A Season of Lights - Day 6 - Chosen

Ruth collapsed onto the couch in an exhausted heap. “God,” she cried out silently, “I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”

Her life was never-ending whirlwind. Most days she felt like the ball in a pinball game – careening wildly from one crisis to the next. In the best of circumstances, raising 5 bright and active children, and running a thriving medical practice would have been a stretch for any normal woman. But her life was anything but normal. David was away constantly for long periods of time, sharing in meetings, overseeing gatherings and now, increasingly, speaking in other nations.

“Is it so wrong God to want to have a normal life? I see my sisters’ families – how they go bike riding together or the dads take their kids to soccer games or school plays. Is that so wrong to want to have that for my own kids? This is not the life I signed up for God!”

The more she let her mind race the farther the self pity pushed her into the dark place of despair. Every time David would travel it would be the same cycle. She would start out ok, but then the stresses would mount – soon she was feeling overwhelmed and so tired. Then invariably some well meaning person would pat her on the arm and say how unfair things were or how hard it must be for her, and once again the cycle of self-pity would start. Every ounce of her strength would disappears until even the simplest tasks – making dinner, driving one of the kids to soccer, helping with homework – became impossible mountains.

“God, you have to help me because I can’t survive like this,” she cried out in desperation.

Suddenly the clear voice of the Lord shattered the darkness enveloping her.

“Ruth, you are chosen,” the Lord said.

“What Lord?”

“I chose you to be David’s wife.”

That she knew was true. Their sovereign meeting all those years ago during her summer medical internship in Egypt. The whirlwind two weeks that followed during which God had spoken deeply to both their hearts that they were meant for each other, even though they barely knew one another. The crazy supernatural signs and confirmations that had followed. Their first prophetic word as a couple warning that the wedding they thought they would plan for the following summer was actually 5 long hard years away. The grace the Lord gave them to hold on those 5 years until suddenly God’s hand wrought miracle after miracle to bring them together as husband and wife.

“That’s right Ruth, I chose you as David’s wife. I chose you for this life. I knew the hardship, I knew the struggles, and I apportioned a grace for you that is equal to the task. But the enemy is stealing that grace from you through self-pity and it’s draining the life from you and making what I meant to be a joy, a burden and a misery.”

Instantly a huge weight lifted off her shoulders as the revelation hit her spirit – “I am chosen!” Never again would the dark despair have an entry point to her soul.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:11-12

We will never be able to enter into the fullness of rest the Lord has for us without the foundational truth being layed deeply in our spirits that we have been chosen by God. And that we are chosen according to a plan – not just any plan – but THE plan – the Master’s plan - the plan that causes everything to come into conformity with His perfect will.

Without this truth embedded firmly in our hearts, we are vulnerable to a spirit of self-pity that seeks to twist the joy of laying down our lives for Christ into an unbearable yoke of human suffering. Not living in the revelation of being chosen also opens the door for deep insecurities that compel us to prove our worthiness to be a part of a plan instead of being able to rest knowing that our simple obedience to Him will bring us to the place of being a praise of His glory.

In this season of lights, God wants to give us not just a theological understanding or head knowledge of being chosen but the supernatural revelation that will shatter every lie of the enemy and set us free to walk in assurance according to His Plan.

For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will- to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves Ephesians 1:4-6

Tonight as we light a candle to signify the start of this new season, let us pray this prayer: Lord I thank you that before the foundation of the world you saw me, you knew me and you chose me to walk with you. I thank you that you have The Master Plan for my life and that in all things you are working for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purposes. God I don’t want anything to hinder me from entering into the rest you have ordained for my life. I ask you to supernaturally break through any hindrances the enemy has put to prevent this truth of being chosen by You from penetrating my heart and spirit to its fullness. In the Mighty name of Jesus I pray, Amen!

Grace and Peace to You

The Watchmen Team

P.S. Today David and Ruth Demian are the proud parents of 7 wonderful children, ages 2 to 19. Ruth continues to practice medicine part-time and walks in tangible grace and peace that is an inspiration to all who know her.