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God’s First Choice – Lectio Divina

April 3, 2011 By Jean Wise

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will. 
Ephesians 1: 3-5




He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world
Lord I have read this verses before but never noticed this phrase before. It jumped off the pages of my Bible into my heart.
I said it aloud as if I didn’t believe what I was reading:
God, the Creator, the Almighty, the One and Only chose us – all of us –  “before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love.”

Wow! You have loved us before You created the world.
You chose us to be your children at the very beginning.
You knew us as you formed us and determined we would always be a part of your family, your plan, your love.
Lord when I doubt if my life has meaning.
When my heart fills with discouragement and emptiness.
When my self esteem plummets and fatigue drains all my energy.
When I feel like the little kid on the playground that nobody wants for their team, help me remember this verse, Lord.
Help me remember I was in and on Your heart from the very beginning  – before you created anything else  – you chose me.
You wrapped Your arms around me and brought me into Your heart as part of your family.
I don’t fully understand why or how, but isn’t it great to be chosen?
YOU chose us.
We are Your first choice.
What a blessing – to be handpicked by God.

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Filed Under: lectio divina

Comments

  1. blankPhather Phil Malmstrom says

    April 4, 2011 at 10:48 pm

    Jean, this was truly lovely, and such a powerful truth! Thank you for the wonderful reminder!

    Have a Blessed Day!

  2. blankJean Wise says

    April 4, 2011 at 10:15 pm

    Thank you for your nice comments. I use my post on Sunday as a prayer based on a Bible verse. I often am surprised at what letters and words are formed as I type – then reread it later, not sure it was really me!

    What a blessing, though to be handpicked by God.

  3. blankHeidi says

    April 4, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    Beautiful Truths to dwell on, thank you for sharing!

  4. blankDesiray says

    April 4, 2011 at 6:16 pm

    Jean thank you for sharing this poem I simply love it. For we all can surely identify with it.

  5. blankColleen says

    April 4, 2011 at 2:38 pm

    What a blessing indeed! I need this reminder from time to time. Thank you.

  6. blanktcsoko says

    April 4, 2011 at 11:44 am

    Awesome verses – with God no one is an accident!

  7. blankwritingcanvas says

    April 4, 2011 at 3:23 am

    When I feel like the little kid on the playground that nobody wants for their team, help me remember this verse, Lord.

    This struck me. Isn’t it amazing that even as adults we can yearn for other’s approval and yet, God gives it to us so freely? HE is enough!

    Thanks so much for sharing you heart!

  8. blankstephanie says

    April 4, 2011 at 3:22 am

    So beautiful…yes we are chosen daughters and sons of the most high…thats something worth singing about, yes?!?!

  9. blankMichelle DeRusha@Graceful says

    April 4, 2011 at 12:54 am

    Wow, Jean, you are so right — what a convicting verse…to think God chose us BEFORE he created the world?! It kind of freaks me out…but in a good way!

    I remember reading this exact verse a few months ago, and having a similar reaction of shock and awe when I realized that God created me to be holy. Holy? I thought? ME, holy? I’d considered a lot of things holy in my life — church, pastors, communion, sacraments — but certainly never lowly, flawed me. That was incredibly eye-opening for me.

    Thanks for linking up today, Jean!

  10. blankRose says

    April 4, 2011 at 12:24 am

    Beautiful!

  11. blankRecovering Church Lady says

    April 3, 2011 at 11:06 pm

    So beautiful! Thank you!

Healthy Spirituality – a sacred space to nurture your faith, grow closer to God, and belong to a community, walking together on life’s journey. This blog is written by author, speaker and retreat leader Jean Wise

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