Pray the word with David Platt is a resource from radical.net.

Ezra chapter 9 verses 3 through 6.

As soon as I heard this I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.

Then all who trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles

gathered around me while I sat appalled until the evening sacrifice.

And at the evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting with my garment and my cloak torn and fell upon my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God saying oh my God I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities have risen higher than

our heads, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens.

What a scene as Ezra hears news about how God's people have

sinned against God and he falls on his face,

pulls hair from his head and his face.

He and others are trembling at God's word and he lays out his hands before God in prayer

and fasting and says God I'm ashamed blushed to lift my face to you because of our iniquities against you.

I want a picture of conviction of sin, confession of sin, and not just in Ezra's own life but on behalf of the people of God and

all kinds of other people do join him all the people who are trembling at the words of the

God of Israel when they realize their faithlessness

are joining him in this.

And as I read it, I just can't help but to wonder why is this kind of response to sin not more common among us today. In our own lives, just in our own time alone with the Lord, is there

time where you are falling on your face, confessing sin, mourning over sin, weeping over sin in your own life,

and in the lives of others and the lives of the people of God to hate sins so much that we see it in our

lives or in others lives are in the world and we just confess our need for God's

grace and God's mercy. And then not just alone but to do this

together. Why is this not more common in our churches or whenever we gather together with other brothers and sisters in Christ

...