CHOSEN

I was born into a home where Jesus wasn’t mentioned. He wasn’t honored, He wasn’t included, He wasn’t followed, and much less, He wasn’t loved. My dad left when I was just 2 1/2 years old. I didn’t grow up in a home where Love was a given factor. At times I was rejected and pushed away. As a little girl, I would fantasize about my dad coming to visit and wishing with everything in me that he would choose to stay. That he would choose to love me, to love us. I simply wanted him to choose me over his other life. This set a pattern in my life of desperately wanting to be loved and chosen by someone. To be first in someone’s life. For many years, I struggled to accept that Jesus could love me, want me and much less, choose me. But He NEVER gave up on me. He kept pursuing me anyway. He kept showing up in my life constantly. I slowly but steadily let Him in. I began seeking Him, spending time with Him, reading His word and asking Him to speak to me, and to reveal Himself to me. That’s exactly what He did. He spoke, He revealed Himself to me, He doted on me, rejoiced over me, and most of all showed me how much He loves me and chooses me! He chose me in life when no one else did. He chose to forgive me for all the wrong I had done. He chose to nail it to the cross. He chose death to give me life. When you fully grasp the love of God, fully grasp that He has truly forgiven you, and fully grasp that He has chosen you… it changes you. 

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”

Ephesians 1:4-8 NLT

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:9 NLT 

“For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.”

Romans 8:29-30 NLT

“For I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:9b-10 NLT 

This scripture in Isaiah is not just for the Israelites. We are just like the Israelites. He rescued us, brought us out of bondage, provided for us, and led us by His light and His presence. He has chosen us!

“You didn’t choose me. I chose you.”

John 15:16a NLT 

Let that verse permeate in your mind. Thank Him for loving you, sacrificing His life for you, for forgiving you, and for choosing you! Then turn toward Him and choose Him back. Choose to live a life with Him. Seek Him, spend time with Him and trust Him. Believe what He says. Don’t allow lies to take up any space in your mind. Choose to believe in Him, choose to trust Him, choose to follow Him, choose to honor Him, and choose to include Him in your life. Choose Jesus, because after all… He has chosen you! 

     You are CHOSEN!!!