Do You Hear from Wisdom?

Have you ever asked the question, “How do I know if an opportunity is right for me?” And by opportunity, it could be a job, a business engagement, an investment, a role in a movie, an invitation to join an organization, or even a personal relationship of interest.

I’ve asked myself this question many times, often praying to God to reveal to me whether an opportunity—personal or professional—is from Him. And while I’ve heard people say, “What God has for me is for me,” those words are found in a song, not scripture. 

There have been many times in my life where I’ve questioned whether I’ve heard from God. What are the signs? How should I feel? What if it goes against what I’ve been taught or raised to believe?

Maybe you’ve ignored the red flags in a relationship because you didn’t want to be alone. Perhaps you were lured into an investment contract with someone that promised you a lot but has yet to deliver on the promise—and now you are in the hole because you didn’t fully vet the partner or read the contract. Or maybe you accepted the invitation to join an esteemed organization but cannot maintain the requirements of membership—such as, you can’t attend the meetings or struggle with paying the dues and assessments. 

Do you hear from wisdom?

There is a difference between a good opportunity and the right opportunity. While good opportunities offer some temporary value, the right opportunity is marked with present and future growth potential. 

I believe the right opportunity aligns with heavenly wisdom. There are specific qualities of heavenly wisdom, which are described in James 3:17, that provide a filter for whether an opportunity is right for anyone. Here are those guidelines, which I call the “Five Ps of the Right Opportunity,” for your consideration:

1. Is it pure?

Is the opportunity decent and in order? If this is a business deal, for example, is the opportunity ethical, legal, and without any conflicts of interest? Opportunities that are right for you will align with your brand. They will not threaten your reputation, nor will they compromise your personal and professional core values. 

2. Is there peace?

Is there internal agreement in your spirit, mind, and emotions? The right opportunity will not cause or tempt you to negotiate your character, honor, and value. The right opportunity will serve to maximize you, not minimize you. Keep this in mind, especially, when pursuing your personal relationship goals.

3. Is there purpose?

Does this opportunity serve your vision, goals, and/or passion? Opportunities that are right for you do not distract you from your vision or purpose. Instead, they align with them and advance you towards it. If the opportunity feels natural to you—it’s what you know, within your sweet spot or natural ability—and it promotes what you care about, then those are signs the opportunity is right for you.

4. Does it profit you?

How do you gain from this opportunity? Simply put, what do you get out of it? If nothing, then the opportunity is a waste of your time—it’s not for you. Opportunities that put a strain or burden on you in any form with no guarantee of a fair return are probably not right for you, at least not at this time. The right opportunities produce “good fruit” not just financially but also mentally, emotionally, socially, etc. They serve to build your influence, open new doors of opportunities, and multiply your resources in different ways.

5. Does it uphold your personal integrity?

The right opportunity allows you to remain true to who you are. It’s draining to pretend to be someone you’re not. If you must wear a mask, then it’s not for you.

How do these guidelines resonate with you?  Leave a comment below. CLICK HERE to join the tribe and follow me on social media for daily inspirations. For more tips and best practices on personal development to help you in your career, then subscribe to my blog or consider reading my award-winning book, Own Your Opportunities.