Have you had that experience when what you read in quiet time lines up with a book you are reading, movie you just watched, song you are listening to or conversation you just had? That happened to me the first few days we were in Maine. It was raining so I grabbed the book, “Chosen” by Ted Dekker, from my sister-in-law’s shelf and read it in two very rainy days.

As I read:

“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.”
Ephesians 1:4&5

Before God created anything, we were on His mind! He chose me. He chose you. He created a world for us to live in. He had a plan to rescue us and bring us back to Himself.
With all the ways I mess up and the crap I carry around, I can have a hard time feeling worthy of that kind of love and excitement.

I know the joy and excitement I feel when I have a guest coming to visit. I want them to feel welcome and comfortable. I plan for the food, I think ahead of what they might need. Of course, I run around and clean everything. :)

I am overwhelmed when I read how much joy God has for me to come to Him and be a part of His family. He planned everything out. He planned everything that needed to happen for that to become a reality.

And as much as God planned for us to be a part of His family, He has set before us things to do. Yes, there are different seasons with different responsibilities and requirements. But the goal is the same: love God, love people, be faithful and fruitful.

In the book “Chosen” the main character, Johnis, had a hard time believing he was someone who had a call on his life because all he saw was what he wasn’t. He had a list as to why he wasn’t the one to carry it out.

Sound familiar? Yeah, me too.

What if we really grasped the importance of who we are and the role we play in this life? Would it change how we made decisions and handled conflict, knowing there was a greater cause than our being right or understood. Are we willing to look foolish to others as we run fully after Jesus. Are we willing to risk people misunderstanding why we don’t party like we used to or why we are fasting.

Katherine Wolf of Hopeheals says: “What is true in the light is still true in the dark.”

If we are at church or having our quiet time and we get an understanding of who we are in God or how much He loves us or a step of obedience He is asking us to take, that doesn’t change when we need to walk it out. We are not to let the fear or doubt rob us of what is true.

There’s a talking Owl in “Chosen” named Michal and yes, he’s old and wise. ;) One line he said struck me because it went along so beautifully with everything else God was saying.
“Just because most people can’t see a reality doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”

Here’s a reality we may or may not believe: We are very loved by the God who made everything! He is filled with joy thinking and planning on us being a part of His family. We are set apart for Him. We are each called to be a light to those around us. We each have a specific task, in every season we are in, to do for His glory and His name. (just to name a few)

Whether we believe it or not. Walk it out or not. It is still very, very true!!!!
What if we got that so deep in our heart and our soul that we walked in the freedom Jesus died to give us and in the authority He defeated Satan and death for?? Would we no longer allow insecurity, doubt, fear of what others think keep us from being who God created and loves??

I know I want e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. God has for me. Maybe it starts with accepting how much He loves me and how important I am to Him and to the world around me.

We are each chosen. We are not rejected or forgotten.

I’m going to close with this last thought. Proverbs 4:23 says:

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. “

May I suggest that it’s not just about keeping the lies, negative, unhealthy things out BUT it’s also about keeping IN the promises, the power, the grace, the love and all the rest of what God has for us. That can change our life just as much, if not more, than just keeping the lies out.

So, guard your heart Chosen of God! You matter. You were thought of and planned for. You are here for more than just your schedule and to-do list.

All My Love
~ Jodi xo

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