Obstacles or Opportunities – Part 1
By Margaret D. Mitchell
When seasons change, so do opportunities.
Opportunity, according to Strong’s, means “a due measure,” and "a fixed and definite period, a time, season."
“A fitting time” (Strong’s).
Webster’s defines opportunity as, “a favorable juncture of circumstances” and “a good chance for advancement or progress.”
Some synonyms for “opportunity” are liberty, freedom and one's turn (Dictionary.com).
But opportunity can also mean “a place” (Strong’s).
So, hold this “place,” and I’ll come back to it.
The Lord showed me the word “op-port-unity” in three sections, like this:
Op – which can be an abbreviation for “optical” and also for the word, “opus,” which means to creatively produce.
Port – which can mean a place of exchange, including redemption, truth for lies and blessings for lesser things in general.
Unity – which can mean union with Jesus and solidarity to serve others.
What creative work does God see to produce through you?
Through those who will build His Kingdom in this opportune season?
Where will He assign you?
What exchanges will occur?
The Lord led me to these five strategy scriptures:
Galatians 5:13 TPT says, "Beloved ones, God has called us to live a life of freedom in the Holy Spirit. But don’t view this wonderful freedom as an opportunity to set up a base of operations in the natural realm. Freedom means that we become so completely free of self-indulgence that we become servants of one another, expressing love in all we do."
Galatians 6:10 AMPC says, "So then, as occasion and opportunity open up to us, let us do good [morally] to all people [not only being useful or profitable to them, but also doing what is for their spiritual good and advantage]. Be mindful to be a blessing, especially to those of the household of faith [those who belong to God's family with you, the believers]."
Hebrews 13:16 TPT says, "We will show mercy to the poor and not miss an opportunity to do acts of kindness for others, for these are the true sacrifices that delight God’s heart."
2 Peter 3:15 TPT says, "And keep in mind that our Lord’s extraordinary patience simply means more opportunity for salvation..."
James 4:17 TPT warns us, "So if you know of an opportunity to do the right thing today, yet you refrain from doing it, you’re guilty of sin."
So, to summarize, God revealed this five-point strategy for the extraordinary opportunities His faithful followers are about to step into:
- Live in true freedom.
- Reach out in solidarity to be a blessing to others.
- Show mercy to the poor and do acts of kindness to others.
- Patiently expect more opportunity for salvations.
- Do the right thing and don’t refrain.
What will this strategy look like for you in your unique divine assignments?
As I continued researching, The Lord seemed to hone in on the word “port.”
Then He led me to find a golden nugget: A deeper look at the French derivative, “opportune,” which means “suitable for a purpose or occurring at just the right time.” It’s from the Latin word, "opportunus," which means "favorable (used of the wind).” It’s derived from a Latin phrase that means “coming toward port” (Encarta).
The Lord was revealing that it’s time for the favorable wind of Holy Spirit to breathe on His redeemed vessels and bring us into port for divine exchange.
This port is a place of opportunity, as I mentioned earlier.
The word “exchange” means “to give up (something) for something else;” to “change for another” (Dictionary.com).
What change does God desire to bring us into?
What trade would He like to make?
Are there obstacles we need to lay down?
As saints, we know about the great exchange of Jesus’ atonement for our sins, bringing us into union with Him as our port-ion and growing us from glory to glory.
We know about the beautiful trading ships of Tarshish that sailed into port “bearing gold, silver, ivory, apes, and peacocks” for King Solomon (1 Ki 10:22), as well as back out of port carrying hammered silver (Je 10:9).
But we also know that those same ships of Tarshish were destroyed, and trade halted swiftly, due to prideful obstacles. (Is 2:16, Ez 27:25-27).
So, in all of this, we see, metaphorically, that Holy Spirit (wind) blows favorably on us as His vessels to remain on course and advance us into the port (an opportune place for a rich exchange) that He has planned (and has even imagined) for us. In this, we can see that we need to yield our will fully to Him in order to bear more good fruit by His Spirit.
There can be no false pride or other idols, lest the port be closed to us.
Therefore, the questions are:
Are we ready for the opportune exchanges as God furthers us into His new season?
Are we ready to come to a place of greater authenticity to be a greater blessing to God’s Kingdom?
If our minds have been renewed and our hearts made pure. If we have firmly decided to keep God as our first love throughout the journey. Then we know that the port of exchange will remain open to us.
So, friends, let’s call on The Lord in prayer as He releases His promises to us.
We can ask Him to enable us to receive all He has for us for His glory. We can ask Him to help us walk out His strategy in this season for His Name’s sake. We can pray for His perfect wisdom to be released in us. And we can thank Him for the harvest before us.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name.
Join me next week for Part 2 of Obstacles or Opportunity.
Margaret D. Mitchell is the Founder of God's Love at Work, a marketplace outreach purposed to share God's greatest power source - the love of Christ.
