Picture a beautiful river flowing lazily through a mountain valley. Standing on the bank, you throw a stick into the middle of the river and watch as it floats away downstream.
Now imagine you are in a canoe. On the banks of the river are the most picturesque sites imaginable. You have two options. You can float along downstream, looking at the sites as you go. Or, you can paddle up close and explore a site before continuing your journey down the river.
That river is like the time in our lives. It has as beginning and an end, just like our lives. And it moves steadily along whether we like it or not! Each of us is on a journey down the river of life.
It is a unique journey created by God just for us. Your journey is different than mine. My journey is different than yours. Each of us is on a journey God made just for us.
The sites along the way are opportunities.
Here’s the thing, though. There are different kinds of opportunities.
Some of the opportunities are bad. They will take you away from the journey God designed for you.
Some of the opportunities aren’t bad in and of themselves, but they will distract you and keep you busy so you don’t have time for the opportunities God made just for you.
Some of the opportunities are the ones God made just for you. These are the ones that, if pursued, will enable you to live the kind of intentional, purpose-driven life God intends.
To live intentionally, you must be willing to paddle to the side and take a closer look.
You must consider each opportunity and decide: Is this an opportunity that will take me away from God’s best for me? Is this an opportunity that will distract me from being able to pursue God’s best for me? Or is this one of those precious opportunities God has given me to live the intentional life He designed just for me?
Paul, writing to the Ephesians, exhorted them to be careful to live their lives as wise men who make the most of every opportunity.
“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).
Then Paul admonished them not to live foolishly, but to live according to the Lord’s will.
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is” (Ephesians 5:17).
Paul’s point is the wise man is discerning, not foolish. The wise man will seize the opportunities God brings to live the powerful, intentional life He intends for us.
The question is, are you floating down the river in your canoe passing by the opportunities of life? Are you letting the river carry you wherever it will?
Or are you living intentionally as God intended by paddling over to explore the opportunities?
As you consider each opportunity, do you reject those that take you away from God’s best?
Do you avoid those that are distractions that keep you from God’s best?
Do you take full advantage of every opportunity to live the intentional life God intended for you?
Are you making the most of your journey down the river of life?
Moses realized that even if we live 70 or 80 years our time in this life is short and we need God’s wisdom in our hearts to live the kind of life God intended for us (Psalm 90:10, 12).
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As always, questions and comments are welcome. How do you feel when you are living intentionally, on the journey God designed just for you?
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Category: Skills | Time Management
Terrific analogy about life, Ron. I would add that some sites along the shore might take more effort to reach. You might have to paddle against a strong current and wonder if the effort is worth the destination. But then, once you float into that hard to reach cove, you just might find a beautiful beach and coastland area. You could even find your destiny!
I love how you used the river analogy to represent one’s life. I believe I am still discovering what the journey God has planned for me is. I believe as I finish my college career and enter into my marketing career I will be able to discover more opportunities and God’s plan for my journey. I think I am living intentionally as God intended by exploring the opportunities God has given me. However, I also do miss some of the opportunities God has placed in my path.
After reading this, my hope is that I am not just floating down the river. Reflecting on the way I live, I realize that I do my best to take every opportunity, but do not thoroughly investigate to ensure that it is one that the Lord wants me to take. During this busy time of the year, I definitely catch myself just cruising and taking life as it is. Often times I feel like I do not even have time for the opportunities that God wants me to take. However, I know what he has for me could be so beneficial. He has proven to me throughout my entire journey that there is always something good he has planned for me. Its just up to me to initiate it, and be willing with my time with him.