Chosen

Why I wrote this book

There is nothing that I write about that I do not first painfully live out. I once heard Bishop T.D. Jakes say that until you go through a particular thing you are not qualified to be heard. Makes perfect sense to me. There are so many people out there who feel the same way that I felt when I first began my journey of self-discovery. I repeatedly cried out to God “why am I here?” “What did you task me to do?” I was tired of feeling as if something was missing from my life. I had the career, I had a decent social life, I had family, I had a relationship with God, yet my heart was yearning for more. What I had to realize was the sense of discontentment was real. My heart had been programmed by God for a greater cause and I could no longer settle for where I was. I tried to convince myself that I was not good enough to be used by God. I’m sure that he could’ve easily handpicked someone else with a better track record. But he didn’t. God was well aware of my flaws yet he still chose me. Friend, the enemy wants to convince us that we are not good enough, or smart enough, or rich enough, or talented enough to do a great work for the kingdom. Yet, we know that the devil is a liar. As a matter of fact, he is the father of lies. You must reject anything that he plants into your heart immediately. I am a living testimony that God will take you as you are and turn every situation around in your life for his Glory. He has chosen you to be his ambassador.

Forward

Christian Calling

O Lord God,

The first act of calling is by Thy command in the Word,

'Come unto Me, return unto Me';

The second is to let in Light,

so that I see that I am called particularly,

and perceive the sweetness of the command as well as its truth,

in regard to Thy great love of the sinner,

by inviting him to come, though vile,

in regard to the end of the command,

which is fellowship with Thee,

in regard to Thy promise in the Gospel,

which is all of GRACE.

- Arthur Bennet

When I read this prayer called Christian Calling from the book "The Valley of Vision", I instantly began constructing a series of questions arranged in multiple truths of the realities of Divine election. First, in this effectual calling, who is actually doing this sovereign choosing for the greater good of me in my life? Is it actually me or this eternal and invisible God who chooses? Second, if it is God, why is this calling significant for me right now especially in the midst of trials, tribulations, and the difficulties of life in general when I am able to make decisions for myself?

CHOSEN, by my wife, Kellie Lane, is a thought provoking and Spirit-lead book resulting from her submission to Lord and Savior Christ Jesus and God. With whom I have great pleasure to offer a small, humble and valuable critique to her experience in profoundly engaging in and comprehending the luxury of being God's chosen one.

Initially, Kellie directed us to a mute and mind-blowing place in her first book, When God Is Silent, allowing the readers (including myself as her husband) to dive into the deepest, finest and most sacred places of her life where all of her resources and energy were depleted in devotion to God, Yet He (still) gave the impression or at-least it was perceived as silence. Now, after truly having the spiritual scales removed from her eyes along with a heart of flesh (Acts 9:18; Ezekiel 36:26), Lane passionately explains and exploits the manifestation of the Divine election in which she shares for the brethren and the lost of how much better to get Godly wisdom and understanding as it equates in sovereign choosing through the Word of God (Proverbs 16:16) for the sake of your life & soul now on earth, and hereafter in the eternal state.

In essence of this didactic subject, CHOSEN, God calls out his own, equips them with the Word, and then they in turn preach the Gospel to others from which the elect will be called out. Lane is building a case to help you understand as the reader, hearer, and doer to know what it means to be chosen by God. Therefore, the overall diagnosis is broken down as such: in Luke 9:35, God The Father chooses; in John 13:1-20, God The Son chooses; and in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, chosen through sanctification by God the Holy Spirit.

Lastly, in all humility, I thank my wife, Kellie, for her blessings in allowing me to give my thoughts on a very tough subject in order to draw closer to the Personhood of our Triune God and His work for our salvation. So that we may put on kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, forgiving each other as The Lord has forgiven you who called have been called in one body where Christ rules in your hearts and dwells richly --- Colossians 3:12-17

In Christ Alone,

Lavon Lane.

Chosen

Introduction

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 15:16 KJV

Do you know what it really means to be chosen by God? Webster defines chosen as one who is the object of choice or of divine favor: an elect person. God made you his choice. You are the elect. You were specifically handpicked by God even before the foundations of the Earth to do a great work for his kingdom. You were in the mind of God before your father ever met your mother. It doesn’t matter who your mother is or who your father is. You may not even know your father. You may have been given up for adoption. You may have been a result of incest or rape. Your financial situations matters not. Perhaps you were born into great wealth or even extreme poverty. It makes absolutely no difference. You are the creation and God is the Creator. He purposed for you to get here. The circumstances surrounding your birth have no bearing on your kingdom assignment. It doesn’t matter where you are now. It doesn’t matter who or what others said you would become. God for whatever reason handpicked you for a unique task. More than likely you are not qualified and have no idea of how or why God would even choose you. Yet he did. You didn’t choose him, he chose you. Remember that.