How Can You Take Notes on The Pursuit of God Without Merely Copying Tozer?

Short answer: Take notes on The Pursuit of God by translating Tozer’s ideas into your own words, connecting them to Scripture, and recording what they mean for your life. Copying long sentences may preserve his wording, but it does not prove understanding. Good notes show synthesis: What is the claim? Why does it matter? Is it biblical? What will I do?

Use the “one sentence, one Scripture, one response” rule

For each major section, write:

One sentence: summarize Tozer’s point without looking at the page.

One Scripture: identify the biblical passage that supports, qualifies, or tests the point.

One response: write a question, prayer, or action.

This forces your mind to process instead of transcribe.

Paraphrase before quoting

If a sentence is especially memorable, you may want to copy a short phrase. First, paraphrase it.

If you cannot explain the idea in plain language, copying the original wording will not fix the problem.

For example, instead of copying a paragraph about God’s presence, write:

“Tozer’s point: God does not become present when I notice Him; I become aware of the God who is already present.”

That note is useful later because it records meaning.

Separate Tozer from Scripture

Use labels such as:

T: Tozer’s claim

B: Biblical passage

M: My response

This prevents devotional commentary from blending into the authority of Scripture.

Write questions, not only conclusions

Good notes preserve uncertainty.

Write:

“Does this metaphor go farther than the biblical text?”
“How does this fit with grace?”
“What does the chapter mean by ‘reality’?”
“Where am I doing the opposite?”

Questions make your notes useful for discussion and later study.

End every chapter with a synthesis paragraph

Write five or six sentences without reopening the book. Include the chapter’s central claim, one biblical anchor, one point you would explain carefully, and one practical response.

That paragraph will tell you far more about your understanding than three pages of copied quotations.

Put It Into Practice

Read two pages of your current chapter. Close the book and write a 50-word explanation of what Tozer argued. Reopen the book and correct anything you misunderstood. Then add one Scripture reference and one action.

Conclusion: Good notes are not a second copy of Tozer. They are evidence that you have understood, evaluated, and applied what you read. Paraphrase first, connect to Scripture, preserve questions, and end with your own synthesis.