Tozer pursued God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. And, as promised (Jeremiah 29:13), Tozer found God and hung on.

Fortunately for you and me, Mr. Tozer chose to actively guide the rest of us along the path, teaching us a lifestyle that started with worship and commitment to God and continued that way for over fifty years.

A Quick Bio of A. W. Tozer

A.W. Tozer was born Aiden Wilson Tozer on April 21, 1897 in Western Pennsylvania.

At the age of 16, he heard a street preacher declare “just call on God, saying, ‘Lord, be merciful to me a sinner.'” Wrestling with God for some time at home, Tozer emerged from his attic sanctuary a new creature in Christ.

That changed life was permanent and powerful. At age 22, with no formal seminary training, Tozer was assigned to preach at a small church in Nutter Fort, West Virginia. Over the more than 55 years in ministry, he would serve as a pastor in the Christian and Missionary Alliance (CMA) church, including a large church in Chicago from 1928 onward.

In addition to pastoring and public speaking, Tozer added a radio show (1951) and became the editor of the CMA periodical now known as “The Alliance”.

Tozer Was a Modern Mystic

But Mr. Tozer’s active life in ministry did not overshadow the one thing that was central to him. His life of prayer and worship provided the core power in his ministry. His purpose in life was to worship God. That started with morning time “practicing the presence of God.” From there he was able to go into the world and worship that God in the presence of people. His ministry was a continuation of the offering of worship.

He called himself a Christian mystic. To reduce confusion, he then went on to define that term:

“The word ‘mystic’ as it occurs in the title of this book refers to that personal spiritual experience common to the saints of Bible times and well known to multitudes of persons in the post-biblical era. I refer to the evangelical mystic who has been brought by the gospel into intimate fellowship with the Godhead.
His theology is no less and no more than is taught in the Christian Scriptures. He walks the high road of truth where walked prophets and apostles, and where down the centuries walked martyrs, reformers, Puritans, evangelists and missionaries of the cross. He differs from the ordinary orthodox Christian only because he experiences his faith down in the depths of his sentient being while the other does not. He exists in a world of spiritual reality. He is quietly, deeply, and sometimes almost ecstatically aware of the Presence God in his own nature and in the world around him.
His religious experience is something elemental, as old as time and the creation. It is immediate acquaintance with God by union with the Eternal Son. It is to know that which passes knowledge.”
THE CHRISTIAN BOOK OF MYSTICAL VERSE, Christian Publications, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

A.W. Tozer Taught Me Private Worship

I have been so blessed to have access such a large library of writings by A.W. Tozer. It will take a while for me to read everything he wrote. But I have listed the books below that have been the most helpful, especially to my personal worship.

I am becoming that person that connects with the Spirit in morning and allows it to flow into my life all day long. Mr. Tozer has given me concrete steps in making that happen.

The Pursuit of God

A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God has been regarded as a classic Christian work since its publication in 1948. Tozer, encourages the reader to place their focus on a deeper spiritual life focused on the teachings of Christ rather than the distractions of the world.

The Crucified Life

What Does it Mean to Be “Crucified With Christ?”During his lifetime, A.W. Tozer was often invited to speak at seminaries, churches, and Bible conferences on the topic of the cross and its meaning for the Christian life. This text is a compilation of many years of teaching on the life of the Crucified Christian.

Knowledge of the Holy: Knowing God Through His Attributes

In this powerful book, Tozer skillfully outlines the Attributes of God to draw his readers closer to God. I often use the attributes of God as a source text for worship. As we take time to meditate on who He is, God expands our hearts in love and worship.

Purpose of Man: Designed to Worship

“Worship is man’s full reason for existence. Worship is why we are born and why we are born again.”–A.W. Tozer
Mr. Tozer found his greatest joy in practicing the presence of God. Worship was his focus and his passion. This book brings great clarity to why we worship and how are to worship

Tozer teaches how to worship in Spirit and in Truth. As we worship privately throughout the week, we can bring our hearts together with others on Sundays.

The Purpose of Man is the perfect introduction to Tozer. What he offers on the subject of worship will challenge you to reconsider your life’s priorities as well as provide coaching on how to practice the presence of God in your personal worship.