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On The Alert
By Bunny | September 2, 2009
“Be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity.” Ephesians 5: l5-l6. The word opportunity is derived from the Latin nautical term, opportunus, which denoted “favorable winds.” Because such winds were advantageous to ships seeking harbor, opportunus came to mean “coming at a convenient time.”
Many people look back upon their lives as a series of missed opportunities. Are you one of them? We cannot change the past, nor should we waste the present by lamenting over how many times we’ve allowed the winds of opportunity to pass us by. Don’t let yourself become caught up in the “would’ve-could’ve-should’ve” mode. Take the following steps to ensure that you make the most of every opportunity in your future.
First, pray for God’s eyes. Ephesians chapter 1 tells us how Paul prayed for the church. That the eyes of their understanding would be opened and enlightened to know what the hope of their calling was in Christ. When we pray, we need to ask the Father to enlighten us and to show us the way that He wants us to go in order to fulfill the plan He has for our life, in order to cause increase in His kingdom. We cannot go forward when looking backwards. We must make the most of every opportunity we have, because we will never get that moment back again.
Second, listen expectantly. After you have prayed for your eyes to be enlightened, be still, listen and expect God to speak to you. In the book of James we read, “If you need wisdom ? If you want to know what God wants you to do ? Ask Him and He will gladly tell you…But when you ask Him, be sure that you really expect Him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven an tossed by the wind.” (James 1:5-6 NLT, emphasis added) God wants to use you to help others more than you even can imagine. He wants to flow through you to reach out to a very hurting world. And in your reaching out, God reaches in to you, and meets the need that you may have. That’s how He operates. He is LOVE. We must expect that to happen or it will not.
Third, begin to pay attention to what is around you. John Maxwell writes, “What are inventors? People who see opportunity in things where others see nothing — People whose senses are alive to creative possibilities. Inventors fail many times yet realize the longer they work, the more they study and the closer they look, the greater their chances for success.” Keep your eyes open to the “creative possibilities” surrounding you! What is success? Being in the perfect will of God. Walking in pure obedience to His Word. That is success.
And last, have courage. Sometimes it seems easier to stay anchored in the place where we feel the most comfortable, but that place may not be where God wants us to be. When I think of courage I think of Joshua. Joshua had a life change ? A drastic life change. And God had to tell him, “Joshua, be strong and of good courage. I am with you. You don’t have to do this alone.” People, life is not easy, but God never told us we were doing it alone. He promised that He would always be with us to help us in everything we face. It’s our fault if we try to do it alone.
Instead of being fearful, we must be prayerful. Prayer keeps us connected to our source of help ? For ourselves and for others. It’s our life line. Be confident that He will speak to you to lead you through the storms and cares of this life. Through it all, remember that you are never alone: God and His loving wisdom will be with you throughout your walk with Him, gently guiding you by the wonderful Holy Spirit, through all of life’s opportunities, turning our trials into triumphs.
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