🕊️ PRAY HERE Devotion 🕊️ A Missed Opportunity Can Cause Reassignment

Scripture: Esther 4:14 (KJV)

“For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

Devotion: In my early church days, I was taught that if you did not do what God told you to do, He would raise up someone else to do it.

Either way…

His will would be accomplished.

Whether He used you or someone else.

Now that I have so much more wisdom and understanding years later, I also realize something else.

Assignments from the Lord are opportunities.

Whew!

Think about that.

God gives us opportunities to partner with Him in His work.

There are three things that are true about opportunities.

• They are time-sensitive.

You have to act.

Waiting too long can cause you to miss them.

• They are action-oriented.

An opportunity requires a decision.

Doing nothing is still a decision.

• They are advantageous.

God’s opportunities always lead to growth, progress, or blessing; either for you, someone else, or both.

Let me give you two examples.

Imagine you are offered your dream job.

They tell you,

“Please let us know by tomorrow.”

You keep putting off your decision.

A week later you finally call them back…

Only to hear,

“I’m sorry. We hired someone else.”

The opportunity didn’t disappear…

It was simply given to someone who responded.

Or imagine you are driving home and the Holy Spirit impresses upon your heart to stop and pray with someone sitting alone outside a hospital.

You hesitate.

You think,

“Someone else will probably help them.”

You keep driving.

Later you wonder…

“Lord, what if that was an opportunity You gave me?”

Whew!

Based on those examples, we can see that when you feel that subtle nudge or even a strong push from God to do something that will benefit you or someone else…

It is often a time-sensitive opportunity designed to produce progress.

Now ask yourself this question:

What progress have I passed up in my life because of missed opportunities?

Whew!!

That’s a whammy question when you really stop and think about it.

Now let’s look at today’s scripture.

God’s people were in trouble.

A man named Haman had convinced the king to issue a decree that would wipe out the Jewish people.

Esther, who was now queen, was in a position to help.

Mordecai, her cousin, sent her a powerful message.

He basically told her,

“If you remain silent, deliverance for the Jews will come from somewhere else…”

Whew!

Do you see that?

Mordecai believed God’s promise.

He knew God would preserve His people.

The question wasn’t if God would deliver them.

The question was…

Would Esther be part of what God was doing?

Then he asked one of the greatest questions in Scripture:

“Who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

My, my, my!

Esther’s assignment was an opportunity.

It required courage.

It required quick action.

It required faith.

The pressure was real.

The risk was great.

But so was the purpose.

Before I start preaching, let me stop right there because we’re going to unpack this much deeper in tomorrow’s PRAY HERE Bible Study.

For today, I simply want you to think.

How many opportunities has God placed before you that you talked yourself out of?

How many times has fear delayed your obedience?

How many lives could be changed because you simply said,

“Yes, Lord.”

Don’t let an opportunity God designed for you be handed to someone else because you moved too slowly…

Or because you declined it altogether.

When God opens a door…

Walk through it.

When He calls your name…

Answer.

When He gives you an assignment…

Obey.

Because you may have been placed exactly where you are…

For such a time as this.

God bless you!

Prayer: Father God, thank You for every opportunity You have placed before me. Forgive me for the times fear, hesitation, or doubt caused me to miss what You were calling me to do. Give me discernment to recognize Your opportunities and courage to respond quickly in obedience. Help me trust that if You have called me, You will also equip me. Lord, I do not want to miss the purpose You have for my life or allow an assignment meant for me to pass by because I was unwilling to act. Teach me to say “yes” to You without delay. Use my life for Your glory and help me fulfill every assignment You have prepared for me.

In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🙏🕊️