W. Tozer was a Bible teacher of the last century. Always a deep thinker whose books still challenge the most experienced Bible expositors, Tozer expressed his deep thoughts in practical ways.

He was always keenly aware of the holiness of God—undoubtedly something that in this day and age we should pay more attention to.  Listen to this verse from the book of Isaiah that impacted Tozer: “For this is what the high and lofty One says–he who lives forever, whose name is holy: ‘I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15).

Tozer wrote that he had been thinking about how important his thoughts are. “God has been saying to me, ‘I dwell in your thoughts. Make your thoughts a sanctuary in which I can dwell.'”[1] Making your thoughts a place where God can live is a significant concept—and a practical one. We are what we think, and it follows that if our thoughts are pleasing to the Lord, so will our lives be.

Tozer compared our thoughts to the bell tower of a church.  If you keep your thoughts pure, said Tozer, the chimes can ring out a song of holiness into the air around you.

So does that mean you have to be perfect in order to please God?  The answer is clearly “No.”  Yes, Isaiah tells us God lives in a high and holy place. The good news is that he goes on to say, “but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit.” You can’t stop thinking, but you can choose to make your thoughts a place where God is honored.

A humble attitude of simple dependence on Him keeps us in fellowship with God all through the ordinary hours of our day.

[1] A. W. Tozer, compiled by James L. Snyder, Tozer on Worship and Entertainment (Camp Hill, PA: Christian Publications, 1998), 10-11.