Living Chosen
By: Justin Fatica
When you are chosen, it is all about giving up everything for Jesus Christ. When I was in my early twenties, I was preaching and listening to many young people who were suffering. Hearing stories from hundreds of kids who are suffering isn’t easy, but believe me, it’s worth it! Because God has chosen me for a particular call, he gives me the strength to live out that call. I didn’t know that my “yes” to God after my conversion at 17 years old would hurt so much, but I also didn’t realize how great my life would be either.
1. It's not I but GOD who chose me
Whatever state in life you are in, God brought you there. He wants you to realize that you are chosen. 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." When you know you're chosen, you have to know that you don't deserve it, it's a gift. When you feel like you aren’t strong enough, or you just can’t fulfill the call you’ve been given, strive to be grateful for your call. Instead of saying, "You should've chosen someone else," say “Thank you Jesus for choosing me despite my weaknesses.” Trust that God will give you the gifts to carry out your call. Believe that you have something to offer!
2. Be intentional about your dreams
A chosen person isn’t afraid to dream! There are intentional ways that you are called to live out your YES to Christ in his call for you. No dream of yours is too big for God. He wants to give you the very best. In the early years of my conversion, I had a dream to give a bible to every person I met. I prayed for years for that dream, and guess what? Hard as Nails is now the largest free Catholic Bible distributor in the country! God made my dream happen! That was just one dream that I had that God fulfilled, but I could give you many more examples. God is so great that he gives me even more than I could dream of. He gave me my phenomenal wife, 5 beautiful kids, and great friends. And I’m not done dreaming!
My dream is to make a world where no one suffers alone. I believe that it can happen because God has chosen me to dream! God will fulfill the dreams that you have (and don't know you have) because he loves you. Your dreams matter to God.
3. Don’t worry about results
Be intentional about what you do, and don't worry about results. You will be amazed to see what happens when you let go of results and just give your whole heart. Maybe that is in your job, in your relationships, in your prayer. Whatever it is, a chosen person lives out of doing everything with their heart, regardless of the results. That leaves room for God to fulfill dreams and to far exceed our own limitations or expectations. Giving God the results will allow you to live free of worry or calculation. It allows you to live chosen. Take Action!
1. Write a list of your dreams and start praying intentionally for them
2. Pick one dream and make a list of how you believe that dream can come true
3. Spend one minute in prayer thanking God for choosing you.
Prayer: Lord, I believe that I am a chosen people. I believe that I am a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God, I believe that I am your special possession. I declare your praises, for you have called me out of the darkness and into your wonderful light. Thank you for choosing me.
