Going Higher

I've been reading, "Falling in Love with Jesus" by Dee Brestin and Kathy Troccoli. This book has been really good for me. The author quotes from another book titled, "Hinds' Feet on High Places", this quote from the book is an allegory in which a fawn named Much-Afraid overcomes her fears and learns how to go to the high places with the chief Shepherd. He tells her that in order to go to the High Places, she must walk herself, though he will never be far from her. She pleads with him to carry her. Gently the chief Shepherd responds:

        "Much-Afraid, I could do what you wish. I could carry you all the way up to the High Places myself, instead of leaving you to climb there. But if I did, you would never be able to develop hinds' feet, and become my companion and go where I go. If you will climb to the heights this once with the companions I have chosen for you, even though it may seem a very long and in some places a very difficult journey, I promise you that you will develop hinds' feet."

Here is a quote from the book,
        "Maybe you have developed unwise television habits or graceless ways of communicating with your sullen teenager, or maybe you haven't truly lived or shared your faith in front of other people for years. Maybe you've gotten lazy and complacent. you are a Christian, but you have been camping out in a cleft of a rock while Jesus calls, "Take My hand and come higher." You are seemingly happy, but deep inside you are discontent. And with each call He makes, your heart grows sadder. You know you should heed His call, but you also know that change will be involved. That change can be painful."

A couple pages later,
        "I've learned that nothing, absolutely nothing, is worth losing the peace of God. We need to be alert because we truly have an enemy on the prowl. The last thing he wants is for us to go to higher places with God. He will tempt us. He will boldly lie to us. He will try to inflame our passions, encouraging us to live in the moment, and to inflame our fears, encouraging us to camp out in the hiding places. And if he can tempt us to take a step down, to the lower places, then he will have gained control. He will whisper to you. He'll tell you that a little bit of stepping down, that little time of falling back, is no big deal. It doesn't come upon you like the smell of a skunk. Most of the time it's slow and steady, like carbon monoxide. It seeps into your bloodstream, and before you know it, you're asleep. That's how we become numb to God."

I hope this blesses you as it has blessed me. It is encouragement for me to keep pushing forward, and going to those high places.