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"See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
(Ephesians 5:15-16)
Many of you who read our devotions are pastors and ministers of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am so grateful for you and how God uses you to expand His Kingdom. I also am a pastor alongside you in the trenches, serving Jesus and His people. You do not have to be a pastor to relate to the story I am about to tell, but as a pastor, you just might smile and say, "I know exactly what you mean!" As a pastor, I have multiple meetings during the week and other responsibilities. As soon as I get back to the computer after attending to other matters, things have already piled up, and I have much to do. But the Holy Spirit impresses me to stop and pray right there in the middle of the day and talk to God. It is such a blessing when I do this. God blesses and allows me to do so much more than I could have ever done on my own! Pastor Stanley is right about prayer being a time saver.
Let me encourage you to do the same thing. While you are working hard, finishing up one project, and about to tackle a new one, stop, pause, and acknowledge both the power of God and your need for His help. Then do it. Right there at your desk, or the construction site, or the law office, or before you see your next patient, do this: pray. You will be amazed at what God will do and how He will make things go so much smoother and more efficiently simply because you asked Him!
In Ephesians 5:15-16, the Apostle Paul instructs followers of Jesus to be careful how we live our lives. We represent Jesus to a fallen world: we are the only picture of Jesus some will ever see and the only Bible some may ever read. Let us not act like fools but be wise and redeem the time. Make the most of each second. If we are to live this caliber of life, then we are going to need a lot of help. But God promises to help us, as we read in Philippians 2:13: "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."
How much time do you spend in a day totally undistracted and alone before God in prayer and Bible study, growing in your most important relationship? Jesus gave us our life. Relationships that matter must be nurtured. If you see your spouse only briefly once a day, or once a week, and you have little to no communication and face time with him or her, then there will not be much of a relationship. You are married, but you do not have a very good relationship. Likewise, we must have time alone with God, and we will if we make it a priority.
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