TUESDAY

Isaiah 41:8-10

Pick me! Pick me! We may not ever give voice to those words, but how often have our hearts silently called them out? There is something deeply encouraging and affirming about knowing that you have been chosen. That somebody not just needed you for some reason, but rather that somebody wanted you for just being you. This may sound like a Mr. Rogers moment, but long before Mr. Rogers, there was Isaiah, and in today’s Scripture passage, that is exactly what he is expressing. Listen to the language of the passage: “you . . . whom I have chosen,” “I called you,” “I have chosen and not rejected you,” “I am with you,” “I am your God,” “I will help you,” “I will uphold you.” (Jesus articulated it even more in John 15:15-16, which is also worth looking at and pondering as well.) Take a few moments to just sit with this passage, reading it slowly and thoughtfully, one phrase at a time, and allowing what it is conveying to settle in. As you do so, here are some questions for reflection:

• Do you notice a particular word or phrase that seems to speak to you in an especially significant way? If so, take note of that word. Why do you think it caught your attention the way it did?

• What feelings do you notice surfacing within you as you read and ponder the words in this passage? Why do you think you might be responding that way?

• What do you sense God might be nudging you towards, or perhaps inviting you to consider as you read here? What are some specific ways you would like to respond?

• Are there ways in which you need to be more aware of your own chosenness? Are there others you can think of that may need to be reminded as well?

Spend a few moments with God in prayer, sharing what has surfaced for you as you have reflected on this passage.