Do you prepare yourself for prayer and worship a little too carefully?

Mathew 9:1-7
"And getting into a boat, he crossed over, and came to His own city. And behold, they were bringing to Him a paralytic, lying on a bed; and Jesus seeing their faith said to the paralytic, Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven. and behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, This fellow blasphemes. and Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Rise, and walk? But in order that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins - then He said to the paralytic - Rise, take up your bed, and go home."

Talk about feeling vulnerable!

What was that man thinking? Strapped to a stretcher, unable to move. Lying flat on his back. His whole being and everything he ever was; everything he ever connived to become; every lustful thought he had clung to; every vengeful word; every way he had brought grief, heartache and disappointment to his parents flashes before his eyes like someone whose life flashes before them just before immanent death.  Jesus is looking at him, lying there, unable to squirm away, unable to roll over, unable to stand and present himself.  Jesus is looking right into his eyes. "This man knows" the paralytic may think. If he soiled himself while lying there, he could not feel more humiliated, more exposed, more vulnerable.

I can imagine what he may have thought. "I give up. I cannot hide. I am undone. I am a man of unclean lips. Thy will be done. Slay me if you wish." No offering to present; no clean hands to lift up; no song of thanksgiving.

How often do we come to the Lord, hiding behind an offering? Do we feel more comfortable coming to prayer knowing we've been washed, forgiven and sanctified than when we feel dirty, rebellious and altogether unholy?  We smooth the feathers, straighten our ties, take a deep breath, step into the sanctuary and voila! "Here I am to worship.... Here I am to bow down.... Here I am to say that "You're my God!".... You're altogether  (but in our hearts we are saying "all together... and thank god, so am I") Let's keep it all together, let's not betray our weakness, our sickness, or lack of faith, our complete and utter need for the mercy of God.

But Jesus doesn't just leave the paralytic there. "Take courage, my son. Your sins are forgiven."

Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with Me."

I've mostly heard that scripture used to describe Jesus knocking on the heart's door of the unsaved. But I suggest that he is describing what prayer really is. He prompts us and we just open the door and say "Thy will be done". The result is that he accomplishes his will, to the glory of God.

1Peter 5:6 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety upon Him, because he cares for you."