I may have made the decision.

The decision to stop living the reckless life I was living. 

But it was all Him from the beginning. 

Although I don’t feel as if I’m enough or even worthy. 

He chose me.

For the plans He has includes me, specifically. 

In Him, I must trust and believe. 

Although I cannot see it, He has a vision. 

He chose me. 

To live out this life He created, abundantly. 

To serve Him faithfully and wholeheartedly.

I give Him all the glory. 

He called me by my name.

He rewrote my story. 

He chose me.

-Rose

He chose me. One Saturday I was reading my morning devotional from the Bible app. I came across the scripture verse below. The words, “I chose you”, jumped out at me. I immediately began to reflect over my life and how I used to live before I decided to make Jesus the Lord and Savior of my life. I had a sinful past. I’m sure those reading this can relate. The fact that God still chose me to be a part of His family and plan blows my mind. When I came to Christ in 2018, I thought I was choosing Him because I was ready to leave the worldly lifestyle behind and submit to Him. As the scripture reads, God said, “You didn’t choose me. I chose you.”

He chose me while I was still living a life of sin and rebellion. He chose me before I was formed in my mother’s womb. He chose me before I was a thought. He chose me before the world was even formed. With Christ, my life has been transformed. I’m reminded of so many stories in the Bible of how God chose the ones who would probably never be picked if they were playing a school yard game, such as kickball. I remember those days. I loved playing. You’d stand in front of the captains of the teams, lined up, waiting for one of them to chose you. If they seen your skills before, or lack there of, that would determine whether or not they wanted you on their team. You would pretty much be judged and that would determine if you were picked. It’s not a good feeling if you were last. With God, it doesn’t matter. Flaws and all, He still chooses to use us for His glory. There is a quote that says, “God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the one He calls.”

Stories like David, the shepherd boy who became King and called “a man after God’s own heart”, inspires me because even David’s own father, Jesse, didn’t have him stand in line with the rest of his seven brothers to be selected as the next king. David was out in the field tending to a flock of sheep. His father didn’t see him equal in strength or ability compared to his brothers. That’s got to hurt. Have you ever been in a situation like that? A situation where someone judged you based off your looks? “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” So Jesse sent for him. He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.””
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭16‬:‭7‬, ‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Samuel was the guy who God sent to pick out the next king. After seeing Jesse’s first seven sons, who looked like great candidates due to their physique, God said none of them were suitable, until David walked in and God said “this is the one.” David didn’t know anything about being a king and definitely didn’t look like he could be one, but as I quoted before, “God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called.” When we make ourselves available, He makes us capable. David could have easily backed out and said, “No, take one of my brothers instead. I’m just a shepherd boy.” God created us and gives us everything we need to take on the challenges we face.

I spent the majority of my life constantly calling myself shy and quiet. I was nervous to pray publicly, host a small group, or lead a team at church because I was constantly telling myself I’m shy and quiet. People would say they can’t hear me because I speak too low. This made me even more insecure. I had to get out of that mindset because that is not who God says I am. His word says that He didn’t give me a spirit of fear or timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). God chose me for a reason. God chose you for a reason. He has a plan for our lives. To give us a future and hope (Jeremiah 29:11)

We are all still a work in progress. I know I am, but I have come a long way from where I used to be and how I used to think. I can’t allow fear to get the best of me because I have been chosen by God to spread His good news to all nations. It’s not by my strength that I do what I do, but by Jesus. He chose Rose. I give Him all the glory as He continues to write my story.

✝️“You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.”
‭‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.16.NLT