Daily Prayer Guide ~ April 28 - Praying as One Chosen by God.
Read:
John 15:16
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you”
Eph 1:3-6
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship n through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits e to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Consider:
This last week, many were watching the NFL Draft, watching teams choose who they thought would be the best football players for their teams. The analysts were considering the strengths and weaknesses of each player and coming up with the short list of players that a particular team would be considering.
We have all, at times, been on the selection list of someone, probably not for an NFL position, but for some position. I remember the school yard selection of teams, two captains would go down the lineup taking turns picking their teams and no one wanted to be the last ones picked. But we also have gone through the anxiety of being chosen for a job, or another role for which we really wanted to be picked.
God’s Word reminds us that God has chosen us and it had little to do with us choosing him. For God to choose us means he gave his attention to pick us, he preferred us. For him to pick us means we have value to him, we are important enough to him that he would select us to be in relationship with him. When he chooses us, we can know that he has desires for us to be with him and to be part of what he is doing.
His choosing of us is a blessing to us, it is like he places his hand on our shoulders and draws us to himself. God declares to all of heaven and all of creation that he is expressing his love and concern for us by choosing us, he is saying ‘you are mine and I am yours, and it has always been this way’, He has always chosen you, this was his first plan and eternal plan.
Our salvation, and resulting transformation, is the evidence that God has chosen us because we believe in his truth and live trusting in his ways. When we wonder ‘what is this relationship with Jesus about?’ We can remember that it means that we have been chosen by God himself, that in spite of the fact that we had nothing to bring to the table, but that God made up all the difference by choosing us. When God chose us, he demonstrated that we have value, meaning and purpose so we can live, even in the midst of a coronavirus with something to bring to the world – Him.
2 Chronicles 16:9 says
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”
What might it look like for the God who chose you to have the full strength of God work through your life because your committed to him.
Prayer: Father, Thank you that you chose me, in spite of me. When I had nothing to offer you, you chose me to demonstrate your great love. Thank you that you bring value and meaning into my life, because you chose me. Thank you that this was your plan all along and I am greatly blessed because of it.
· Thank God, in your words, that he chose you to demonstrate his presence in our world.
· Express to him what it means to you that he chose you.
· Ask him to help you live as one of his chosen ones today.
· Ask that He would use your life to bless others in your community today.
· Pray for our church that we would demonstrate God’s presence in our community.
Father, May we always know that we have been chosen by you and that changes everything in our lives and ministry. Help us bring you glory today in the things we say and do. Amen
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