You added the last part after I posted, so I'll reply now.
Acts 9:10 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”
“Yes, Lord,” he answered.
11 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12 In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”
13 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. 14 And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”
15 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”
This doesn't show that Paull didn't have a choice. God chose Paul because Paul was willing, and God knew to the degree that Paul was willing to go for Him - enough to suffer very much for Him, even execution.
Remember that you are post-trib. We both know that many will fall away from God and that if we remain loyal that we could very likely be persecuted by the world and executed by the antichrist's authority. But hadn't you already made up your mind that you wouldn't want to be one of the apostate and instead choose to suffer and/or die for God rather than succumb to the antichrist and his mark of the beast?
We have the free will and we choose to follow and serve God. We are therefore also the elect (just not a fancy calling).
🥧