“…”How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love”
But don't you know who you are?
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?
You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade”
I often think in song. It’s an odd characteristic (I think), but nevertheless, it’s the way my mind works. While I don’t have the talent of song-writing, I admire and respect those that do. When a songwriter captures thoughts and feelings and sets them to music, it allows for others to share similar sentiments with all barriers removed.
One of the things that I do when I am actively trying to work and pray through issues is listen to music… Praise and worship to God are a huge part of who I am. I have been spending a lot of time in prayer over specific things and specific people, and so I have been walking and jogging and listening to music….a lot. Perhaps it has to do with who and what I am praying for, and perhaps it is an actual trend, but I have noticed something wonderful about such a large percentage of contemporary Christen music right now—the message of newness.
So often, people are concerned with “getting life on the right track” so they can find or return to God. We become so focused on the mistakes and poor choices that we have made, we feel we must either be forced to live in separation from a loving Heavenly Father or punish ourselves for all the wrong we have done. But there is no need for that. You see, it is our Savior that paid the price for us and makes us new.
Christ chose to take your punishment for every sin, every poor choice, every mistake. When you ask Him to be your Savior, you are accepting His payment for your sins. When we choose not to forgive ourselves and to move into newness, we are saying that what He did wasn’t enough. We are instead choosing to carry our past into our future. This causes us to be weighed down so heavily with burdens that we no longer have reason to bear.
Not one of us is too good to not need a Savior……and not one of us is too bad to not have Him serve as payment in full for what we have done and will do in this life. Take Him at His Word. When you have sincerely asked for forgiveness, He washes the memory of that sin into the sea of forgetfulness. Allow yourself to act like the One that paid the price for what you have done….move past the regrets, the hurts, the sins, the mistakes, and the poor choices and into newness of self, newness of life. Look forward to your future with hopeful expectation of a life with greater power and bolder influence to point others in the direction of the Life-Saver.
Take a moment and thank the Christ that has given you newness of life—heart, soul, and mind. Is there a song of worship or praise that echoes the sentiments of your heart? Share it with your Savior.
“Cause this is not about what you've done
But what's been done for you
This is not about where you've been
But where your brokenness brings you to
This is not about what you feel
But what He felt to forgive you
And what He felt to make you loved
You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade”
Lyrics courtesy of “You are More,” Tenth Avenue North
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