Holy One,

 

I come into your presence with painful circumstances and a rugged past.  I have an outer shell that only covers the messed up, confused, hurting person that I am.  My Sunday morning self provides a phony snapshot of what I wish I were instead of who I really am.  I know that you are a timeless treasure waiting to remove my old. bland and dusty sinful attributes and replace them with unimaginable joy and peace.

 

Come into my situation ... sit down in my situation ... wrap your strong arms around me ... encamp your angels around me so that I can become a solid disciple in your service.  Amen.

 

(Theon Johnson III, 2006 Writer’s Conference)