The first chapter of Ephesians tell us that "…he hath chosen us before the foundation of the world…"

Understand that you were chosen, and you were destined, before this world was created. But not only were you chosen, you were chosen IN HIM!   Jeremiah 1:5 says that before God formed you, He knew you. The Hebrew word for ‘knew’ is the word yaw-dah. It means to perceive, or to be acquainted with. God not only perceived you, He was acquainted with you before He formed you.

Jeremiah goes on to say; "before thou camest out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee." (Jer. 1:5) The word here for sanctify means "to set apart". God says, I formed you, but before I formed you, I established a purpose for you, I set you aside and ordained for you to fulfill my plan for your life.  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jer. 29:11 NIV)

Let me ask you a question. Would it not be foolish for an automobile maker to create a vehicle without first having a purpose for it? Purpose is a priority in determining the creative process! I can not decide "how" to manufacture something until I first establish "what" its function is!  I would not, for example, design a luxury car with vinyl seats and no air conditioning. Fine leather and beautiful wood grain appointments befit such a vehicle. Likewise no one in their right mind would design a pick-up truck with a fur lined bed!

God is obviously wiser than we are. Would He not equip His creation to fulfill His purpose? In light of the fact that His word says that He was acquainted with us, and appointed us to purpose before He formed us, it is inconceivable that we would be inadequate for the task which He assigned!

Before the foundations of the world you were chosen by God, and given all of the abilities, talents, and resources that you would need to fulfill the vision that He breathed into you.  Then you were placed in the garden of His choosing, in an atmosphere that would be conducive to your growth, and brought to maturity by ambassadors of His hand.  Within each of us there is a preordained creative ability that enables us to fulfill our destiny. No weapon formed against you can prosper, for you are, by the hand of God, "Empowered To Succeed".

Blessings,

Pastor Rick Carey

A Letter From Pastor Rick