30 Days of Hearing God, Day 16

Every January, God gives me a “theme for the year.” 2009, for example, was my “Year of Yes.” During 2009, I felt like God was asking me to say yes to Him quickly and without reservation—as I tend to be a woman who considers and analyzes everything until it barely resembles the original command. God was trying to work that character trait out of me, so He graciously gave me an entire year to practice.

2010 has been this:

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

To insure that I see my “theme” first thing every morning, I have it written on an index card on my kitchen cabinet, strategically placed over my coffee pot. I also have it printed on a mug, just in case I missed it during coffee-brewing, I’m sure to see it during coffee-drinking. I’m looking at it right now, as a matter of fact.

As my “theme,” I consciously try to view each day through the lens of this scripture.

Every encounter with my children.
Every difficult and stressful situation.
Every material blessing.
Every interaction with a stranger.
Every visit to the grocery store or the children’s school or the neighborhood pool.
Every dead cell phone, dial-up internet fiasco and tire blow-out…

With every single situation, I hear God asking me, “How will you make the most of this?”

This morning as I was reading through Colossians, I came across another scripture:

“Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:5-6)

I love when God repeats Himself. I need Him to do that, because I don’t always get it the first time. Or the tenth time. Even with scriptures posted on my cabinets and coffee mugs, I sometimes forget—or ignore—His admonition to make the most of every opportunity.

I’m thinking I may get the scripture embroidered on the rear-end of all my pants, because lately, that seems to be what I’m focusing on as I walk past the mirror. The size of my rear end. At least, then, I would be guaranteed to see it several times a day. And so would everyone else.

Anyhoo…

I think it’s interesting that one of the ways I can make the most of every opportunity is to let every conversation be full of grace and seasoned with salt. Consider the impact we would have on our world if only we were more deliberately graceful and wise with our words. I really need work in this area. Clearly, because God is bringing it to my attention, yet, again.

So, today, with God’s help, I will consciously make the most of every opportunity, by choosing words seasoned with grace and wisdom.

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What is God saying to YOU? Link up. Leave a comment. Make the most of this opportunity. 🙂