Chosen

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Victory Call

Years ago, I read a Facebook post where someone was really struggling to believe the truth of how much God loves us. She specifically mentioned a very popular song by Lauren Daigle, “You Say.”  If you haven’t heard it, the chorus of the song says:

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
You say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say that I am Yours
And I believe, oh I believe
What You say of me
I believe

But when what we see in the mirror and what the world tells us don’t match up with our feelings, it can be hard to believe those truths. Diane Hunt previously wrote a really powerful Victory Call on believing the truth rather than letting our feelings pull us into the lies of the enemy.

I was attending a women’s Bible study where we were working through the Old Testament wisdom books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Song of Solomon) to see Jesus in these Old Testament passages.  One lesson was on the contrasts of the blessed man (woman) of God versus the wicked/perishing.  We went through a number of the verses in Psalms that contrast the blessings of following God as opposed to the results of following the world.

One verse in particular, and the teacher’s explanation, really struck me, especially having read that Facebook post earlier in the day.

Blessed is the man You choose, And cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, Of Your holy temple. Psalm 65:4

So what does that mean, the man You choose?  Well, if I told you to go to your closet and choose a dress – which one would you choose and why? Maybe your favorite, or the one you deem fits the special occasion. If you went to the market for a piece of meat for a special dinner, would you maybe pick top choice beef?  In this sense, it means precious, high quality, favored. Not to get into a discussion of election, but we are chosen by God. Not because of anything inherent in us, but because of what He creates in us.

My mind immediately went to Isaiah 43:4, Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.

God chooses us, values us, and considers us precious. Regardless of what the mirror tells us, what the bathroom scale tells us, what the magazine covers tells us – all that matter is what God tells us.  And He tells us over and over, in every book of the Bible, that He regards us as precious, chosen, and deeply loved children.

Now it’s your turn to choose.  Will you believe that or believe the lie that you are unlovely, unworthy, unloved?  I know what I choose.

 

Written by Ruth Schmidt: Ruth Schmidt has worked at America’s Keswick since 1985. She currently serves as Administrative Assistant to Bill Welte.

---

This Week’s Verse to Memorize:  “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6