So for awhile I would find myself getting kind of frustrated because I’ve felt like I have been waiting on Jesus to bring me to a place in our relationship that I’ve been wanting to be. Lately, I am realizing in reality that it’s not me waiting on Him, He’s waiting on me. Waiting on me to choose Him. Waiting for me to choose Him when it’s not easy. Waiting on me to choose Him when I am busy, or when other things have more of my attention. When a million other things are grabbing for my attention. To choose Him when I don’t necessarily feel like it. To choose Him when I am distracted. I need to choose Him because He has already chosen me:
“EVEN BEFORE HE MADE THE WORLD, GOD LOVED US AND CHOSE US IN CHRIT TO BE HOLY AND WITHOUT FAULT IN HIS EYES.” – EPHESIANS 1:4
The message version is worded like this:
“…LONG BEFORE HE LAID DOWN EARTH’S FOUNDATIONS, HE HAD US IN MIND, HAD SETTLED ON US AS THE FOCUS OF HIS LOVE. TO BE MADE WHOLE AND HOLY BY HIS LOVE. LONG, LONG AGO HE DECIDED TO ADOPT US INTO HIS FAMILY THROUGH JESUS CHRIST (WHAT PLEASURE HE TOOK IN PLANNING THIS!) HE WANTED US TO ENTER INTO THE CELEBRATION OF HIS LAVING GIFT-GIVING BY THE HAND OF HIS BELOVED SON.”
Settled: To determine; decide on
Decided: Definite; unquestionable; having clear opinions.
Focus: The center of interest or activity.
GOD CLEARLY, INTENTIONALLY, FOCUSED ON US AND DECIDED UNQUESTIONABLY TO CHOOSE US.
You see, a relationship can’t be one sided. And I didn’t realize but for awhile I was waiting on Jesus to make the moves I was desiring but in His word it clearly explains what His thoughts & plans for our fellowship with Him is like. What He desires our friendship with Him to be like. I mean He went to the cross for US. He took our place because His love for us couldn’t be held back. It is me who He was waiting on. It is so easy for me to choose God in moments when I feel like it or I’m hungry for it. But it’s the moments when I intentionally choose Him when other things have satisfied me. That is where intimacy grows. And this will look different for everyone. For me, typically what takes more of my attention is people, my friends because I love and care so deeply and my love language is quality time. Although this is one of my strengths, it also can be a weakness. I just LOVE being with people. But I know I overstep that and choose people more than Jesus many times. So it’s in that choosing when it’s not easy, where intimacy grows.
So where do I go from here? I can’t yet tie a pretty bow on this because I am still learning. I am still figuring it out and you know, I don’t think we will ever stop figuring this out, and you know what that’s okay!!. We will spend the rest of lives being on the wild adventure of intentionally choosing God because there is so many things in this life that will be grabbing for our attention and He knows that and has so much grace and patience.
Here is where I’ll start: To be aware and intentionally choose Him in the moments it’s not easy. Because He longs and desires for us to choose Him & be with Him.
He is our greatest gift.
So yeah, that is all for now!
Much love, T!
