Thursday, August 1, 2013

Radical

What does being radical mean to you?? 

Recently, I got to share what God has been teaching me after reading the book Radical by David Platt.

I looked up the word radical in my bible app and found the message version has several verses about being radical.  They speak of a radical life-change, a radical new kind of law, a radical turn to God, and a radical trust.  (please see Acts 19:4, Mark 6:12, Acts 20:17, Acts 17:30, Acts 26:19, Hebrews 7:11, and Romans 2:3 in the Message).  I want this!

The Lord showed me 3 areas to improve in:

1. Being radical in my relationship with Jesus:
     Did you read the definition to radical ?   We can be become more radical by growing from our root, and our root is Jesus!  The definition that really struck me was "designed to remove the root of a disease or all diseased and potentially diseased tissue".  This is what happens when we spend time with Jesus- He is our greatest physician.  He is our root we need to grow from and as we spend time with Him, He removes the bad root of our disease.

How can we be radical in this area?:  memorizing scripture, praising, prayer, raising hands in worship or maybe clapping, being in relationship with Jesus (just as we spend time with our family, spouses, friends, we must spend time Him), being loving, not judging. One of my favorite places to worship and pray it all out- and I do mean all, is the gym.  A lot of wrestling life out happens on the elliptical!!!
Radical!


2. Being radical in our relationships with others:
  • our spouses - forgiving them, stop nagging, lifting them up not tearing them down, respecting them, for me maybe I quit complaining about the jelly I find after a midnight snack or maybe when I am frustrated I quit taking it out on him.
  • our kids -put aside cleaning the house to play, putting down our phones to actually watch when they say "mom watch this", teaching them scripture, making a PB&J, saying no or maybe saying yes, being calmer
  • others - listening, preferring others, praying with them and for them, spending time, being honest, holding each other accountable, putting our phones down,  laughing


Family fun at Six Flags.  We  met up with some good friends there.
Putting aside the to do list and my phone - just being in the presence of people.  
3. Being radical with ourselves:
  • forgiving ourselves
  • loving ourselves
  • taking time for ourselves
  • not talking bad about ourselves
  • not being too hard on ourselves
Our love for ourselves grows our of our root- Jesus.  How rooted are you?  How rooted am I? Do we really believe we are fearfully and wonderfully made?

Being radical with myself is hard.  I have talked bad about myself most of my life.  However, the journey through the casting call of Extreme Makeover provided so much healing.  God created me.  I am precious in His sight.  I may have made mistakes in the past, I know I will make some today, and maybe even tomorrow, but there is no condemnation in Him.  There is a difference in knowing where we are weak and putting ourselves down. 

I had a friend tell me, after someone told her, dress like you love yourself.  This has become a huge statement and has helped me step out of my box. I don't like to wear sleeveless shirts, but I have over the last month. My friend bought me a tank top and I love it. I am so thankful for the work He is doing in me.  He is growing me, molding me, and making me stronger physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

We have to reframe our minds.  I heard someone say at bible study "God's Word is truer than how I feel!" His word says I am wonderfully made!

Deuteronomy 12:18 (message version) says "You are to celebrate in the Presence of God, all the things you've been able to accomplish"

At the end of the day instead of beating yourself up with could haves, would haves, should haves, celebrate in the Presence of God, all the things you've have been able to accomplish.

Which of the 3 areas of being radical spoke to you?  Do you have any suggestions on how to be more radical?





No comments:

Post a Comment

Thank you for stopping by!!