I don't know about y'all, but I am my worst critic.

Some days I don't see myself worthy of what the Lord says I am. I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels less than what I truly am. God pursues us faithfully and relentlessly, even when we want to go out on our own without him. God doesn't want to leave us behind, even when we deserve it more than anything.

You are chosen.

"Before I was born, God chose me and called me by His marvelous grace." Galatians 1:15

Remember being the dodgeball or tee-ball team captain in elementary school at recess and picking players for your teams? No? Me either. I was never brave enough to be the team captain and never lucky enough to be picked in the top 5 of the team. Elementary school P.E. is not the only place where I have felt left out or rejected. But no matter the worldly situation we are in, God is right there beside you saying, "I, your Father and Comforter, have already chosen you before I made you. I will never make you feel left behind, rejected, or put down. You will always be first with me." One of my favorite portions of the definition of chosen is "to be favored" which means to be approved. We are approved by God, even after we choose sin again and again, rejecting all the good He gives. By accepting His grace, His marvelous grace, we can be children of God, the One who will always faithfully choose you.

Live like you are chosen.

"The more I fill myself with God's truth, the less I need validation from others." - Lysa Terkeurst

This past April, I attended a women's conference led by the wonderful Lysa Terkeurst and she stated the quote above and it just stuck with me. Galatians 1:15 is definitely weighted more because God speaks this to my heart time and time again, but this advice from a Christian leader about living out this truth is so beneficial. You cannot expect to hear these words today and feel worthy and chosen tomorrow - at least that is my issue. If I want to feel the presence of God and believe all the things that He says I am, I have to be fed daily with His words of worthiness. Now, if you asked me to be on a low carb diet for a week, I'd be eating pizza (with the stuffed crust) on the second or third day. So, I am definitely not consistent in my daily quiet time with the Lord, but when I am down and feel lesser than I should I know what I need to do. I can turn to His word for a comfort I have known before, but something a little better than that comfort is purpose.That's what I love about being His daughter, I know I have a Father, a Comforter, and a God who wants only the best for me to turn to and to find truth in. He wants to fulfill His purposes for your life, and one of those is to live like you are chosen.