"I can't come to God until I stop doing this—I need to clean up first."
How it sounds in your head: You keep promising yourself you'll pray again, read your Bible again, go back to church—once you get this under control. But the cycle continues, and you feel farther from God every day. You're waiting to be worthy of approaching Him.
"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
-- Hebrews 4:16Religious teaching that access to God is based on current behavior rather than finished work of the cross.
You've tried to stop and failed repeatedly, so approaching God feels presumptuous and hypocritical. Surely He won't listen until you prove you're serious by achieving victory first.
She was ceremonially unclean for twelve years—by law, she couldn't touch anyone or enter the temple. She came to Jesus in the middle of her issue, not after it was resolved, and was instantly healed and called 'daughter' the moment she reached out in faith.
I REFUSE the lie that I must clean up before I can come close to God. IT IS WRITTEN that I can come BOLDLY to the throne of grace to obtain mercy and find grace to help in my time of need. I don't come after victory; I come to receive victory. IT IS WRITTEN in Ephesians 2:13 that I who once was far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ—not by my behavior but by His sacrifice. My access is not based on my current performance but on His finished work. I am a branch abiding in the Vine, drawing strength not from my ability to stop sinning but from His life flowing through me.
Your Father isn't standing at a distance waiting for you to improve—He's running toward you in the middle of your mess, robe in hand, ready to restore before you even finish your confession.