Strength to Strength

Those whose strength is in you,…

go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion.

- Psalm 84:5, 7


Too many Christians are more resigned than need be to a stumbling

approach to spiritual growth. We presume that progress towards

maturity happens by a "two steps forward, one step back" process. But the

Biblical model doesn't quite support this view. Instead Scripture speaks of

"unveiled faces" that are being transformed "from glory to glory." It imagines

us as trees planted close to a stream, whose "branches never wither." And it

speaks of those whose hearts are "set on pilgrimage" who then go "from

strength to strength until each appears before God in Zion."


The meditations in this book encourage such proximity to Jesus and the

cultivation of a steadfast prayer life that alone can "establish" us in Christ.

They assure us that simply remaining in His love will not only produce vitality

in the spiritual life, but also sustain it for the whole journey.


In the tradition of Christian contemplatives and mystics from the early

centuries to the present, Rob Des Cotes brings fresh insights to many familiar

biblical passages, applying them to prayer and to the transforming work of

spiritual direction. The numerous images and creative metaphors of the

spiritual journey found in these concise and thought-provoking meditations

are both contemporary while deeply rooted in the classics of Catholic,

Orthodox and Reformation contemplative traditions.




ROB DES COTES is a spiritual director, retreat leader and pastor of Imago

Dei, a network of faith communities that encourages the practice of prayer

and a transforming relationship with God. He is the author of four other

books of meditations for spiritual direction, "Fan the Flame," "Higher Than I,"

"Ultreia! (Go Higher)" and "Strength to Strength"