Attempting Radical

To make a long story short, I have recently recognized how distant I am from the Lord.  I love Him.  I pray.  I read (sometimes).  I talk about Him.  But my heart is very unaware of how desperately I need Him.  All the things of this world distract me.  I have never wanted for a thing and, by the way things are looking, I probably never will.  But how ignorant I am to continue to walk through life as if I am in control.  He’s gotten my attention once in my life for living this way.  I think I’ll make an attempt at correcting it myself this time (though it may be meager, it will be worth it, for sure).

Thankfully, in His sovereignty, just as I was coming to this realization, I decided to read Radical by David Platt (read it… but be aware; there are topics in the book that you absolutely cannot ignore if you love Christ).  In the book, Platt challenges you to ‘The Radical Experiment’ (www.radicalexperiment.org).  It is a 5-part commitment that you will complete in a year’s time.  It involves these 5 components:

• To pray for the entire world
• To read through the entire Word
• To commit our lives to multiplying community
• To sacrifice our money for a specific purpose
• To give our time in another context

I have committed to these 5 things beginning TODAY.  I know that I can’t simply conjure up a complete understanding of who the Lord is and how desperately I need Him.  But I do know and believe that my heart will forever be changed for the good if I do this.  I don’t tread lightly with this.  I know it will be a battle.  I know I will have successes and failures… it will be hard.  But I want to face it as bravely as I can, continually asking God for grace and endurance and, by the end of 2012, be able to say that I finished well.  Follow me on this journey if you’d like.