A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night ~ Review

A Cloud by Day, A Fire by Night
By A.W. Tozer
Compiled and Edited by James L. Snyder

This book is a collection of the sermons that Tozer gave to his Chicago congregation before he accepted a call to a church in Toronto - it focuses on how we can find and follow God's will for us. His message, though written quite a few years ago, is still relevant to today.

How can we know God's will for us? One of the first things to do is quiet our hearts - we are all too often caught up in the chaos and noise of what the world throws at us. Technology is always present and a distraction from hearing God's voice. We need to discipline ourselves daily to make time to listen to God. It is only by listening to God's voice that we can obey Him. And obedience gives us the promise of God being our strength and foundation in our battle against our enemies - Satan, sin, and the fallen world around us. And our obedience is a sign of our commitment to God a commitment that has eternal ramifications.

We need to be careful though and not romanticize the positives of following God. We need to be aware that there will be difficulties and trials that will test us. We need to remember that Jesus carried a cross and we are to take it up and follow Him. But it is through these times of obedience during trials that we find the "joy, privilege, and glory of God." And disobedience can have long term effects as we see through Israel's 40 years of wilderness wanderings. Even when it appears that blessings are not something that we're experiencing we have the promise of what is to come. Sometimes the blessing is delayed because we need to learn something from the wait. We must not be discouraged as that is what the enemy wants instead we need to see that we can lean on God to get us through this time of darkness - He is always present waiting for us to listen and take the hand that He is offering to us.

I found this to be an excellent book and one which I plan to read again as there is much to contemplate and to be learned. I liked that each chapter opened with a prayer and ended with a few lines from a hymn. Some of the hymns I was familiar while others were new to me but each was well suited to the chapter that had just concluded. This book is well suited to any Christian whether they be a new believer or one with years to their faith. One can always use encouragement along the journey.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Discover Where God is Leading You!

How can I know God's will for me, personally? It's a question that haunts us all at times--maybe when we're looking for the right job, thinking about moving to a new city, or deciding whether or not to get married. At every stage we have difficult decisions to make, and we long for God's direction and His warm reassurance that we're heading the right way.

A Cloud by Day, a Fire by Night captures A.W. Tozer's teaching on the will of God. Taken from sermons he preached just before he left his successful church in Chicago, the title comes from the story of God leading His people out of Egypt and into the promised land.

Tozer was no stranger to facing difficult decisions. His wisdom and biblical insight will help guide you in decisions of your own and reassure you of God's presence every step of the way.

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A.W. Tozer (1897-1963) was a self-taught theologian, pastor, and writer whose powerful words continue to grip the intellect and stir the soul of today's believer. He authored more than forty books. The Pursuit of God and The Knowledge of the Holy are considered modern devotional classics. Get Tozer information and quotes at www.twitter.com/TozerAW.

Reverend James L. Snyder (www.jamessnyderministries.com) is an award-winning author whose writings have appeared in more than 80 periodicals and 15 books. He is recognized as an authority on the life and ministry of A.W. Tozer. His first book, In Pursuit of God: The Life of A.W. Tozer, won the Reader's Choice Award in 1992 by Christianity Today. Because of his thorough knowledge of Tozer, James was given the rights from the A.W. Tozer estate to produce new books derived from over 400 never-before-published audio tapes. James and his wife live in Ocala, Florida.