1 Peter 2:9
9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
You are chosen. In the greek the word chosen means to picked out. Remember PE in grade school when we all lined up and the captains chose their teams. Not being an athlete I hated those moments, worried that no one would want to choose me. Or on the dance floor in Junior High, not being asked to dance, the last girl standing….Or perhaps when we were a bit older and we didn’t get the job, someone else was asked.  Well, you know the feeling, being rejected, not chosen.
Those things may have happened in our past but when it comes to God if we think we are not wanted, not chosen we are believing a lie.

God takes those that the world may have rejected and chooses them and then transforms them!!!

Look at David, Samuel comes to choose the next King. He goes to David’s father and he brings forth all of his sons except David. He did not think him even worthy to be in the line up! What does God do, He chooses the one the world and his own father thought too young, not worthy. God flips everything upside down. He chose David not only as the next King but as the very lineage of Jesus.
God chooses Joseph. All this brothers not only rejected him, they tried to kill him and then he was taken as a slave to Egypt.  Yet God had chosen him. He walked in the favor of God and ultimately saves Egypt and his own family.
What did these to men have in common? The did not believe the lie, they put their trust in God.

Lets look at what the Word says about us now.

Ephesians 1:4 (Amplified Bible)
4Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love.
~ Do you believe these 2 scriptures or have you believed a lie? Who you think you are determines your thoughts and your actions and ultimately your feelings.
~Do you struggle with low self esteem? Is it time to re-identify yourself?

Remember :
You are not rejected. You are chosen by God himself.

Let me share a picture God gave me over 10 years ago for all His women.

I saw a desert and a beautiful Oasis. In the oasis was a huge tent with a stream nearby and beautiful palm trees shading it. Inside it was amazing. Picture a huge room with every flower and  colorful birds, a fountain of water and a gorgeous settee with a table laden with choice fruit on it. On the settee sat a King. Lets look back outside. There stands a dirty exhausted woman in rags. She approaches the tent and wants to look in but is afraid. The King comes to the entrance and extends his hand to her. She looks down and away but allows him to draw her in. He has her sit with him. She can not look at him so he gently turns her around and has her lean against him and begins to give her fruit and drink. She finally allows herself to relax against his chest. Then he turns her back around to face him and lifts her face in both his hands to look into her eyes. She is transformed as she stands up. Her rags are gone and I saw her clothed in a white bridal gown adorned in pearls. Her hair as beautiful and she was clean. She was regal and she held her head up with a new dignity. Then the King asked her to go out of the tent and into the world. I saw a bleakness out there and so much despair. Yet the he told her to go in His name and all that the name represented and there would be victory.

Ladies, we will never be able to fulfill all that God has for us unless we really know who we are and who we belong to.

A Royal Priesthood.
You are now royalty. You are now part of a family of importance, a royal treasure. God sees us as royalty. Joint heirs with  His son. We are consecrated to God, set apart to serve Him. But we have to see ourselves the way He sees us.

Isaiah 61:10 I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.


Lets take one more look at Ephesians 1
 3 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, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
 11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

Here are some statments about who you now are, read and meditate on them. You you have trouble accepting these new truths then ask God to enable you to believe them. Identify the lie you have believed about who you now are and do some “replacement thereapy”. The great exchange of the lie for the truth.

I am accepted…
John 1:12
I am God’s child.

John 15:15
As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:1
I have been justified.

1 Corinthians 6:17
I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.

1 Corinthians 12:27
I am a member of Christ’s body.

Ephesians 1:3-8
I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.

Colossians 1:13-14
I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.

Colossians 2:9-10
I am complete in Christ.

Hebrews 4:14-16
I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

I am secure…
Romans 8:1-2
I am free from condemnation.

Romans 8:28
I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.

Romans 8:31-39
I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.

2 Corinthians 1:21-22
I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.

Colossians 3:1-4
I am hidden with Christ in God.

Philippians 1:6
I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.

Philippians 3:20
I am a citizen of heaven.

2 Timothy 1:7
I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.

1 John 5:18
I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.

Who are you?
How are you dressed?
Who is your Father, King?

This truth about who we are is foundational to understanding how to walk in victory. In the coming weeks we will take a look at the victorious life.