you've been remade

I was captured by a song this week. The lyrics so in sync with where we're at in our bible study.

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "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.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But 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.

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.

'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.

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.

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.

A powerful reminder of the redemptive truth that God's grace mercifully rescues us anytime, anyplace, and in any situation. ANY. Whether you've made a series of destructive choices and your life is a mess. Whether you've been keeping secrets, hiding who you really are. Whether you feel that what you have done is simply unforgiveable.

He forgives, wiping the slate clean. All that is required of me, is to:

1) acknowledge the wrong that I have done - no more excuses, minimizing, or rationalizing
2) accept God's discipline - there are natural consequences to my actions, unavoidable fallout; instead of running from it, I need take responsibility by "paying my dues"
3) asking for forgiveness - ask God to forgive me and most importantly, receive that forgiveness by letting go of the shame and guilt
4) act on God's direction - if He is telling me to turn away from something... turn away!

True redemption - anywhere, anyplace, anytime, and in any situation.