Why do You love me so? What have I done for You lately? Why do You put up with my constant failures? Why do You refuse to let me go? Why don't You just "write me off" as incorrectable?

I don't really know the answer to any of these questions going through my mind, Lord. I just know that You are love, and are much more faithful to me than I can ever imagine being to you.

What have I done to deserve Your love, mercy, and grace? I know the answer to this one! Nothing! Yet You are still always there for me. Even if I'm not there for You.

When the "old man" in me tries to pull me away from You, Your Holy Spirit gently tugs at me and draws me closer. I know I'm one of Your chosen. You say it is so in Your Holy Word. Even when I do things I'm not supposed to do, which to the everyday person would translate into fun, I find no peace.

The only time I'm at rest anymore is when I think of You. The only thing that gives me peace is knowing that because of Your Son's ultimate sacrifice for me, I've been spared of eternal damnation. The devil can't change that fact. He has no control over my destiny ever since I confessed Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour.

Sure he finds delight in causing me to stumble. But it's just as much my fault as it is his. It's not always him who draws us away from You, Lord. More often than not, it's ourselves who slowly but surely begin to walk away from You, dear God.

For this reason, I beg Your forgiveness, Lord. Forgive me for making You too small in my eyes. Forgive me for allowing my problems to become larger than You, Abba. Forgive me for attempting to work this out on my own, instead of allowing You to do it for me. For this reason I've decided to lay it all at the foot of the cross. I'll leave my baggage here, so that my journey will become less cumbersome. I'll travel light, dear God. Please.........carry my baggage. Let me take on Your yoke. Lead me to where You want me to go, Lord. Just go on the journey with me. In Jesus' Name I pray, amen.

Your son,

Joe.