Week 14: Chosen
Weekly Chapters:
I Samuel 27-II Samuel 14
Passage of the Week:
II Samuel 7:8
Adjective:
1. Selected
2. Wanted
3. Elected
Thesaurus:
· Preferred
· Picked
· Called
· Desired
· Elected
· Selected
· Named
Father God,
As I turn from disobedience last week to chosen this week, remind me that the opposite of the pit I feel in disobedience is the truth. The truth that I am chosen, chosen by you Lord, selected to be in this place at this time by Your glorious hand. Lord, only through You can I fully expand into my calling, the place, picked for me. Lord, You see me, my flaws, my heart, and yet You still chose me. Open my mind and heart to Your message today.
Amen
Authentic vulnerability:
I know that I was chosen by God. I know that I am loved by Him for all that I am and all that I am not.
So knowing this, knowing I am chosen and loved, why do I fail to love myself? Why do I constantly find fault in myself and why do I sometimes despise the person God chose me to be? I find myself being mean to me. Calling me names. Fat, ugly, lazy. I do this to me, one of God’s chosen. I disrespect this creature God made and reject her daily. I stand in the mirror and criticize this creature for her big pores and hair does that not behave. God made this woman, chose this woman, loves this woman; why can’t I?
What is your Authentic Truth?
Study:
Chosen, selected, wanted. Those words are so special in their meaning. When we speak of being chosen as people, we understand this to mean above others we are selected. Or, with other options available, we stood out, like when we are selected as a candidate for a job, for a date, or as a spouse. We are at the moment of being selected, special, we stood out for our gifts.
David was chosen. He was seen for his gifts and his heart. God selected David from his brothers as the chosen one to go into battle, creating notoriety. David was wanted by God and prepared by God to take the seat of Saul.
In II Samuel 6:21, David explains his overwhelming desire to dance for God in that he was chosen by God.
In II Samuel 7:8, God tells Nathan that he hand-plucked David from tending sheep to be the leader of Israel. God continued to bless David through victories in battle.
David knew he was chosen, he knew and he praised God for it. He expressed his thanks to God in public song and dance. He danced like no one was watching only to shame his wife Michal, who did not understand the feeling of being chosen.
However, Michal was chosen too. Michal was chosen by God to be Saul’s daughter and David’s future Queen. Yet, she did not feel like she was chosen. She did not understand the pure thanksgiving in David’s heart for being chosen. Michal focused on what people would think rather than the thankfulness of having been chosen.
I know that I am more of a Michael than a David. I too overlook being chosen and celebrating the desire God, my husband, and my work have for me over what I think others think of me. I pass up the good and focus on the alleged judgment.
God chose me. God chose this time, this place as my time and place to do the most with the gifts He has given. And instead of focusing on these gifts, and pleasing the one who chose me, I focus on the perceived judgment of others.
When I do not look at myself as chosen, I spit on the one who chose me. I do not honor their choice. When I am mean to myself and judge myself, I am telling God that his choice was wrong. Instead, I need to honor those who chose me and love myself for who I am.
I need to choose myself too.
Father God,
God thank You for choosing me. For giving me the gifts that give back. Thank You for putting me here today, in this place, where I can be most useful to You. Praise You, God. You are my maker and I choose you.
Amen.
Homework:
Write a list of why you were chosen: for a job, as a partner. This list contains your gifts and not your looks. You were chosen. Now, make a list of why God chose you to be in this place at this time. Think of who depends on you and why. Read the list and understand that you are here as you are for a reason and no one other than you can fill the hole that you fill in the world.
