Come as You Are

The title of this was almost "Come Strong"

Then I realized that I couldn't come if that was the case.

So I'm coming as I am to this blog- eating frito lay BBQ sunflower seeds and drinking a vanilla coke, while my wife drives us home from Lake Charles in the Tahoe.  Mellowed out in "Desert Song" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros.

And if it wasn't for the fact that I know Josh Garmon, Daniel Shaw, Stephanie Dugard, and a FEW others; I would say that there is nothing good in central Louisiana. 

Back to my title. 

As much as I want my wife and the people close to me to think that I am a strong person, if I'm honest with myself- I can't think of myself as strong.

Fears, responsibilities, relationships, and the future are just a few things on a long list of things that make me feel weak just thinking about them.

I believe that we all have things that make weaklings out of us, and I also believe that the things that potentially make us weak are the things that drive us for most of our lives.

I think that I would be able to live a much more meaningful life if I ran to God in prayer and praise as soon as I start to feel weakened by stressors.

Comfort and renewed strength are things that I've felt when I've run to God in the weakest moments of my life. However, I always try to be strong myself before I take my weakness to God.

He tells us to come to Him as we are. I am certainly glad for that because I usually come to Him weak, arrogant, stubborn, and close-minded.

A friend recently challenged me to not ask God for anything in prayer, but to instead only thank God for what he has already done for me and what He will do for me.

This has revolutionized the way I spend time with God. Sometimes I can't even say anything to God because I'm so used to only asking Him for things - even things like wisdom, open doors, and to see His will. Now I thank Him for what wisdom He has given me, the opportunities that each day holds, and that He cares about what I do with my life.

I've become much more aware and thankful for where I am in life. I've also realized how ungrateful I actually am and our culture is.

I encourage you to try this.
AND
I hope that when you are weak, tired, arrogant, selfish, or whatever else you are; you will come to God just like that. Because the only requirement He has is that you Come and Believe.

He's waiting to scoop you up out of whatever it is that has your soul in a bind.