Ephesians 5:15-21 — Conversations with God

Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Lord, lately I have been paying more attention to my footing on stairs.  I’m not as young as I used to be and it seems I’ve had more close calls than in the past.  Paul is asking us to take more caution in the way we walk and to apply more wisdom to our lives because there are so many opportunities for evil that must be met with the light of Christ.

If I get foolish and lazy and don’t realize what God’s will is for each situation, then evil and darkness will have a victory.  If I allow myself to get intoxicated with wine or spirits, as if nothing is more important than my own pleasures, evil and darkness will win out.

But if I am intoxicated by You, Lord, and filled up to the full by the holy character of Your Holy Spirit, I will take every advantage to speak into the lives of others with spiritual words.  My heart will be full of joy in You.  I will be driven by an attitude of gratitude for everything You bring into my life.  And I will gladly submit to those fellow believers around me for the greater purpose of defeating darkness with light.

Give me a thirst for You that cannot be quenched except by more and more drafts of your Spirit.