Morning Devotional 010626 We are Chosen

Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room

January 6, 2026

Isaiah 42:5-9

5 God the LORD says the one who created the heavens, the one who stretched them out, the one who spread out the earth and its offspring, the one who gave breath to its people and life to those who walk on it 6 I, the LORD, have called you for a good reason. I will grasp your hand and guard you, and give you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations, 7 to open blind eyes, to lead the prisoners from prison, and those who sit in darkness from the dungeon. 8 I am the LORD; that is my name; I don’t hand out my glory to others or my praise to idols. 9 The things announced in the past—look—they’ve already happened, but I’m declaring new things. Before they even appear, I tell you about them.

Good Morning! Sing to the Lord a new song!

The Lord has chosen us for a good reason. I am pondering this morning the things that I have chosen in my life. There are those tangible things like cars. When I go car shopping, I list criteria such as color, cost, and gas mileage, and look for a car that meets my needs. 

What about those things or people that choose us? Think about a job interview. You go in, share about yourself, and answer the questions asked. You don’t make the choice; the future employer does. Sometimes we are chosen, but other times we are rejected.

There are many criteria in place for choosing the right applicant, such as education and experience, but what if all things are equal, how does the employer make the choice, or how do we make the cut? Rejection is hard, especially when we see ourselves as the best 

candidate. 

Now imagine going into an interview where the interviewer knows everything about you. That seems a bit scary because we all have things we would rather remain hidden or left unsaid. God knows everything, yet Isaiah tells us that God chooses us for a good reason. God knows our past, but instead of focusing on our failures, God declares that we will begin again in a new direction. The Lord will lead us and protect us as we embark on our faith journey. 

Redeeming Lord, you bless us abundantly! Even when we are unsure of ourselves, we thank you for choosing us to be your light in the world. Thank you. We love you. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Thought for the day: God chooses us to show others the way out of the darkness.

God grasps our hands and guards us! Pastor Liz