Seize

Proverbs 12:27 (AMP)
The lazy man does not catch and roast his prey, but the precious possession of a [wise] man is diligence [because he recognizes opportunities and seizes them].

I love the word "seize". Seize is an action word that means: to take eagerly and decisively. Life is about seizing the opportunities that God gives us. I’d rather be known as a man who seizes an opportunity and fails, than a man who lets the opportunity pass by as I watch. As I write this, I’m riding a bus through the mountains of Alaska with a group of college baseball players I serve as chaplain for. For some of them, the next two weeks will be the last baseball they will ever play. I’m encouraging them to seize this opportunity. Some opportunities are easy to recognize and seize. But what about the spiritual opportunities God gives us that the world disguises as inconveniences? The most powerful movements of God in my life have come from opportunities that were difficult, inconvenient, and didn’t seem possible to start with. But that’s how God works.
 
What if Abraham would have stayed at home and never went where God called him? What if Moses would have stayed in the wilderness? What if Joshua would have never taken Jericho? What if Lazarus would have stayed in the tomb after Jesus called Him out? What if Peter would have stayed in the boat? What if I wouldn’t have responded when the Spirit of God was calling me into relationship with Him? What if I wouldn’t have shared the gospel with those God has called me to? What God ordained opportunities are you letting pass you by today? What opportunity is God calling you to seize today? God provides the opportunity and empowers us to walk in it, we must seize it. After all, great works of God start when we seize what God has for us.
 
Matthew 4:19-20
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.