Have You Come To the End of Your Rope ?

It's Friday and God's Word is on my mind and heart.

I've been soaking in Matthew 5 for the past several days; especially verses 1-12.  I've been poring over different translations and I share with you below verses 1-3
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online)

"When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him.
Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down  and taught his climbing companions.  This is what he said:  'You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule'."

His disciples climb up the hillside with Him, they sit down  ready to listen to His Words.
Eugene Peterson has put what is known as The Beatitudes in today's language, and this first one goes right to the heart of the matter:

Less of me is a good thing.  Without self trying to reign in my life there is room for God to rule


Confession time - I struggle often with "myself" reigning.
As a little girl I constructed a safe place of "self-protection" .  I believed the lie that if I was "in control" of all things in my life I would be safe.  And though I asked Jesus into my heart at the age of 17 I still spent the next 20 years continuing to live within those walls of self-protection.  During all those years of reinforcing my defenses from who or what might hurt me,  I didn't realize I was missing God's best for me.

I didn't know -
      He created me for relationship with HIM
      He held the answers to my heart's questions
      He had a purpose for my life
      His unconditional love for me trumps all other love(s)

When I came to the end of my rope just before turning 40, our ever-present, all knowing, all powerful God was waiting, with open arms to welcome this prodigal Home.

Now nearly 28 years later...I say with quivering voice..."Lord, I want You to reign in my life 24/7"..."less of me and more of you". 

At those times when I forget what I say I want.....the Holy Spirit, full of grace and mercy, reminds me and once again, for another day, I experience the everlasting love I've discovered I can't live without!

My question is  - have YOU come to the end of your rope?

It's my prayer.