Have you read the book Hinds Feet On High Places?

Good morning, Lord! "I will praise You with an upright heart, as I learn your righteous laws!" Psalm 119

Father, thank You for reaching out to me by putting the book Hinds Feet on High Places into my hands. I can hear You speaking so clearly to me of a love story between You and I. Last night while reading, I heard You speak of Your love for me and, though I knew it as head knowledge as sure as the sun is bright, I tasted it last night as heart knowledge once again. You do love me and You are a personal God. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for enabling me. Thank You for drawing me closer to you. Father, may I meditate on this truth day and night and never forget it. As the book also states, knowing that You love me enables the difficult things to not matter. They are mute points when I dwell on Your love for me.

The Shepherd is Jesus in the story.

' "But it is so happy to love," said the Shepherd quietly. "It is happy to love even if you are not loved in return. There is pain, too, certainly, but Love does not think that very significant." ' pg 25

"But, Much Afraid, I have already warned you that Love and Pain go together, for a time at least. If you would know Love, you must know pain too." pg 27

You are drawing me to You! You desire me! How great and wonderful is this news! I feel like Much Afraid in the story sometimes. Questioning this new knowledge and thinking it can't be so. To say that I am unworthy of Your love is an understatement, but it doesn't matter because You have chosen me. As You were calling Much Afraid, You are calling to me! I picture it in my mind and it is so beautiful, so much what I need, I can hardly fathom it.

Is it still true, Lord? Are You just waiting for me to call to You and ask to be taken to the High Places? Oh, Lord, how I want to go with You! How I want to leave the Valley of Humiliation as Much Afraid wanted and be led by the ones You said You would specifically choose for her to take her on the journey. I can't wait to see who her companions are so I can compare that to my life and see who my companions are! Oh, Lord, You love me and it is too wonderful for me to attain! Help me to dwell on this day and night! You are calling to me. May I come quickly to Your call! In Jesus' name, AMEN!

If much afraid is already in the Shepherd service, why is she still in the Valley of Humiliation? What does that valley represent in our lives? It is those of us who believe and are saved, but are allowing ourselves to be trapped by depression? There are others who are working for the Shepherd's service who also live in the valley. Is the valley this world? If that is the case, how can she travel to the "Shepherd's Kingdom, the realm of Love. No Fears of any kind are able to live there because 'perfect love casteth out fear and everything that torments.' "?

The Shepherd had to plant the seed of Love into her heart or she would not be able to enter the Kingdom of His Father. It was a sharp seed, and Much Afraid was told it would hurt, but only for a moment. After it was planted, Much Afraid responded that it was bittersweet, but the sweetness was the stronger. This reminded me of Megan's life. Her death was obviously not sweet, but bitter; however, the sweetness of her life was much stronger than the bitterness of her death.

Lord, reading this book is like having a dialog with you. Would You really say these things to me? The very thought of You saying them to me brings tears to my eyes every time I think of it, as it did last night. Are You really interested in me and wanting to love me? I know You want me to love You and follow You and serve You and You are VERY worthy of it and so much more. Why do you want me? It doesn't matter, but the fact that You do want to have a relationship with me is what matters and makes my heart sing with joy. Your love is what I am craving. To hear You speak to me, is what makes my heart alive. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me!! Thank You, God, for loving me!

In Jesus' name, AMEN!