I Chose You

The word of the LORD came to me:
I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born. I appointed you a prophet to the nations.
But I protested, “Oh no, Lord GOD! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am [only] a youth.”
Then the LORD said to me:
Do not say: I am [only] a youth, for you will go…”                  Jeremiah 1:4-7 (HCSB)

“Jody, before you were a glint in your earthly parents’ eyes, I had a plan for you.” God said this to Jeremiah, to me, and, yes, to you. I have always been God’s child. He has always had a plan for me. But unlike the angels and animals, He gave me choice. Some might say that difference in me from the rest of His creation was a mistake.

As I wandered and struggled through these last 50+ years trying to figure out what I was to do in this life, I have certainly wished it was easier. My personality would have liked a Plan Book divinely delivered to my home the day before I began kindergarten so that my life was mapped out. Based on the gifts that God gave me, I would have then followed His plan and achieved the Kingdom goals that He had for me.

Instead I have taken numerous rabbit trails as I alternately ignored and tried my own way of doing things. I tried to go back to school to get higher degrees as supervisors told me I needed to do that in order to “get ahead”. Every time I tried, the door to opportunity would slam shut! God was trying to get my attention and steer me back to His plan. And His plan wasn’t about me being a success in the world’s eyes.

Jesus says that I should go into my prayer closet to pray (Matthew 6:5-6) and I should not let others know when I do something good (Matthew 6:1-4). It is doing all these things because God is watching and it is He that I want to please.
God has a plan in my life. Am I willing to spend the time with Him so that I know His mind and His voice and will desire to stay with His plan? Will I rely on His strength, both physically and spiritually, to accomplish His plan? Will I listen to people who speak Kingdom Principles or the world’s “get more”, “you can have it all”, and “do it yourself” philosophy? That becomes a very difficult question when it is family that is steering me away from God’s plan, however good their intentions.

When I say “Yes” to God’s plan, it is with His gifts of strength, wisdom, and even talents to do things I may have never done. I have a friend who has made gorgeous banners for worship. This type of art was never part of her life and yet, when God wanted those banners, she was willing and so God infused her with everything she needed to be able to do this work. She was willing. And that is the question that God posed to Jeremiah, to Peter, to Paul, to Thaddeus, to Thomas, to Priscilla, and to me.
Are you willing to go???

Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and told me:
Look, I have filled your mouth with My words.      Jeremiah 1:9 (HCSB)

Lord, fill my mouth, my heart, and my spirit with Your words as I willingly go where Jesus leads me.