The other day, I went to the store, grabbed a few things, and got in line to check out. Once I got up to the register, I noticed the cashier rubbing her stomach and I heard her say, under her breath, “Ugh, my stomach is all queezy now.” So, I asked her if she was okay. She looked up at me, surprised, and said that she was, then she looked at me again and began to speak. She let me know that she had been praying for God to bless her with this new job and that He had; and that it was a great opportunity. She then said that when she’d gotten into work that morning, with plans to put in her notice, they let her know that the store manager would be leaving and that they wanted to give her the position. Her next words were, “It’s not that I really want to stay, but maybe I’m supposed to, just to see what it’ll be like, I don’t know what to do.” Immediately, God spoke to me and said, “Not every opportunity is a God-portunity!”, so I spoke the same to her. I told her that just because a new opportunity presents itself, that doesn’t change God’s plans, and that if He told her to go and made a way out, that it’s still time. After a few more minutes of conversation, she looked relieved and told me that she felt better and would keep all of that in mind.
God then brought me to my own life’s situations and reminded me of some opportunities that I had “pending” and let me know that His plans for my life hadn’t changed. Notice I said “I had pending”…not HIm. One being, recently, God had me leave my job….well, my job left me and then He had me leave it in return (LOL). Since then, He’s had me do one of the most difficult things that I’ve ever done….NOTHING! God told me to do absolutely NOTHING! And it’s been hard, saints and friends. You see, God has had me to leave jobs before, even without a job lined up, but He’s also led me to apply for certain other positions in the meantime. This time, His instructions were, “Be still and trust Me!” Now, He’s said this to me before, but this time, I was literally to “be still”. You know, like when you were little and your mama told you to be still…that meant do nothing but breathe and she better not be able to see your chest rise (or was that just my mom??? LOL). Anyhoo, He literally meant for me not to do anything…don’t apply for jobs, don’t look for jobs, don’t accept any jobs…until He gave me the okay. Since He told me to leave, I’d been offered like two positions at the school where I’d just left, I was asked about working for 2 other school districts, by staff of those districts, and offered other opportunities that, in my mind would’ve been for the sole purpose of saying that I have a job. But that’s not what God wanted for me…AT ALL.
So….here I am, without a full time job, only working about 8 hours a week at my part time job…with God telling me to “JUST BE STILL” and with people throwing employment options at me But like I stated before, “not every opportunity is a God-portunity!” And I have no time to be outside the will of God. So, a couple weekends ago, I attended a women’s leadership session…it was awesome…and after, I stayed around an chatted a bit. I was talking to someone I knew and somehow, we started talking about how I’d left the school district I was in and how she didn’t know that I wasn’t working there anymore and she told me where to apply and how. Of course, I had to confer with Jesus and He let me know that it was His doing. The position would allow for me to continue my writing…as God has instructed me to do and it would allow me to make my own schedule…I mean…allow God to make my schedule…lol.
The point of my long, drawn out story??? Well, there are times when we do things because the seem like the best possible option. We find later, that they aren’t and we could have avoided being in an awkward position if we had noticed the signs that God put up. You know…that funny, unsettling feeling you got when the offer was made, the peace we had before we jumped the gun and took the offer…stuff like that. We gotta be careful not to step out on “feelings”. I could have easily taken a position elsewhere, but it would have been disobedient of me. And we must be careful not to step out just because it “looks good”. I’ve learned, that sometimes, more money really does mean more problems (I guess Biggy was right. **shoulder shrug**). “For what shall if profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Mark 8:36) And just cause you get paid more, doesn’t mean you’ll be happier…you can debate me on this if you want but I guarantee there are a whole lot of celebrities at home depressed and that million can’t fix it.
Even when dating or seeking out a friendship, every opportunity for a “good time” or a meal isn’t a God-portunity either. God will let you know when someone isn’t it and you gotta take heed….ask me how I know (better yet, don’t even worry about it…lol). But I’ve learned that everyone can’t occupy my time or space, even if they are Holy Spirit filled and the sweetest person you’ll ever meet or a nice shopping buddy (besides, I don’t need anyone to encourage me to spend all the money I don’t have…HAHAHA). Why??? Because when God requires certain things of you, He has certain people to fill every open space….AFTER He fills it with Himself. Ask Him to lead you. “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) God will be sure that you know what’s yours.
Let God lead you…ask Him where He wants you and what He wants you to do. I promise it’s worth it. I would have never guessed some of the amazing things that He is allowing me to do, would be my reality. And know this, usually, what God sends won’t come as
you expect it…so stop looking out the window for it to stroll up your walkway. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6) Sooooooo….”when opportunity knocks”, let it keep knocking….don’t answer that door. And as for God-portunity…..God-portunity has a key and will let itself in! A few things to remember: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalms 37:4). “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:9).
Love y’all (I really do!),
Ms. A.M.White
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