As we discover our life lessons, we face opportunities to put them into practice.
Life Lesson #5 – Not every “opportunity” we encounter is orchestrated by God.
Now it happened, as they sat at the table, that the word of the Lord came to the prophet who had brought him back; and he cried out to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Because you have disobeyed the word of the Lord, and have not kept the commandment which the Lord your God commanded you, but you came back, ate bread, and drank water in the place of which the Lord said to you, “Eat no bread and drink no water,” your corpse shall not come to the tomb of your fathers.’” So it was, after he had eaten bread and after he had drunk, that he saddled the donkey for him, the prophet whom he had brought back. (1 Kings 13:20-23)
Just like people, some opportunities are God-ordained while others are driven by wicked influences. God’s opportunities usually cost us; Satan’s opportunities usually flatter us. Whatever opportunity pampers personal pride, ego, self, or flesh is not from God. God’s opportunities are a privilege that require humility, surrender, death to self and pride, and the crucifixion of the flesh. These are all Scripturally solid themes.
As I shared in my book, Called to Christlikeness, not Christianity, just because an opportunity presents itself doesn’t mean God ordained it. Should an attractive person cross your path, it doesn’t mean God orchestrated it. Just because a job promotion comes your way doesn’t mean God appointed it.
As with everything else in life, our first consideration should be to ask God for His perspective—with unattached hearts. Seeking His will while accepting the job offer isn’t seeking His perfect will. Praying for God’s will while getting emotionally attached isn’t seeking His perfect will. He may allow things through His permissive will, but I’ve learned the hard way that yielding to His perfect will is far better. The most costly, most painful, most time-consuming decisions are those I made when not seeking God’s perfect will.
Thank God for Unanswered Prayer
Sometimes, God grants our unsurrendered requests. These are some of the most painful life lessons of all. The Israelites learned this the hard way. When they grumbled about what they didn’t have, God gave them what they wanted – but also “sent leanness into their soul” (Psalm 106:15). Here again, God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows what is harmful and what is beneficial. Additionally, He knows what opportunities align with our life purposes. We are wise to trust His complete leading by surrendering to His perfect will.
Without God’s Word and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we’re vulnerable to Satan’s deceit. He dangles what we think we want, or the object(s) of our undisciplined, unsurrendered, uncrucified desires. Sadly, we often fall for his nonsense every time. He lies, deceives, discourages, misleads, and betrays to separate us from God’s highest calling and true fulfillment.
This is why we need yielded spirits that pray, “God, not my will, but Thine be done.” Even with our deepest desires. Allow God to provide your needs instead of window shopping at Satan’s store. Trust God for His divine opportunities.
Nate’s book, Called to Christlikeness, not Christianity – Purchase here.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Nate Stevens.
Featured Image by Enrique from Pixabay
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