Tag Archives: A.W. Tozer

Prayers, The Pursuit

The Spirit of Expectation

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When We Believe, He Comes

Beloved, something eternal stirs in the heart that waits on God. Not with arms folded, but with arms lifted. Not in sleepy ritual, but with trembling faith. This is the Spirit of Expectation—the holy fire that has always preceded the movement of the Holy Spirit. And it is this fire that God is kindling once again. This Spirit of Expectation must be embraced.

I have seen many things over the years—church services filled with passion, others heavy with routine. But one recent moment marked me deeply. I was at a Friday evening worship service, simple and quiet. A husband and wife led us in just one song. After it ended, they declared over the congregation, “The Lord is here.” And He was. Not in theory, not in concept—He was tangibly present. Glory broke in like the sun through storm clouds. Why? Because someone believed. Someone proclaimed with faith. Expectation opened the door, and the King walked through.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her!” (Luke 1:45, NASB). This blessing, spoken over Mary, is a beacon to us all. She didn’t wait to see the promise before believing—she believed first. And so must we. When we sing our songs without faith, we offer noise. But when we worship in expectation, heaven listens, and God responds.

The early Church understood this. They waited in the upper room, not bored but burning. They had heard the words of Yeshua—“You will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now” (Acts 1:5, NASB)—and they believed. So they waited. Not passively, but “continually devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14, NASB). And then, “suddenly a noise like a violent rushing wind came from heaven” (Acts 2:2, NASB). The fire didn’t come to the curious; it came to the convinced. Their Spirit of Expectation brought divine results.

Expectation is the forerunner of glory. Before the Red Sea parted, Moses lifted his staff in obedience, expecting God to act. “Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord”(Exodus 14:13, NASB). Before the fire consumed the altar, Elijah soaked the sacrifice, expecting God to respond with fire (1 Kings 18:36–38). And He did. Why? Because they expected Him to move.

Moses on the Mountain — a lone prophet stands with staff in hand, watching the light of God break through the valley, expectant for the fire to fall.

The tragedy today is not that God is silent—it’s that we no longer expect Him to speak. We host services without watching for Him. We pray without believing for answers. We gather without hunger. And yet, the Lord waits to be gracious to us (Isaiah 30:18). He desires to be welcomed, not as a guest, but as the rightful King. This Spirit of Expectation must be rekindled.

You must rise, dear one. Awake from slumber. Shake off the dust of disappointment and the cloak of unbelief. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1, NASB). Don’t just go through the motions—press in with belief. Expect God to break in when you pray. Expect Him to heal when you ask. Expect Him to speak when you listen. The Spirit still moves where He is wanted. Embrace the Spirit of Expectation in every aspect of your life.

That night at worship reminded me: it doesn’t take a stadium or a crowd. It takes faith. It takes someone who will say with confidence, “The Lord is here,” and mean it. When that word was spoken, it wasn’t a suggestion—it was a declaration. And He answered faith with presence.

The Church must recover this. Revival will not come to the disinterested. It will come to those who cry out, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning” (Psalm 130:5–6, NASB).

Are you watching? Are you waiting? Or are you merely going through the motions? Yeshua is ready to visit His people, but we must prepare Him room. Let your heart become an upper room again—filled with prayer, filled with worship, filled with expectation. Let the Spirit of Expectation guide your every step.

When we believe, He comes. When we proclaim in faith, He is faithful to answer. This is the Spirit of Expectation. And it is time for the Church to awaken.

I watched the sky, I watched the flame,
I waited long with lifted head.
He came, not late, nor wrapped in shame—
He came just as the prophets said.

Prayer

Lord Yeshua, awaken in me a Spirit of Expectation. Forgive me for every time I sang without belief, prayed without hope, and gathered without hunger. Stir my soul to long for You again. I do not want empty religion—I want Your presence. Let my heart believe that You will do what You have said. I lift my eyes to You. Come, Lord—come into my worship, my home, my life. I wait for You. I believe You. I expect You. Amen.

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Be Still

Speechless in the Presence of God

Have you ever been so overwhelmed by the presence of God that words failed you? I do not write to you with human wisdom but as one who has beheld His glory. There is a holy hush—a moment beyond language—where the soul is left speechless in the presence of God. This silence is not empty; it is full of awe, overflowing with revelation, and saturated with divine love.

Scripture tells us what happened on the Mount of Transfiguration: “While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them … A voice came from the cloud, saying, ‘This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!’” (Luke 9:34–35, NASB). In that moment, the disciples were speechless. Not because they were confused, but because they were overtaken by glory.

What Does It Mean to Be Speechless in the Presence of God?

Not all silence is sacred. Some remain silent because they are spiritually dry. But when the Holy Spirit reigns in a fully surrendered heart, silence becomes sacred space. It is the final crescendo after praise and worship have poured out every word we can offer.

Here is the divine progression:

  1. Praise bursts forth — we speak, pray, and testify.
  2. Worship rises — songs overflow from the heart.
  3. Silence descends — not from lack, but from glory too heavy to carry in words, leaving us truly speechless.

This isn’t stillness born of confusion or apathy. Isaiah’s silence cried out, “Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips … for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies” (Isaiah 6:5, NASB). When you see God rightly, you know that no song is worthy and no word rich enough.

Why Silence Can Bring You Closer to God

A. W. Tozer wrote, “More spiritual progress can be made in one short moment of speechless silence in the awesome presence of God than in years of mere study.” Why? Because in those moments, God writes on your heart directly. You don’t just hear about Him—you experience Him.

We often fill our spiritual lives with noise—devotionals, sermons, and prayers. But when was the last time you waited? When was the last time you stepped beyond the veil and stood in His presence without asking, without speaking—just beholding and being speechless?

Moses entered the cloud and came out radiant (Exodus 34:29). You too are invited—not to observe from afar, but to enter the cloud of glory, the presence of El Shaddai. Not just once, but daily.

The Cloud of Glory

Imagine a traveler standing before a great mountain shrouded in mist. As he steps into the cloud, he can no longer see the path or the world behind him. But he hears a whisper in the stillness—not from outside, but within. He has entered the presence, not with understanding, but with surrender. There, in the silence, the Voice speaks clearly, leaving him speechless.

How to Cultivate Holy Silence in Your Life

If you long to be transformed and are hungry for revival in your soul, create space for God’s presence. Here’s how:

  • Set aside time daily not just for prayer, but for silence before God.
  • Turn off distractions. Let your phone, music, and noise wait.
  • Enter with worship. Let praise rise, then let the Spirit lead into silence.
  • Listen and wait. Don’t rush the moment. God speaks in the stillness.

These moments may be short, but their fruit is eternal. You will not always walk away with answers, but you will walk away with Him. And that is the goal.

Final Thoughts: The Power of the Cloud

God in the Glory

You do not need to fear the silence. Embrace it. For it is there you will truly hear Him. When words are stripped away, what remains is faith. What remains is intimacy. Be speechless in the presence of God, and you will come to know Him as you never have before.

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Prayer

Spirit of the Living God, lead us into Your cloud. Take full authority in our hearts. Teach us to speak, then teach us to sing. And when the moment is too holy for either, teach us to be silent before You, utterly speechless. We want more of You and less of us. Let us hear Your voice in the stillness, and let Your presence change us forever. In Yeshua’s name, Amen.

Share this post if your heart longs for more of Him.

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See Also

The Pursuit

The Soul’s Great Paradox: Finding God and Still Pursuing Him

A.W. Tozer beautifully described a profound truth when he wrote, “To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.” This mysterious and exhilarating paradox lies at the heart of the Christian life. It speaks to the tension between contentment and longing, between satisfaction in God and the unquenchable desire for more of Him. 

At first glance, the paradox seems contradictory. How can we have found God—beholding His glory, experiencing His love, and walking in His presence—yet feel a yearning to seek Him further? But this is the nature of the infinite God. He is so vast, so boundless, that even eternity will not exhaust the depths of His being.

The Satisfaction of Finding Him

When we first encounter God, our souls are filled with a peace and joy we never thought possible. We realize that He alone satisfies the deepest longings of our hearts. Every restless search for meaning and fulfillment finds its resolution in the love of God. This is the profound contentment of the believer—to know that in Christ, we are fully known, fully loved, and fully secure.

“O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good; How blessed [fortunate, prosperous, and favored by God] is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8 AMP)

This is the first step in the paradox: to know that in Him, we lack nothing. We are complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10), and we rejoice in the abundance of His provision for our souls.

The Hunger for More

Yet, as we taste God’s goodness, an unexplainable hunger begins to stir within us—a longing for more of Him. This is not dissatisfaction; it is the recognition that the more we experience God, the more we realize there is to know, love, and worship. Our hearts, awakened to His glory, are drawn deeper into the pursuit of His presence.

David expressed this paradox beautifully: “As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, so my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God. My soul [my life, my inner self] thirsts for God, for the living God. When will I come and see the face of God?” (Psalm 42:1–2 AMP)

This longing is not a reflection of emptiness but of love. As lovers desire to know each other more deeply, our love for God compels us to seek Him more intimately.

The Eternal Pursuit

The paradox reaches its fullness when we realize that the pursuit of God is eternal. Even in heaven, when we stand in His presence, we will not cease to seek Him. We will see Him more clearly than ever, yet His infinite nature continually invites us into deeper awe and worship.

Paul writes, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and decisions and how unfathomable and inscrutable are His ways!” (Romans 11:33 AMP). This unsearchable depth ensures that our relationship with God will never grow stale or routine. There will always be more of His beauty to behold, more of His love to experience, and more of His glory to reflect.

The Call to Press In

In this life, the soul’s paradox calls us to press into God daily. We must never settle for a surface-level faith or a shallow understanding of Him. The satisfaction we find in Him is the very thing that fuels our desire for more. Like the Apostle Paul, we say:

“[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely]…” (Philippians 3:10 AMP)

This pursuit requires intentionality. It is a daily choice to seek His face, to dwell in His Word, and to commune with Him in prayer. It means pushing past distractions, laying down idols, and surrendering fully to His Spirit. 

Living the Paradox

The soul’s great paradox transforms how we live. It keeps us humble, for we recognize that we have only scratched the surface no matter how much we know of God. It keeps us hungry, for deeper intimacy is always possible. And it keeps us hopeful, for we are assured that the God we seek is faithful to reveal Himself to those who earnestly pursue Him.

“But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6 AMP)

The Invitation

This paradox is not a burden but a blessing. It is the evidence of a living relationship with the infinite God. To have found Him and still to pursue Him is the hallmark of a heart that truly loves Him. The question is: will we embrace the paradox? Will we allow the satisfaction of His presence to stir within us an unrelenting desire for more of Him?

Let us pray:

Father, we thank You for the mystery of knowing You. You have given us Yourself, yet You call us to seek You continually. Teach us to embrace this paradox, finding joy in Your presence and pressing into deeper intimacy with You each day. Stir within us an unquenchable hunger for more of You, that we may reflect Your glory and know the fullness of Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

See Also

Advent, The Pursuit

The Pursuit: A Call to Seek Him This Christmas

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13 (AMP). The pursuit of God this Christmas can bring new meaning to the holiday season.

As December 18th dawns, the nearness of Christmas reminds us of a profound truth: God has pursued us. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world not as a distant observer but as Emmanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23 AMP). Now, the call rests on us to pursue Him in return. This pursuit is the great journey of the believer’s heart—to seek the One who first sought us.

A God Who Draws Near

The pursuit of God begins with this eternal truth: He came to us first. The Gospel of John declares, “And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 AMP).

Here, John speaks with awe of the God who did not leave us to grope in darkness but entered it Himself to bring us light. The incarnation is the ultimate act of divine pursuit, where the Creator stepped into creation to restore what was lost.

A.W. Tozer captures this beautifully: “The voice of God is a friendly voice. No one need fear to listen to it unless he has already made up his mind to resist it.” God’s pursuit of us is not harsh or demanding but tender and loving, a call to return to Him.

The Call to Seek Him

While God initiates the pursuit, Scripture repeatedly calls us to respond. “Draw near to God [with a contrite heart] and He will draw near to you” (James 4:8 AMP). This mutual pursuit reflects the intimate relationship God desires with His people. Tozer describes this paradox, writing, “To have found God and still to pursue Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”

1. Seeking His Presence

David cried out, “As the deer pants [longingly] for the water brooks, so my soul pants [longingly] for You, O God” (Psalm 42:1 AMP). The pursuit of God is a deep thirst that nothing else can quench. This Christmas, amidst the lights and carols, let us not settle for hollow traditions. Instead, let us long for the living God, pressing into His presence.

2. Seeking His Kingdom

Jesus Himself instructs us, “But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also” (Matthew 6:33 AMP). The pursuit of God is not merely about personal experience; it is about aligning our lives with His kingdom purposes.

3. Seeking His Word

God’s Word is a treasure for those who pursue Him. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 AMP). In this season, when schedules overflow with busyness, let us commit to seeking God through His Word, allowing it to guide our steps and renew our minds.

Christmas: A Season to Renew the Pursuit

1. Remember the Gift of Emmanuel

The birth of Christ is the ultimate declaration of God’s desire for relationship with His people. This truth should compel us to pursue Him with greater passion. Charles Spurgeon writes, “Immanuel, God with us, in our nature, in our sorrow, in our life work, in our punishment, in our grave, and now with us—or rather, we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph, and Second Advent splendor.”

2. Respond to His Love

Christmas reminds us that God’s pursuit of us is not passive. It is active and sacrificial. “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son” (John 3:16 AMP). As we ponder His love, let us respond by loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

3. Live in Anticipation

The pursuit of God is not just about the here and now; it is about eternity. Paul writes, “But [I actively] press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12 AMP). Like Paul, we are called to press forward, longing for the day when we see Him face to face.

Practical Steps to Pursue God This Christmas

1. Pause and Pray

Carve out intentional time each day to sit in God’s presence. Prayer is not just speaking; it is listening, longing, and waiting on Him.

2. Dive into Scripture

Reflect on the promises of God’s coming. Meditate on passages like Isaiah 9:6 and Luke 2, letting the truth of His Word stir your heart.

3. Worship Wholeheartedly

Let your worship go beyond music. Let it be a lifestyle—a daily offering of gratitude and obedience to God.

4. Give and Serve

Pursuing God often means reflecting His love to others. This Christmas, seek to serve someone in need, showing the light of Christ through your actions.

The Reward of Pursuit

Jesus promises, “Ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 AMP). To pursue God is to find Him, and in finding Him, we discover the fullness of life.

John, the beloved disciple, puts it simply yet profoundly: “We love, because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19 AMP). Our pursuit is merely a response to the love He has already lavished upon us.

Closing Prayer

Lord, You have pursued us with an everlasting love, sending Jesus Christ to dwell among us. This Christmas, we desire more of You. Stir our hearts to seek You with all our strength, that we may know You more deeply and reflect Your love more clearly. Draw us closer, and let our pursuit of You be the defining mark of our lives. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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