Thirsting for God: Spiritual Refreshment for the Sacred Journey

by Gary L. Thomas

Overview

Gary Thomas, a popular speaker and the bestselling author of Sacred Pathways, invites readers to reinvigorate their faith journey as he sheds light on refreshing perspectives about prayer, hope, purpose, and the thirst for God and His love.

With insight from Gary’s personal journey, readers delve into classic Christian writings from John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Thomas à Kempis, and others, and emerge with practical and unexpected ways to

• know God more intimately and delight in Him
• embark on a path of spiritual training that lasts a lifetime
• experience the joy of a life surrendered to Christ
• discover kindred spirits in the great Christian thinkers and seekers
• move toward spiritual growth and understanding

Thirsting for God offers companionship and the mentorship of great words, minds, and hearts as readers encounter a fulfilling, transforming relationship with God.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780736928908
Publisher:	Harvest House Publishers
Publication date:	02/01/2011
Series:	Bear Magnet Calendar 2001 Series
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 8.40(h) x 0.80(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Gary Thomas is writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston. His many books include Sacred Marriage (more than 400,000 copies sold), Sacred Pathways, and Pure Pleasure. Gary has a master's degree from Regent College and an honorary doctorate from Western Seminary, where he serves on the adjunct faculty. He is in demand around the world as a speaker on spiritual growth.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Soul Advancement: The Art and Discipline of Spiritual Training

1 The Journey of Faith: Knowing God More Intimately 9

2 Good Intentions 15

3 An Intentional Pursuit: The Development of Spiritual Goals 19

4 Hell Breaking Apart at His Feet 25

5 Training the Heart, Body, and Soul 33

6 Pious Readings 39

7 Imitation of Living Examples 45

8 Cultivation of Virtues 47

9 Early Rising 51

10 A Life of Reflection 55

11 Learning to Live with Grace 59

Part 2 Sin and Temptation

12 Holiness of the Heart: Avoiding Sin and Facing Temptation 65

13 The Absurdity of Sin 69

14 Counterfeit Holiness 73

15 When Temptation Strikes 77

16 Consistent Climbing 83

17 Soul Sadness 39

Part 3 Absolute Surrender

18 Joyful Surrender: Christian Submission 95

19 The Two Essential Questions 101

20 The Death of Complaining 105

21 The Birth of Thanksgiving 109

Part 4 A Quiet and Humble Life

22 Cultivating the Quiet: Simplicity 117

23 Entering the Quiet 123

24 The High and the Low: A Double-Sided Truth 131

25 Christian, Know Yourself! 135

26 Spiritual Cosmetology 143

27 Christian, Know Your God 147

28 Humility in Community 153

29 How Do Humble People Lead? 161

Part 5 Death, Suffering, and Spiritual Gluttony

30 Living in a Dying World: The Remembrance of Death 171

31 Making Death Our Servant 177

32 A Difficult Road 185

33 Two Lives, Two Triumphs 193

34 It's Not Easy to Be You 197

35 The Sweet Side of Suffering 207

36 Spiritual Gluttony 211

37 Understanding the Desert 217

38 Surviving and Thriving in the Desert 223

Part 6 Seasons and Surgery of the Soul

39 Seasons of the Soul: The Passages of the Spiritual Life 233

40 Spiritual Terrain 243

41 Stations in Life 247

42 Soul Surgery: A Guide to Spiritual Direction 253

43 Choosing a Spiritual Director 259

44 Growing Together 265

45 The Call to Be a Spiritual Director 269

Part 7 Radically Changed Lives

46 Cooperating Christians 275

47 Radical Transformation 281

48 More Love 287

Afterword 293

A Brief Annotated Reference List of Christian Classics 297

Notes 301

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“I pulled this book off of my husband’s library shelf one day in a desperate search for something to renew and restore my soul. I was in a bone-dry spiritual wasteland, and all of my attempts to feel better were useless. I devoured Gary’s words and found myself intimately connected with fellow brothers and sisters through the ages who struggled with loneliness, emptiness, and doubt—but whose thirsty souls were satisfied in communion with God and with each other. This has become my go-to book for spiritual encouragement.”
—Kay Warren

“Thirsting for God is without question one of the finest books on the Christian journey I have read. Once again Gary Thomas provides believers with penetrating insights for a deeper life. Definitely a book to savor, mark up, and return to again and again.”
—Dr. Ed Young, Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas

“For anyone who doesn't just want to know about God, but actually know God, Gary has written a wonderful guide. What a helpful companion for the journey!”
—John Ortberg, author of The Life You’ve Always Wanted

Editorial Reviews

I pulled this book off of my husband’s library shelf one day in a desperate search for something to renew and restore my soul. I was in a bone-dry spiritual wasteland, and all of my attempts to feel better were useless. I devoured Gary’s words and found myself intimately connected with fellow brothers and sisters through the ages who struggled with loneliness, emptiness, and doubt—but whose thirsty souls were satisfied in communion with God and with each other. This has become my go-to book for spiritual encouragement.”
—Kay Warren

“Thirsting for God is without question one of the finest books on the Christian journey I have read. Once again Gary Thomas provides believers with penetrating insights for a deeper life. Definitely a book to savor, mark up, and return to again and again.”
—Dr. Ed Young, Senior Pastor, Second Baptist Church, Houston, Texas

“For anyone who doesn't just want to know about God, but actually know God, Gary has written a wonderful guide. What a helpful companion for the journey!”
—John Ortberg, author of The Life You’ve Always Wanted

From the Publisher