The Formula!

From Morning Tea

"Be very careful, then, how you live." Ephesians 5:15 NIV

In Ephesians 5, Paul gives us the formula for happy, fulfilling life.


1. "Walk circumspectly" (v. 15). The word circumspect means "to be disciplined in your thoughts, speech, actions, and motives." Your wandering stage is over. It's time to enter The Promised Land, drive out the enemy, and take what belongs to you.

2. "Redeeming the time" (v. 16). No more wasting your life on worthless diversions. Get serious! Begin each day by praying, "Father, thank you for this day. Some were alive yesterday, who didn't live to see it. I accept it a gift from You, and commit myself to maximizing every moment, for Your glory. In Jesus' name -- Amen."

3. "Understanding what the will of the Lord is" (v. 17). The word "understanding" here means "to make sense of." Often people say to us, "Hey, what's happening?" That's because most of the time they don't know. But we do, for our steps are guarded, guided, and governed by the Lord (Ps. 37:23).

4. "Be filled with the Spirit" (v. 18). You ask, "How?" Listen, "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs . . . making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). You can be Spirit-filled wherever you are. When it's not appropriate to sing, "make melody in your heart! When there's no one around to talk to, "speak to yourself" in psalms! That's the formula for a happy fulfilling life!