August 5, 2014
A Beautiful Defeat
It is 8 in the morning: I’ve been up for 2 1/2 hours longer than I usually am – and I’m in a different state… Suffice to say that this is a very odd day. But I’m awake and I finished reading the last half of A Beautiful Defeat by Kevin Malarkey. I am trying so very hard not to make a pun of his last name. It’s going to be difficult.
I think I am destined to forever promote the practical. I just find so many people don’t think about applying the practical to their life of faith. I know that seems like an oxymoron, but I do believe this needs to happen. If someone is alive they will without a doubt face many difficult situations, most if them caused by other people; Kevin consistently gives truth to prepare for for the harshness of this life.
I think one important facet of this book is the fact that Kevin knows we as humans will fail. Near the end of the book Kevin shares about the time he was a psychotherapist, he would not only ask his clients for action steps outlining what they were going to do but asked them to think about how they could mess the situation up even more than it was. But he didn’t stop there! That’s the important part. He asked them how they would react to what went wrong and have a plan for when things didn’t go as planned.
Look at me telling you my favorite part without giving you context… The tag line of the book is Find true freedom and purpose in total surrender to God. Makes more sense now, huh? Practical advice on how to “die to yourself” and live as Christ. With that in mind my favorite aspect of the book makes more sense, because I know I fail at this All. The. Time.
I would recommend reading this book.
*I have been given a free copy of this book by Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.
Living in Grace 