This book is a devotional/prayer book to direct your thoughts heavenward. Is your mind a myriad of worries? Do you sometimes have trouble going to sleep at night? Maybe you need to spend some time talking to God! For many years, I have been talking...
When silence falls over my house at the end of a day, it's lovely to lie in bed and think of everything that has happened during the day that has just passed. It's good to reflect on the blessings and turn to Your Word, to receive much needed direction for the days ahead of me. How helpful these verses from Paul's letter to the Ephesians are:
"So be careful how you live. Don't live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:15-20 NLT
Being overly cautious is something that is not often seen as a good trait to possess. People are generally more impressed with others who are spontaneous, impulsive and daring! It's interesting to see Paul's warning to be 'careful' how we live. Wisdom is valued and foolishness advised against. His words are clear: 'Don't act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.'
Each day that I read Your Word, I find myself understanding more about You Lord, being reminded of how I should live and which direction I should go. Paul points out that overindulging in wine is certainly a problem when it ends up ruining a person's life. In many places in the world, drinking alcohol is a big part of people's lives. Often, overindulgence leads to many negative situations occurring. People can end up fighting, making poor decisions and even injuring themselves or others. Relationships can eventually end, jobs can be lost and people killed in car accidents because alcohol takes control of them. Lord I pray that this culture of drinking would turn around, especially amongst our young people who fear that saying no will result in being left out of their peer group.
In this passage, the alternative to drinking alcohol, is to be filled with Your Holy Spirit, leading to a life of praise and worship to You! Now that's a culture I'd love to see forming in my country! Lord please bring revival to this land! It's even suggested we make music to You in our hearts, where You are the only one who hears us. Giving 'thanks for everything', is again highlighted by Paul in this letter, emphasising its importance. I am struck by the Word 'everything', as it made me ask, do I thank You for the difficult times, the problems, the trials? They are often the very things that draw me closer to You! Paul shared his experience regarding this very thing with the church at Corinth:
"But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV
Thank You Lord for everything You have taken me through this past day. I rejoice in my weaknesses and difficulties, because through them, I have experienced Your incredible power at work in my life!
In the beautiful Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.
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