Since I was never an athletic person, I was definitely not the first one chosen by the team captain in PE classes. If you share my lack of athletic ability, you may recall how that felt as a child - feeling rejected and unwanted. What about as an adult not being selected for a job that you really desired ... a job in your opinion made just for you? In the eyes of a child as well as in the mind of an adult, NOT being one of the chosen ones can be extremely disheartening.

Thankfully, today's verse confirms that God CHOSE us before He formed the world. We were not on the sidelines praying that He would pick us ... that He would give us a chance to be part of His team. On the contrary, we were handpicked by the Creator of the Universe to be a part of His family!

Can you truly grasp this concept? Can you truly comprehend how much you mean to The One who created you?

1 John 3:1 confirms the depth of His love for us "See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God."

He loved us to the point of desiring to be our Father - a good and loving father. Matthew 7:9-11 confirms this desire: "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ... If you, then, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!"

My challenge to you - no matter what you are going through ... no matter how difficult your circumstances are - is to realize that YOUR FATHER chose you to be one of His own. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. He didn't choose you to be a child of the Most High as a fluke. You were part of His master plan, and He WANTS to carry your burdens. Give them to Him today.... He loves you too much to see you heavy-laden and downtrodden!

Dear Lord, Isaiah 59:1 testifies that "Surely the arm of the Lord is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear." Help me to always understand that Your strong and capable arms are always there to lift me out of my trouble and that Your ears are always tuned in to my call.

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.