Here we are in June, the sixth month of the year half way through 2013.  I know several people who made resolutions when the year first started.  Stop doing this, start doing that, but I can be honest and say I didn’t really make any resolutions for the New Year.  I began 2013 with great expectations.  I couldn’t really pin point what those expectations were, so I did not specifically sit down and write a list I just knew it in my spirit.  I came into this year knowing that some things were about to change in my life for the good and I just needed to be ready when the opportunity presented itself.  What is an opportunity?  I’d say it is pretty much when doors are opened or a set of circumstances fall into place that make it possible to do something. I had to get myself in the mind state to know however, that opportunities are around me every day and I cannot just sit back and wait for them.  This is something I want to pass on to you as well.  Opportunities come a lot of times in ways we don’t even expect and if we are not ready for them, then it could just pass us by.  In my dialogue with people, I hear many different excuses and complaints as to why things aren’t working out for them or how nothing seems to be falling in place as they had planned.  Ok, so my question is this, how many times did an opportunity present itself but you let it pass you by because you were not ready?

I read the other day something that was extremely profound, it simply said that every gift, every talent and every skill that God gives you is an opportunity.  That took me back for a minute and I had to do a self-evaluation.  I know that gifts, talents and skills all come from God.  They are not something that can be earned or that you can buy.  I also believe that the more we use the three of these (whatever they may be because they are different for every person), the more they grow.  But, here is where I’d like to mentally separate the spiritual and natural things going on within to gain a better understanding of how opportunities manifest themselves and we may not even realize it.  Regardless of if an individual is saved, they are given a natural talent.  That natural talent is usually the result of genetics and the surrounding environment.  For instance, if you have a family history of musicians, more than likely you will be talented with music.  Spiritual gifts on the other hand are given to all believers, people who are saved and have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior.  As far as a skill, this is something you do well, simply put.

Now, think about your talents, gifts and skills.  What are some opportunities that you may have missed out on and at the time didn’t even realize it?  Once you are able to identify what it is that God has placed on the inside of you, it begins that process for you to move forward and fully capitalize on the opportunities I’ve been talking about.  Increase only happens when you learn how to discern the opportunities that God sends your way.  My prayer is that God will continue to help me discern these new opportunities and that I will trust Him enough to walk by faith and take total advantage of this new thing that He is doing in my life.  I encourage you to do the same.  Don’t sit back and wait only to have new opportunities pass by.  Get yourself together so that when those doors do open right in front of your eyes, you will be ready to walk right through in confidence.  My story may not be your story, but we all have a story. Purpose in your heart to make your story one that counts and one that will make a lasting impression not just for yourself, but for people all over the world. Are you a world changer? You can be! I challenge you today to be ready.  Open your eyes and ears so when the next opportunity comes your way, you will take full advantage, to the glory of God! #iDeclare #opportunities

Prayer:

 Heavenly Father, I come thanking you for who you are in my life.  Please forgive me for not taking advantage and recognizing new opportunities that you have placed before me.  Help me to have a stronger spirit of discernment.  Help me God to not just talk the talk, but walk the walk and trust you with all things.  Help me to know and identify the gifts, skills, and talents that you have placed inside of me and operate in them for your glory.  I decree and declare that I will receive the increase of God in all areas of my life.  Thank you Jesus for hearing my prayer, In Jesus Name, Amen. 

Scripture:

Romans 12:3-8 NKJV “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 NKLV “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”