Come as you are is a line from a great worship song called Broken and Beautiful by Mark Schulz.
It's been rattling around in my head for quite some time now, and the whole idea of "coming as you are" has been an idea that I have struggled with. So here are my thoughts on "come as you are".
I have struggled for a long time with feelings of unworthiness. I felt unworthy of being called a child of God, unworthy of being a member of my church and unworthy of calling a lot of wonderful people in my life my friends.
I let these feelings stop me from going to church on a regular basis. I told myself that I would commit to regular attendance when I got it right, when I felt worthy of being there. I would go for a couple of weeks then I would mess up again, and instead of asking for and accepting the Lord's forgiveness, I would tell myself there was no point, I just can't do this Christianity thing, I'm just not capable of being good enough, and I would give up again. I kept this going for a couple of years, going to church, then stopping, then going again. How much do you think Satan was enjoying this rollercoaster ride?
Thankfully with the Lord's help and with some much appreciated support and guidance from wonderful friends I have come to realise that I am never going to be worthy. The Lord doesn't expect me to get it right before I come before Him. He knows that isn't possible, He wants us all to come as we are. We are all broken but the Lord still loves us, still calls us His children, wants more than anything for us to repent and keep coming back to Him.
So, don't try to be worthy, you can't. Just come as you are.
Lord, I thank you that you are always there waiting for me to come back to you, and that you are patient with me as I take such a long time to learn your lessons for me. I pray that I can continue to grow in faith and knowledge of you, and that I can serve you with all my heart and soul.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Come as you are
Posted by HisPrincess at 2:31 PM
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11 valued opinions!:
Sharon: You drove the nail of my life all the way into the wood with one slam/bang! I sat here in speechless awe for a long time after I read this. It explains me to a tee, but I hadn't been able to explain to anyone why I stopped going to church. Thank you soooo much for sharing your heart. Now I understand why I am choosing to stay home on Sunday and not be in community with my God and my church family. WOW!!!!!!! Your thots make it much easier for me to get up off my $#*( and go.
katie
Great point! I kinda did the same thing with music, I use to listen to some really bad music, then I would throw it all away and only play Christian music then I would re-buy it and listen to it, then...
It was from one end to another...I have finally gotten to be more of the middle of the road and not such extremes!
Jen
Wow Katie, I'm so glad that something I have shared has helped someone else. And its the truth you know, there is no way that we can get it right. Thats not to say we have to stop trying, just stop beating ourselves up, ask forgiveness and get back on the horse!
Hi Jenny, I'm going through that with my teens at the moment. It's hard to teach them to guard their hearts by guarding what goes into their minds, but we have managed to eradicate Eminem!
Sharon,
None of us EVER have it right!! That is the beauty of grace. He stepped in and rescued us long before we ever even thought about Him!! Praise our Mighty King!!
Leah
I'm a slow learner! I know this in my heart but my head keeps telling me "if it seems too good to be true, then it probably isn't true"
OH sister...we are miles apart physically, but our hearts are side by side when it comes to this!Been there. If you can get your hands on the "The God Who Is, Was and Is to Come" teaching cd's by Beth Moore, they are life changing!!! www.lifeway.com is where you can find them if you're interested. OH, how I struggled with this.
So glad you have great support around you! God wants to use us, we just need to cooperate!
Love ya,
Lelia
Sharon that is one of the motto's of our church- "Come as you are". As you implied, that is what Christ wants...us, as we are at that moment. I can assure you the people in the pew may look like they are "getting it right" but they are just like you and I, unworthy. But God will take the unworthy and use them for His glory. We have to wake up each morning committing ourself afresh to this walk with Him. When we stumble, we ask forgiveness and start over. Being broken of ourselves is the most beautiful thing in God's eyes. Find a good faith community-use it as a support in building your relationship with God and serve within it. You will find so many blessing that way. Remember the hymn "Just as I am"...how does each line of the chorus end???? It ends "O Lamb of God I come, I come!". You are their to worship Him.
In His Graces~Pamela
Thanks for visiting my blog!! It is so crazy to me that you can be in Australia and commenting on my USA - Virginia blog. So thanks!
As far as unworthiness, I suggest the story of the prodical son. (Luke 15:11-32) He left his father, blew his inheritance, and when he returned his father ran out to meet him. You heavenly father is running to met you! Come as you are!
Oh, oh, oh...I really love this! Come as you are. God never asks us for anything more does He? He knows us; He created us; He is not surprised by us. So why are we so worried about it all?
Thanks for your insight!
Prayers and Blessings!
Rebecca
Thankyou for your wonderful comments and encouragement. I really appreciate your thoughts and support.
Sharon.
I am coming to your blog from Chatty Kelly's. I think that not feeling worthy is one of the enemies best strategies. If he can keep us feeling guilty and unworthy than we are not a threat to him! But God.... (my 2 favorite words).
Psalm 139:116(GNB)
LORD, you have examined me and you know me. You know everything I do; from far away you understand all my thoughts. You see me, whether I am working or resting; you know all my actions. Even before I speak, you already know what I will say. You are all around me on every side; you protect me with your power. Your knowledge of me is too deep; it is beyond my understanding. Where could I go to escape from you? Where could I get away from your presence? If I went up to heaven, you would be there; if I lay down in the world of the dead, you would be there. If I flew away beyond the east or lived in the farthest place in the west,
you would be there to lead me, you would be there to help me. I could ask the darkness to hide me or the light around me to turn into night, but even darkness is not dark for you, and the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you. You created every part of me; you put me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because you are to be feared; all you do is strange and wonderful. I know it with all my heart. When my bones were being formed, carefully put together in my mother's womb, when I was growing there in secret, you knew that I was there---you saw me before I was born. The days allotted to me had all been recorded in your book, before any of them ever began.
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