March 13, 2016-RTM, Day 8

Today’s Verse:

I am being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).

In Context: Living by the Spirit’s Power

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)

I think we all have days or maybe sometimes even weeks where we feel like we work hard, but are unable to affect any purposeful change. We all have days where disappointment and frustration are the prevailing feelings. This past week was like that for me.  I remember thinking as my mind and talk with others turned from being positive and uplifting to frustrated and disappointed that I was not doing a very good job at renewing my mind daily, and I was certainly not acting like someone filled with the spirit.  That’s why it’s so important for me to come back to the next verse in my RTM series of blog posts, to remind me what is important, to start over this week with a new mindset. 

I like the New Living translation of these verses.  They are very straightforward and clear on what we are to do in order to be filled with the Spirit of God.  Be careful how you live (i.e. LIVE WISELY). Make the MOST of every opportunity.  This world is becoming less and less Christ and church centered, but that doesn’t mean we have to.  We can still be the LIGHT in an ever darkening world.  Don’t ACT THOUGHTLESSLY, even if others around you are doing it every day.  Understand what the Lord wants you to do. That’s where I am at right now, trying to understand EXACTLY what the Lord wants me to do.  One thing I’ve learned from others in this secular world is what He DOESN’T want me to do.  My heart was heavy this week as I watched others being treated carelessly, thoughtlessly, and in a discriminatory manner.  It hurts my heart, and unfortunately, there is very little I can do to change what is happening to them, and that’s what brought my thinking out of alignment, that helpless feeling. I stopped singing and giving thanks.  I became overwhelmed and withdrew instead of stepping up to protect and love, even with those I have a hard time understanding. 

These are the times I need to stop talking and complaining and start praying, asking for what I can do to make a difference, asking what the Lord wants me to do.  I have been told that I can be a “calming force” in a chaotic workplace, but I certainly didn’t succeed at that this week. Maybe that’s what the Lord is training me to do, be that calming force, but somewhere deep inside I still feel there is more. So, I will keep praying, keep asking Him to guide me in being who He wants me to be. I pray for my life to make a difference for others, not for me, but for Him.  And I think that is what Ephesians 5:18 is all about.