Tuesday, September 14, 2010

"They began to cry out to God"

The book Radical by David Platt has been on my reading list for several months.

It probably would have stayed there for several months more except I discovered a Radical Read Along on an author named Marla Taviano's blog.

It sounded like fun.

So here I am reading along and blogging a few of my thoughts while I go.

If you are visiting from Marla's blog, welcome. If you are a regular here, well, you are always welcome! Thanks for stopping by.


"and with their faces on the ground, they began to cry out to God."
-taken from Radical by David Platt

This line describes how a group of Asian church leaders prayed one day. They met in secret. They shared the struggles of their churches, "and with their faces on the ground, they began to cry out to God."

I had to think. Do I ever cry out to God like that?

When I'm at my wit's end, desperate for God. When a situation feels hopeless. When I realize afresh the sinfulness of my heart and the holiness of my God. It happens, but not very often.

And yet, I can slowly feel Him working on me, forming me, moving me to that place of dependence. He's done it through my marriage, when the differences between us feel too great to bridge. He's done it through my kids, when my reactions to them showcase the selfishness in my heart. He's done it through our adoption, when I am desperate for His love to fill me and spill out. He's done it through His Word, when he exposes the pride that clings to my soul.

It is painful, this refining process. So many times I'd rather take the easy road. Sometimes I do. But for some reason He refuses to let me go.

His love is like that.

I'm learning that revival and true change comes only if I go through the refining process. Humble myself, confess my sins, repent and watch Him change me.

Then the world will see a radical lifestyle emerge, a reflection of the Refiner and His love.

I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master. - John Newton
To read more "Radical" responses, go here!

7 comments:

Amber said...

"It is painful, this refining process. So many times I'd rather take the easy road. Sometimes I do. But for some reason He refuses to let me go.

His love is like that."

I wish you could read what I read in my quiet time yesterday. For the sake of simplicity, I won't write it all down here. But so many of the thoughts connect.

I just loved what you wrote there.

Thanks megan.

Marla Taviano said...

Thank you, Megs. I'm feeling that refining fire too. And it's really, really hard not to step back away from the flame. Thank you for your transparency.

Marla Taviano said...

p.s. I told another blogger that if she wanted me to delete her link, so she could do it again w/o the apostrophe, I would. Let me know if you want me to do the same with yours, since you used quotation marks and it screwed up. (Would've been nice to know that ahead of time, eh?)

Jill Foley said...

I read this book a last month...then went to Peru with Compassion...still processing everything!

Melissa, Multi-Tasking Mama said...

Perhaps that is why the Bible refers to it as the Refiner's fire...painful process but beautiful outcome! Looking forward to this Radical journey!

Unknown said...

I love your post - excited to join you in this journey!!

Our Journey to Grace and Olivia said...

Oh Megan, I love your transparent heart....the truth you speak ...the walls that break in the spirit as you do this and the battle that occurs in the heavenlys when you cry out if you could only hear it. I am going to have to check this book out....