Book Review: On Higher Ground

There is something about the beginning of a new year that begs us all to review the year before and set new goals for the coming months. I don’t have many "resolutions." I routinely, throughout the year, set goals for myself. My main points of focus this year are:

 Draw nearer to Him.

 Get in shape - tone those muscles!

 Eat even healthier.

 Spend more time truly enjoying my family.

 I have begun to read the book pictured above, Hind’s Feet on High Places written by Hannah Hurnard. This book was a gift from my mother, a truly godly woman. She read the book and so loved it, she bought a copy for me. This particular copy has a daily devotional to go along with the story which is written by Darien Cooper. Hind’s Feet on High Places is an allegory about a woman named Much-Afraid. I have only read the first few pages as yet, but I can see myself in Much Afraid, and I am sure you will see yourself in her as well.

 It begans like this:

     "This is the story of how Much-Afraid escaped from her Fearing reletives and went with the Shepherd to the High Places where "perfect love casteth out fear."

      For several years Much-Afraid had been in service of the Cheif Shepherd, whose flocks were pastured down in the Valley f Humiliation. She lived with her friends and fellow workers Mercy and Peace in a tranquil little white cottage in the village of Much-Trembling. She loved her work and desired intensely to please the Cheif Shepherd, but happy as she was in most ways, she was concious of several things which hindered her in her work and caused her much secret distress and shame.

      In the first place she was a cripple, with feet so crooked that they often caused her to limp and stumble as she went about her work. She had also the very unsightly blemish of a crooked mouth which greatly disfigured both expression and speech and was sadly concious that these ugly blemishes must be a cause of astonishment and offense to many who knew that she was in the service of the great Shepherd.

    Most earnestly she longed to be completely delivered from these shortcomings and to be made beautiful, gracious, and strong as were so many of the Shepherd’s other workers, and above all to be made like the Cheif Shepherd Himself… "

 While I do not have crooked feet or a crooked mouth, I know I have shortcomings and have experienced shame in my life. I often feel of no use or not good enough to serve my Shepherd. I am looking forward to seeing what this book will teach me - bring out in me. I hope you will get a copy of it and find yourself in Much-Afraid - perhaps we can learn to be fearless together!

 This new year, enjoy the moments you have, don’t spend time in needless worry and fear. Make this year the best you can, but don’t look back, sideways, or down. Look Up!