The Gospel of Jesus is a paradox.  If you are good, moral, without fault, righteous and competent, then Jesus is not for you.  But if, as 1 John 1:9 tells us, you are willing to confess your brokenness, wickedness, weakness and full culpability, the Great Exchange occurs by the only one in the Universe that has the right and power to do so: Our Great God and King - the Righteous One - Jesus Christ! 

As I was going through Psalm 107, I noticed that it's a song of thanksgiving.  Why?  Because God is good and His love endures forever!  To demonstrate this, the Psalmist by inspiration of the Holy Spirit relayed FOUR kinds of people that God loves.  See if you fit in a category:

1.  the Hapless (107:4-9) - you've been dealt bad deals all your life.  At times you're the victim.  At times your the victimizer.  "Give thanks ... for he satisfies the thirsty"
2. the Prisoner (107:10-17) - you've put your own chains on; we call them addictions, co-dependencies; you've been ensnared and prostituted yourself to an apparition promising hope.  You're bitterly deceived.  "Give thanks .. for he breaks down the gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron."
3. the Rebel (107:17-22) - you've refused to be pegged by anyone, much less God, and now you've made your own rack of torture.  You don't know what's good anymore; death seems more desirable.  "He sent forth his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.  Let them give thanks ... let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." 
4. the Wanderer (107:23-32) - Maybe its a little of the rebel; maybe you're just trying to get by - but the Lord's not the center. You're not a bad person - you're just not ready to accept your part.  You respect the dangers of this world, but not ready to submit to his Lordship.  Now you know.  "Let them give thanks ... Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people (I think this is for those who say they can worship God away from his Community of Believers)."

And overall, we see this instruction:
Whoever is wise, let him heed these things
and consider the great love of the Lord.

It doesn't matter what you've done or not done.  What matters is our alignment with the God of this Universe as revealed through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  From one misfit to another, I urge you: be reconciled! 

Very recently, I had the privileged of sharing with a new friend some of the very first steps of what they needed to do as a disciple of Jesus. 
And I was delighted to see honest humility. 
I've become so accustomed to people come to Grace because they want something or need to focus their lives more.  Those are both legitimate needs - and God desires all of us to be fruitful.  But in my opinion, there is a subtle shift that happens that we need to cautious of: are we using God to just make ourselves better?  Sometimes it's obvious: I want to go to church to look good in the community.  Sometimes not so obvious: my life lacks something - maybe a little God in my life will help?  Both are selfish in their focus.
But with my new friend, he demonstrated a key trait of a disciple: humility - the desire to learn of God; he comes to the table assuming he brings nothing of value.  I in fact, had to instruct him of his new-found status in the Kingdom: no longer a pauper, but a prince (1 Peter 2:9); not an illegitimate child, but adopted into the Family of God (Romans 8:23); no longer an enemy, but a friend (John 15:15) ... even still, he was cautious.  Not craven - but a healthy reverence. 
How does a Disciple mature?
I heard a statement the other day that made me remember what's most important as a Disciple of Jesus: God is not interested in what we can do for him, but what we become. Of course, our main objective is to be like his Son (Romans 8:29).  But how we get there is not by attending x-number of classes or serving x-number of years in x-number of ministries.  Those are used by God.  But becoming more like Christ is a daily desire to be remade one step at a time as he directs. 
So, how are you being remade today?  Do you find yourself being challenged in areas that are uncomfortable?  May the Lord give you the grace to be still and be led. 
May you approach him with a teachable, reverent attitude. 
May you discover the paradox that as you give more of your will to Him, you find more and more freedom!