Facebook | Tanja Dutton Dufrene

Facebook | Tanja Dutton Dufrene

“Red rover, red rover let (name) come over.” Do you remember that play
ground game where all the children lined up shoulder to shoulder, locking
arms to form a line? Preceding the game two captains where chosen. Teams
were formed as the captains alternated calling one child over at a time.
Or maybe you remember a game of ball where teams were selected by the
captains as the others anxiously waited.

I remember the children enthusiastically bobbing up and down shouting with
excitement: “Pick me! Pick me!” I, too, stood there anticipating the
sound of my name being called. Listening intently, I hoped I would not be
the last one. Everyone seemed to desire the same thing – to be picked or
chosen, not left behind. Yet at the same time, everyone, save two team
captains, remained relatively powerless to affect the outcome.

Perhaps these kinds of games were not played when you were a child. Yet if
you take a moment to think about it, there have likely been times in your
life somewhere along the way where you waited, hoping to be chosen maybe
for acceptance by a particular group of people or for admittance into a
school, a desirable job or possibly a deserved promotion. Whatever the
circumstance, we all face moments of expectation waiting for someone’s
arbitrary decision. That time of helpless abandon can produce such
anxiety.

But, we’re no longer vulnerable, depending on someone else’s sense of
choice. God has already chosen us! As I read in Romans this morning I
discovered a key to melt away that sense of apprehension.

The chosen ones of God were those who let God pursue His interest in
them …
Romans 11:7 The Message

Yes, we’ve been chosen! Now what's left is for us to let God pursue His
interest in us. Thinking back on those childhood games, I also realized
the children being selected for teams usually ran with excitement as they
were called. Jesus told us His kingdom belongs to men whose hearts are
trusting like children:

“Let the little children come to me! Never send them away! For the
Kingdom of God belongs to men who have hearts as trusting as these
little children’s.”
Luke 18:16 The Living Bible

Will you excitedly run to join His team? Or will you continue running away
from His promptings? God has already chosen you; will you choose Him?
Will you allow Him to pursue His interest in and through you?

What victories have you experienced when heeding His nudges? I hope to
hear from you! Drop me an email or leave a comment ...

copyright 2009 Tanja Dufrene