<p><em>Those whose strength is in you,&hellip;<br />
go from strength to strength,<br />
till each appears before God in Zion.</em><br />
&ndash; Psalm 84:5, 7</p>

<p>Too many Christians are more resigned than need be to a stumbling<br />
approach to spiritual growth. We presume that progress towards<br />
maturity happens by a &ldquo;two steps forward, one step back&rdquo; process. But the<br />
Biblical model doesn&rsquo;t quite support this view. Instead Scripture speaks of<br />
&ldquo;unveiled faces&rdquo; that are being transformed &ldquo;from glory to glory.&rdquo; It imagines<br />
us as trees planted close to a stream, whose &ldquo;branches never wither.&rdquo; And it<br />
speaks of those whose hearts are &ldquo;set on pilgrimage&rdquo; who then go &ldquo;from<br />
strength to strength until each appears before God in Zion.&rdquo;</p>

<p>The meditations in this book encourage such proximity to Jesus and the<br />
cultivation of a steadfast prayer life that alone can &ldquo;establish&rdquo; us in Christ.<br />
They assure us that simply remaining in His love will not only produce vitality<br />
in the spiritual life, but also sustain it for the whole journey.</p>

<p>In the tradition of Christian contemplatives and mystics from the early<br />
centuries to the present, Rob Des Cotes brings fresh insights to many familiar<br />
biblical passages, applying them to prayer and to the transforming work of<br />
spiritual direction. The numerous images and creative metaphors of the<br />
spiritual journey found in these concise and thought-provoking meditations<br />
are both contemporary while deeply rooted in the classics of Catholic,<br />
Orthodox and Reformation contemplative traditions.</p>

<p><br />
ROB DES COTES is a spiritual director, retreat leader and pastor of Imago<br />
Dei, a network of faith communities that encourages the practice of prayer<br />
and a transforming relationship with God. He is the author of four other<br />
books of meditations for spiritual direction, 'Fan the Flame,' 'Higher Than I,'<br />
'Ultreia! (Go Higher)' and 'Strength to Strength'</p>