How not to miss your opportunities

TWhat is an opportunity?

he Dictionary defines and opportunity as a time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. Or, a chance for employment or promotion, a chance to receive or acquire something. An opportunity is like an open door. Some are obvious, others are not. An opportunity is either existing or is created. Examples are:

a) Meeting someone who has connections. A new door may be a person.

b) Dealing with a crisis or challenge. An opportunity may come disguised as danger. David and Goliath, That problem may be an opportunity for your promotion.

c) Helping someone. Or rendering service. A good example is Joseph and Pharaoh’s cup bearer. Then Joseph and Pharaoh. He used his gift to serve and got promoted. d) When someone offers you a help. e) Atmosphere of worship.

In John 5:2-9, we have the story of a man crippled for 38 years missing several opportunities to get healed when an angel came to stir the water. He stayed there until Jesus came to his rescue. Many people have blamed this man for not doing enough to change his situation but I don’t think that way. He was so crippled that he needed someone else to quickly move him into the water but there was no one. I believe the Lord sought him out because he couldn’t help himself and there was no one to help him.

There are different kinds of situations as far as chances are concerned.

a) A chance you missed but it was not your fault.

b) A chance you had but misused or ignored to your hurt. Brought regrets later. E.g. Esau regretted selling his birth right to his brother Jacob (Hebrews 12:16-17).

c) A chance you lost because of carelessness. The five virgins who had no oil in their lamps missed their chance of making it into the wedding party (Mat 25:1-12).

d) A chance you missed because of disregard for the Word of God or the leading of the Holy Spirit. Multitudes missed their chance of escaping destruction in the time of Noah. Lot’s sons-in-law missed their chance of escaping the fire that destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19:14). They thought Lot was joking.

e) A chance you missed to save someone’s soul. We miss our chance of saving our parents, brothers, sisters, friends, colleagues, neighbours, when we refuse to witness to them because of what they might think of us or because they might call us Names or because they might embarrass us. A. R. Torrey missed a chance of saving a waiter at a restaurant when he failed to witness to him when he was prompted by the Lord to do so. Minutes later, the waiter was found to have hanged himself somewhere at the back of the restaurant.

How Not To Miss Your Opportunities

1. Have a strong desire to succeed. Decide what you want. Determine your values and your priorities. Commit to the expansion of the Kingdom of God earth and you will easily notice every opportunity the Lord creates.

2. Be prayerful, especially in tongues, to enhance your sensitivity in the spirit. Fast regularly. It enhances your sensitivity. Peter was fasting and praying when he knew he was to go the house of Cornelius. Philip knew he was to join himself to the Ethiopian eunuch.

3. Be on the lookout. The Bible says watch and pray. Mark 13:33 (NKJV), “Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.” Pay attention. Observe your environment. It’s difficult to miss what you are looking out for. A hungry person will always smell the aroma of food when passing by a kitchen.

4. Delight in the Word of God. Meditate on it day and night. You will have direction. Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

5. Relate closely with the Holy Spirit. He is in us to us help us and guide us. John 16:13 (NKJV), “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”

6. Promptly obey every instruction God gives you. John 2:5, “His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.” This is the key to obtaining divine intervention. That widow would not have gotten out of debt if she did not comply with the instruction to borrow vessels and pour her little oil. Delay can be costly. That waiter could have been saved if Torrey obeyed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to witness to him. You cannot enjoy divine intervention without obeying divine instruction. This is the summary of faith. Until you know and carry out what is required, you cannot have what you desire.

7. Have godly partners who can help you seize your opportunities. The paralyzed man in our story in John 5:2-9 had no one to help him. On the other hand, the paralyzed man in Luke 5:17-26 had four wonderful friends who took unusual steps to get him to Jesus so he could be healed. They carried up the roof, tore through it and brought him before Jesus. How committed are your friends in your hour of need? May God give you destiny helpers who are ready to invest their time and resources in the achievement of your goals, in Jesus Name!

But the story of the cripple at the pool changed when Jesus showed up. God has come to give you a chance you never had.

God is the helper of the helpless. He’s coming to your aid today! Cry out to him. Avoid excuses and reach out to God for your miracle.

You will never miss your chance again, in Jesus Name!

God will create fresh opportunities for you in place of the ones you’ve lost, and you will not miss them, in Jesus Name!

Pray these prayers:

1. Father, deliver me from every power drawing me away from my opportunities in life, in the Name of Jesus.

2. Father, take away every weakness that will make me miss my opportunities, in the Name of Jesus.

3. Father, remove all the clouds covering my star from shining, in Jesus Name.

4. Father, restore or replace every opportunity I’ve lost, in the Name of Jesus.

Bishop Dr Charles Olowojoba is the General Overseer of Dayspring Bible Church Worldwide with HQ in Abuja, Nigeria & President, Dayspring Christian Ministries Int’l.