Have you ever played a game with yourself, where you wished that you could go back in time and make a different choice?  I have.  At the time, the choices seemed so muddy—but in hindsight—it becomes clear what would have been the better choice.

There is a song, titled, “Dear Younger Me?”  It starts with the lyrics:  Dear younger me, Where do I start,

If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far, Then you could be, One step ahead,

Of all the painful memories still running thru my head.   I wonder how much different things would be—Dear younger me.

Then the song goes on to say: Dear younger me, I cannot decide, Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of my life,
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me—Dear younger me.

I love this song because it depicts—a scenario, I have experienced so many times—wishing I could have a do- over.  Wishing I had not made the mistakes I have made.  Living with regrets and guilt.

That’s why my favorite line of this song is this one:  Dear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me

I start crying when I hear this part of the song—I was never meant to carry those regrets and that guilt beyond the cross. 

Then the song goes on to say:

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Can you believe—that is how God sees us now?!!!—because we are in Christ, and Christ is in us.

Don’t believe that because the song says so, or I say so, believe it because God says so:

…… you are a chosen people, you are royal priests , A HOLY NATION, God’s very own possession. As a result you can show people the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His glorious light. 1 Peter 2:9

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes.  Ephesians 1: 3,4

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—…….. Galatians 3:13

He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

“THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME,
BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR.
HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES,
AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND,
TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, Isaiah 61:1/ Luke 4:18 This was a prophesy about the Messiah found in Isaiah, and Jesus said he fulfilled this prophesy. Jesus sets us free!!

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.  Romans 8:2

John 8:36   So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.

We are righteous, We are holy, We are of the redeemed, Set apart, a brand new heart,

We are free indeed!!

So—let’s all tell our younger selves—to carry our regrets and guilt to the cross—and leave them there.

Let’s be encouraged!!

Here are the words to this song:

Lyrics

Dear younger me
Where do I start
If I could tell you everything that I have learned so far
Then you could be
One step ahead
Of all the painful memories still running thru my head
I wonder how much different things would be
Dear younger me,

Dear younger me
I cannot decide
Do I give some speech about how to get the most out of your life
Or do I go deep
And try to change
The choices that you’ll make cuz they’re choices that made me
Even though I love this crazy life
Sometimes I wish it was a smoother ride
Dear younger me, dear younger me

If I knew then what I know now
Condemnation would’ve had no power
My joy my pain would’ve never been my worth
If I knew then what I know now
Would’ve not been hard to figure out
What I would’ve changed if I had heard

Dear younger me
It’s not your fault
You were never meant to carry this beyond the cross
Dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

Every mountain every valley
Thru each heartache you will see
Every moment brings you closer
To who you were meant to be
Dear younger me, dear younger me

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed

You are holy
You are righteous
You are one of the redeemed
Set apart a brand new heart
You are free indeed