
The Courage to Move Forward
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.—PSALM 34:7 (NIV)
Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you.—JEREMIAH 1:5 AMP
What an awesome thought! God said that before He formed Jeremiah in his mother’s womb, He knew him. He chose Jeremiah. God separated him from everyone else to perform a specific task, and He consecrated him for that purpose. Wow!
We can be sure that if God did that for Jeremiah, He did it for each one of us. In fact, the apostle Paul said, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:4–6 NASB).
Nothing about us or our circumstances surprises God. He knew about everything before we were born. And He ordained that we should walk in those ways because we are uniquely qualified by Him to do so. He approved us, because He chose us for our specific situation. And He equipped us for every trial and difficulty we will ever face in life. What an awesome God we serve!
Father, the thought that You chose me before the foundation of the world and set me apart for a specific calling is humbling. You are so good. May I go forward with a renewed purpose in life.

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.—PSALM 34:7 (NIV)

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.”—Mark 11:23 (NIV)

“Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.”—1 Samuel 3:9 (NLT)
Every year Guideposts brings hope and inspiration into the lives of millions of people in need. Your generosity powers these efforts.
Your giving will be used to enable us to continue spreading practical hope and faith to those who need it most.