Without a doubt, my favorite subject in elementary school was recess. I loved all sorts of sports, so I enjoyed every moment that we spent running and playing on the fields around our school.

Well, almost every moment. There were those awful times of torture and humiliation, of anxiety and embarrassment: the moments when we were picking teams.

Even though I loved sports, I lacked basic hand-eye coordination. I was bad at sports. Really bad. I could get away with it in basketball because of my height, but in the other activities, I wouldn't be chosen until after most of the girls had been picked. Those minutes of waiting and watching were pure anguish.

Then, when I was about 12, a wondrous thing happened. My motor skills caught up with my growth. My years of constantly playing sports began to pay off, and I became one of the desirable picks. Then the times of choosing sides became much more enjoyable. It's a good feeling to be chosen.

As I go through life, I find that there are still times when I'm waiting to be chosen. Sometimes it's when I've applied for a job that I'm interested in. Sometimes it's when I'm at a social gathering, looking for someone to engage in conversation. Sometimes it's when a committee is being formed or a group is gathering to work on a project. Even today, these moments can be nerve-wracking. Will I be chosen?

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. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:3-4).

God chose us before the creation of the world. No need for nervousness. No need for anxious waiting. We've been chosen. Chosen by God. The world may give us thumbs up or thumbs down. People may select us or they may pass us by. It doesn't really matter. We've been chosen by God.

It's a good feeling to be chosen.
God chose you. He wants you to be on his team; more than that, He wants to make you a part of His family. It's a good feeling to be chosen.

If you want to know more about being part of God's family, visit our website at HopeForLife.org or write to me at tarcher@heraldoftruth.org.

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