Making the Most of Every Opportunity

I started this study in May of 2010, while I was on tour in New Orleans with a performance choir that I was involved in from the church that we had been attending. The inspiration for this study was the ministry that I was able to be a part of for that time. It was amazing! So, I decided to work on this:

~I need to make the most of every opportunity that I get to share the Word of God with people!

Colossians 4:2-6~ Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Ephesians 5:15-16~ Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

~I feel like, according to Colossians 4:2-6, I need to be praying that God will open up doors for me to share the Word. I need to conduct (manage) myself with wisdom, making the most of the opportunity! And, my speech needs to be with grace, so that I'll know how to respond to people.

~If I need wisdom on how to speak to to people, all I have to do is ask God!

James 1:5~ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

~I think that one way to speak with grace is to follow:

Ephesians 4:29~ Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

So, I only need to speak with words that are uplifting.

~And, according to Ephesians 5:15-16, it is wise to make the most of my time, because the days are evil.
I Peter 3:15~ ...but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone that asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
~Now, this verse tells me that I ALWAYS need to be ready to defend what I believe. And, the best way that I can defend myself is with Scripture.
Proverbs 22:17-18~ Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge; for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, that they may be ready on your lips.
~It will be pleasant if I keep the words of the wise (Scripture) within me. And if I keep them within me, they will be ready on my lips, so that I'll be able to defend my faith.
Colossians 3:16~ Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
~I see this verse as a command to memorize Scripture. It seems like that is the only way for it to richly dwell within me.

Now, I used to use excuses when it came to spreading the Word. I used to say that I'm not good at talking to people, I'm just shy, or I'm afraid of rejection..... But, this is what the Bible says about the kind of attitude that I should have:

Romans 1:16~ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
Psalm 119:46~ I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be ashamed.
Matthew 10:19-20~ "But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."
Ephesians 6:19-20~ Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
II Timothy 1:7~ For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.
Matthew 10:14~ "Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet."
~So, to sum all of those verses up.... I don't need to be ashamed to talk about Scripture. I should be proud to speak of the Lord and His Word! I don't need to worry about what I'm going to say. God will give me the words! I need to be praying that I may be fearless when talking about the Word. And, this is because I have been given a spirit of power, love, and discipline. Not fear. And, I don't need to worry about being rejected! If I am, I just need to "shake the dust off my feet" and go to the next place! :)
~~~I want to make the most of every opportunity and not be afraid to do so.~~~
This study was really hard for me to put into words.... So, I ended up using alot more Scripture than I did my own thoughts. But, I think that's definitely the way that it should be. I guess my sin nature wants to take over and say "These are MY thoughts." But, I don't want to live life according to MY thoughts. I want to live according to GOD'S WORD. So, there you have it.