{"id":4443,"date":"2025-02-27T19:24:23","date_gmt":"2025-02-28T00:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/js1cd06kre.onrocket.site\/?p=4443"},"modified":"2025-02-27T19:24:23","modified_gmt":"2025-02-28T00:24:23","slug":"the-opportune-moment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/2025\/02\/27\/the-opportune-moment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Opportune Moment"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast,\u00a0<\/em>click here<\/a>

How can we know if we\u2019re making wise decisions and heading down the best possible path?

A nautical term gives us an excellent shot at getting things right.\u00a0

The Latin word portus<\/em> means harbor, port, or place of refuge.\u00a0When the prefix ob<\/em> (\u201ctowards\u201d) is placed in front of portus<\/em>, we get a word that means \u201cgoing towards a safe place.\u201d

That word is opportunity.\u00a0<\/em>Good guidance may be defined as acting confidently at the opportune<\/em> moment.\u00a0

Historically, bringing a boat into a particular harbor is not always simple or easy.\u00a0Hidden rocks or shoals can tear a hull to pieces. Lighthouses and foghorns play a crucial role in providing safe passage.\u00a0So do smaller lights that indicate hidden hazards.

Sea captains must memorize the \u201ccodes\u201d of particular ports.\u00a0When the lights align, the way forward is clear.\u00a0Only then is it safe to head toward harbor.

So what are the \u201clights\u201d that need to align in our own processes of personal and corporate discernment?

Scripture<\/strong>.\u00a0What does the Word say?\u00a0In the Judeo-Christian tradition, there is no other starting place. \u201cAll Scripture is breathed out by God and is useful to teach us what is true, and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives\u201d (2 Timothy 3:16).

Christians openly acknowledge that holy books from around the world contain vital inspiration and truth. But followers of Jesus have concluded that both Old and New Testaments present a unique level of specificity about spiritual realities.\u00a0If over the next week God seems generally silent concerning the questions and decisions we have to face, it\u2019s reassuring to know that he has already addressed at least 95% of our daily concerns in Scripture.

Circumstances.\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cWhether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, \u2018This is the way; walk in it\u2019\u201d (Isaiah 30:21).

More often than not, that \u201cvoice\u201d we hear is aligned with opening and closing doors. Is a new pathway presenting itself?\u00a0Is the way becoming clear?\u00a0Those may be compelling prompters to go forward.\u00a0On the other hand, is the tide running away from the shore?\u00a0That\u2019s circumstantial evidence that it\u2019s time to wait.

Significant others.\u00a0<\/strong>What are we hearing from the people who know us best, and who have our best interests at heart?\u00a0Choose to listen carefully to family members, friends, mentors, and colleagues.

In his book Hearing God<\/em>, the late author and philosopher Dallas Willard suggests that when we need to hear a specific word from God, most of the time we will hear it from another person.\u00a0

Homework.\u00a0<\/strong>There\u2019s a cartoon in which two men, dressed in rags and half crazed from thirst, happen upon a table in the middle of the desert. Four individuals in lab coats are sitting there.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re saved!\u201d exclaims one of the men.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a panel of experts!\u201d\u00a0

We must not make the all-too-common Western mistake of listening only <\/em>to those with multiple letters behind their names.\u00a0But that doesn\u2019t mean we shouldn\u2019t consider (and weigh carefully) the insights and information available from those who have wrestled with crucial questions before us.

Intuition<\/strong>.\u00a0What is your gut telling you?\u00a0Very often our \u201cknower\u201d already knows the right path to take.\u00a0We simply need to acknowledge it.

More often than not, seeking guidance may seem exasperating. Why doesn\u2019t God just post his instructions to us every morning on one of the streaming services?\u00a0His real target is our hearts.\u00a0God yearns to transform us into people who, at a heartfelt level, want to want what he wants<\/em>.\u00a0

Ask<\/strong>.\u00a0\u201c<\/sup><\/strong>If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,\u00a0who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you\u201d (James 1:5).

Willard suggests setting aside a specific period of time, perhaps a week. Then choose to pray: \u201cLord, I\u2019m listening.\u00a0I truly want you to guide me.\u00a0Speak to me during the next seven days through whatever means you think best:\u00a0perhaps a book that I\u2019m reading, a conversation, a magazine article, or a speaker that I hear.\u201d\u00a0Give the Holy Spirit space to work, and pay attention to what happens next.

Your own voice.\u00a0<\/strong>Willard also makes the extraordinary observation that sometimes the word of guidance we most need comes from our own lips.\u00a0

We might be sharing tacos with a friend when we suddenly make a statement, seemingly out of the blue, that shines light on a vexing issue we didn\u2019t even seem to be thinking about.\u00a0More often than we might imagine, the person who learns and grows the most during a counseling session is the counselor.

Those are a few of the more notable \u201charbor lights.\u201d

Are they coming into alignment as you wrestle with an important decision?

Search the Word. Listen to others.\u00a0Do your homework.\u00a0Consider the circumstances. Earnestly pray.\u00a0Speak aloud what you already know.

When the lights line up, you\u2019ve arrived at an opportune moment.

Then it\u2019s full speed ahead.<\/em>
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

To listen to today’s reflection as a podcast,\u00a0click here How can we know if we\u2019re making wise decisions and heading down the best possible path? A nautical term gives us an excellent shot at getting things right.\u00a0 The Latin word portus means harbor, port, or place of refuge.\u00a0When the prefix ob (\u201ctowards\u201d) is placed in front of portus, we get… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4444,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[41,532],"class_list":["post-4443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-guidance","tag-scripture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4443"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4445,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4443\/revisions\/4445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/glennsreflections.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}