Since Eugene Peterson first wrote this spiritual formation classic nearly forty years ago, hundreds of thousands of Christians have been inspired by its call to deeper discipleship. As a society, we are still obsessed with the immediate; new technologies have only intensified our quest for the quick fix. But Peterson's time-tested prescription for discipleship remains the samea long obedience in the same direction.Following Jesus in this way requires a deepening life of prayer, and throughout history Christians have learned to pray from the Psalms. Peterson finds encouragement for today's pilgrims in the Songs of Ascents (Psalms 120-134), sung by travelers on their way to worship in Jerusalem. With his prophetic and pastoral wisdom, Peterson shows how the psalms teach us to grow in worship, service, joy, work, happiness, humility, community, and blessing.This special commemorative edition of A Long Obedience in the Same Direction includes a new preface taken from Leif Peterson's eulogy at his father's memorial service.

Eugene H. Peterson (19322018) was a pastor, scholar, author, and poet. He wrote more than thirty books, including his widely acclaimed paraphrase of the Bible, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, his memoir, The Pastor, and numerous works of biblical spiritual formation, including Run with the Horses, also available in a commemorative edition. Peterson was founding pastor of Christ Our King Presbyterian Church in Bel Air, Maryland, where he served for twenty-nine years before retiring in 1991. With degrees from Seattle Pacific, New York Theological Seminary, and Johns Hopkins University, he served as professor of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, until retiring in Lakeside, Montana, in 2006.

Commemorative Preface by Leif Peterson
20th-Anniversary Preface
1. Discipleship:"What Makes You Think You Can Race Against Horses?"
2. Repentance:"I'm Doomed to Live in Meshech"
3. Providence:"God Guards You from Every Evil"
4. Worship:"Let's Go to the House of God"
5. Service:"Like Servants . . . We're Watching and Waiting"
6. Help:"Oh, Blessed Be God! He Didn't Go Off and Leave Us"
7. Security:"God Encircles His People"
8. Joy:"We Laughed, We Sang"
9. Work:"If GOD Doesn't Build the House"
10. Happiness:"Enjoy the Blessing! Revel in the Goodness!"
11. Perseverance:"They Never Could Keep Me Down"
12. Hope:"I Pray to GOD . . . and Wait for What He'll Say and Do"
13. Humility:"I've Kept My Feet on the Ground"
14. Obedience:"How He Promised GOD"
15. Community:"Like Costly Anointing Oil Flowing Down Head and Beard"
16. Blessing:"Lift Your Praising Hands"
A Long Obedience: Epilogue
Notes