[This article is part of the “spiritual leadership today” study/discussion going on this year. For all articles in the series, click the Spiritual Leadership tab at the top of the page. To have them delivered, subscribe to The Brook Letter]
You may have heard an aphorism that goes something like this: some people go through life waiting for opportunities to open for them, others make opportunities happen. This is used as a way to encourage people to go from passivity to action. But there is a third alternative which is a whole way of looking at life: some people watch for the opportunities God opens up. This is a core instinct of spiritual leadership.
So the passive approach is: wait to see what comes your way. The active approach is: make your own way. The spiritual leadership approach is: obediently follow God’s way.
Now here again we have to avoid the danger of pride in the form of super-spirituality. If the temptation of the bullish action-oriented leader is to knock down one wall after another, the temptation of more passive people is to dawdle and procrastinate in the name of waiting for the Spirit of God. Following God’s way is not the leisurely way. It often is harder work than the bullish way.
Mel-
Since moving away from Pewaukee (now in Princeton, NJ) I have made sure to receive these messages. I always try and “hear” God’s voice and be aware of what is happening around me. Currently, I have had several events occur that are keeping me on track to persue another job in the area. Additionally, a good friend of mine was just laid off yesterday and she emailed she is waiting for the door to open for her next step. This article is perfect for both of us.
Thank you for your hard work and thought in producing these messages. They are appreciated.
Patricia
Mel, this is an excellent series. Two things came to mind as I read this today. One is to be looking for God’s direction in the mundane of everyday. This keeps us on the right path leading to those doors and sometimes, those doors are in places we don’t expect-not at the end of a long corridor, but as a little rabbit hole between everyday occurrences. It was also a good reminder to realize that the hard times coming don’t mean we’re in the worng place.We can be confused if we think that when we discern God’s will and do it, we will have peace and joy and smooth sailing. Sometimes I’ve found my greatest difficulties when i was right in the center of God’s will and I needed to grow, not change direction. Thanks.
I can think of many opportunities that I have had. I am finding that the closer my personal walk is with the Lord, the more sensitive I become to The Spirit’s leading and the more I hear His voice gently guiding me. As a result, I am beginning to recognize what doors are from Him. The more sensitive to the Spirit’s leading we become in conjunction with our obedience to Him, the more “in step” we are with the Spirit allowing God to work through us in fulfilling His purposes.
Before I read this article, I spent 30 minutes knocking on the doors of my neighbors and asking them if i could pray for them. I just moved to the area, so it was an opportunity for me to meet some new people. I don’t know if I went about it the best way, and I don’t know if it’s something God was specifically asking me to do, but I tried to do something (probably more of me making an opportunity). It was a great learning experience, and reading this article has helped me realize that I never considered the needs of the neighborhood first.
Yes, recognizing and acting on the doors which God opens is crucial. However, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20)” seems to indicate there is one door WE have to open – the door which allows Christ to enter our life.
This was so timely – I am looking for employment in the administrative/clerical field. I have sent out over 100 resumes and I am getting frustrated. I will be starting training on Monday for a job that I don’t know if I should take it or not. What I need to know is where God wants me to be planted and what kind of job He is leading me to. I know that I have the most joy when I prepare teachings when I find a pastoral position. I graduated from Bible College in 2007 and right now, I am a member of a start up church in Bartlett, IL. Perhaps this is where He wants me to serve. Thank you, Pastor Lawrenz.
It is wonderful to me to learn this third way of thinking about oportunities. I only had read about the two first ideas a long time ago, and I thought it was a great priviledge to me to have such knowledge. But now, how interesting to put my mind in the direction of to look for oportunities that God’s opens up. It will permit me to make what is in God’s heart and glorify Him more than before I could.
Thanks you for this post. I recently lost my job, and many people are assuring me that is that door was closed by God, another will open up, and I should take any opportunity that comes along. I am not by nature an aggressive person, and sometimes am too passive. But as much as God may have closed that door, I am aware that I sometimes did not use the best judgment, and things that I could have done better as an employee. However, God is still God, and I do believe he leads and guides me. It is up to me to prayerfully consider each opportunity, but not to necessarily jump into another position with another organization out of panic or desperation. I need to carefully examine what the wisest course of action is, and trust that years of studying God’s Word will guide my thoughts and actions along the path.
awesome insights on how to look at opportunities! i am usually one to dawdle and procrastinate, and then when there might be an opportunity, i have a hard time figuring out if it really is a door or just a picture hanging on the wall!
when i started college, my heart desired to finish up and head straight out to the mission field. but i made some really bad choices and ended up getting married to someone who, at the time, wasn’t a believer! BUT, thankfully, God stepped in and my husband is now a STRONG and amazing believer, memorizing huge chunks of the Bible and inspiring me to be better! we are not currently active in missions, but that is still a dream i have and a ‘door’ i am waiting to see opened…
i sometimes struggle with guilty feelings about my above choices, since i felt so sure of God’s leading towards missions and i feel like i ruined it… but maybe i wasn’t supposed to go into overseas missions at that time. maybe i still needed to grow a lot more before He would take me…
thanks for all your insights on listening to God’s leading. it reminds me to pray more for clarity in my own life… 🙂
Excelent. Thank you so much for help to me and the people in Latinoamerica.
Many thanks for reminding us that we must make use of opportunities offered to serve, being the Lord´s witness to others. The appostle Paul was a great example even when in prison in Rome.