Starting Your Day Right

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 3 NOV. 2003

In full-time ministry for more than 20 years, Meyer has created more than 50 inspirational books, 240 audiocassette albums and 90 videos. Her latest daily devotional volume is deeply sincere but unevenly executed. Beginning with the entries about the importance of forming"Godly habits," Meyer's book covers a variety of uplifting subjects, such as divine love and grace. The book also includes practical and encouraging suggestions such as"Don't Procrastinate,""Set Priorities,""Love Someone Today" and"Appreciate Correction," all of which she backs up with quotations from scripture. One of her typical instructions reads,"Don't misuse the power of words by talking too much about your faith or talking too little about your faith. Choose kind and gentle words that lift people and quiet gossip and strife." However, Meyer's clear-headed advice is often muddied by the book's distracting way of combining exegesis with quotation. The translations of each day's Biblical reading make use of unnecessary, explanatory parentheses that detract from the beauty of the Bible's elegant prose. For example, in quoting Proverbs, Meyer doubles the length of the passage with her brackets and parenthesis:"Where there is no vision no redemptive revelation of God, the people perish; but he who keeps the law of God, which includes that of man--blessed (happy, fortunate, and enviable) is he." Readers who enjoy such handholding explication will appreciate Meyer's well selected advice, but others may prefer to seek their inspiration elsewhere.