"Mornings with Tozer" (Compiled by Gerald B. Smith)

TITLE: Mornings with Tozer: Daily Devotional Readings
AUTHOR: Gerald B. Smith
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2008, (416 pages).

Aiden Wilson Tozer (aka A.W. Tozer) is one of my favourite authors. Born in 1897 in Newburg, Pennsylvania, Tozer was converted at an age of 18 years old when he heard a street preacher's challenge: "If you don't know how to be saved, just call on God." He did exactly that and in 1919, he pastored his first church and has been a powerful voice within the Alliance Church. He had no formal theological training but writes with a theological depth that continues to engage audiences all over the world. Even after his death in 1963, his books kept his passion for God alive.

This book is a collection of 365 readings from the pen and pulpit of Tozer, compiled by Gerald B. Smith. For one page each day, readers can enter into the short and concise theological teachings that are so uniquely Tozer. Written like a typical "Our Daily Bread" style, each devotional begins with a Scripture verse, followed by a short reading of Tozer's thought, and ending with a brief prayer. While the main reading is Tozer's, the title and the arrangements are Smith's.

Just like what morning coffee can do to wake us up for the day, the daily readings are meant to rev up our spiritual engines for action. Tozer challenges us to read the Bible not merely for devotion but with a keen eye for action (Response to the Word, March 17). Just like Peter's exhortation to believers to persevere when going through trials, Tozer urges believers to not just persevere but to rejoice and to go through life in praise of God (Rejoicing in Trials, April 23). He warns us against compromising with the world, that no hybrid is ever allowed (Compromise is Costly, June 11). Even decision making is a life changer. The most important decisions we can ever make is to obey the Lord (Critical Decisions, July 2). There is an eschatological posture at the end of each month's reading. It helps us know not only what we are saved from, but what we are saved for (What We Shall Be, Sep 29). I appreciate Tozer's no-holds-barred style of blasting those who keep doting on the past and in the process missing out the potential and future glory (Doting on the Past, October 20).

For readers who are interested, there is a companion volume entitled Evenings with Tozer, also compiled by Gerald Smith. Those who constantly complain that they have no time to read or to do devotions should seriously pick up this book.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book is provided to me courtesy of Moody Publishers in exchange for an honest review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.