Restless Devotion: An Urgent Call to Godward Discontentment (Thompson)

There is more of God to be had than you currently possess.

Burdened over your lack of devotion? Unaware of God’s resources to overcome spiritual complacency? In Restless Devotion, Nick Thompson contends that God uses the book of Psalms to counter the satanic lullabies that lull us to sleep by forming and reforming the desires of our heart. Thompson considers seven choice psalms to show how these inspired songs are intended to awaken within us a restless hunger for God, His word, His salvation, His house, His restoration, His mission, and His vindication. Read and pray through these psalms with Pastor Thompson to learn the language, content, tone, and emotion of one who longs to delight in God.

Contents

Introduction

1. Restless for God
2. Restless for God’s Word
3. Restless for God’s Salvation
4. Restless for God’s House
5. Restless for God’s Restoration
6. Restless for God’s Mission
7. Restless for God’s Vindication
Conclusion

Appendix: Praying the Psalms

Endorsements

“Christ instructs us to hunger and thirst after righteousness. Physical hunger and thirst are intolerable and not assuaged with a nibble or a sip. A hungry and thirsty person will gorge and gulp until satisfied. Yet too often in terms of spiritual hunger and thirst, Christians are easily satisfied with just a morsel or a drop. This kind of spiritual complacency is all too common in the church. Thompson, in a most readable and engaging style, implores believers to a holy discontentment that cannot be satisfied with merely perfunctory spiritual routines. His exposition and application of selected psalms highlight the need for a constant, diligent, intentional, and eager pursuit of God. The book is convicting yet encouraging; it is worth the read.”
—Michael Barrett, senior research professor at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan

“Nick Thompson has given us a gift in Restless Devotion—making a compelling case for the restless desire that spurs spiritual growth. Through biblical exposition, theological clarity, and pastoral application, Thompson navigates the reader toward a perspicuous vision of God's work of grace in our sanctification. So take up and read; your soul will be better for it!”
—Brian Cosby, senior minister of Wayside Presbyterian Church (PCA), Signal Mountain, Tennessee, and adjunct professor of historical theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, Atlanta

“In the pursuit of holiness and Christian devotion, dissatisfaction is almost always identified as a vice. Usually that is entirely correct, but not always. Pastor Nick Thompson wisely and insightfully teaches us that there is a certain kind of dissatisfaction in the Christian life that is not merely tolerable but vital for an ardent, God-exalting life. We might even say that believers need to do some soul searching and Scripture mining in order to unearth a rare jewel of Christian dissatisfaction. Restless Devotion is no oxymoron. Among the many refreshing truths contained in this book is this: the graciously restless soul will find endless joy and satisfaction in the God of grace and glory. This little book will urge its readers to settle for nothing less than the glory of Christ and the realization of all that God the Father has promised in Him by the Holy Spirit.”
—Mike Myers, pastor of Heritage Presbyterian Church (OPC), Royston, Georgia

“Nick Thompson’s book Restless Devotion jars our ‘poor dying rate’ of yearning for God while steering us between the extremes of a pseudospiritual complacency and a disgruntled piety. Thompson’s writing maneuvers behind our religious armor with penetrating prose and balanced biblical reasoning. It is the kind of book that has the potential to become a lifelong friend to any earnest Christian.”
—John Snyder, director of Media Gratiae and the founding pastor of Christ Church in New Albany, Michigan

About the Author

Nick Thompson is the pastor of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he resides with his wife and three sons.