Read: Ephesians 5:15-21
SOAP: Ephesians 5:15-16
Ephesians 5:15-21
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
S: Ephesians 5:15-16 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
O: Have you ever heard the saying "Idle hands are the devils playthings"? Or "Idle time is the devils playground"? These are old sayings meaning that if you don't have things to do to fill your time you could get yourself into trouble. I'm sure many of us are guilty of that at one time or another. How many times have you said "It seemed like a good idea at the time!"? You have to be careful how you spend your free time. Are you doing good or are you just looking for trouble? Is what you're doing acceptable in the eyes of God?
Our church is finding ways to keep us busy this winter. We just had a game day where everyone brought their favorite game and snacks. Soon they will be doing Zumba. Then we'll have another game day. We may even have a movie day. These are all wonderful pursuits. They give us a chance for fellowship and enjoyment without falling into the devils trap of boredom and "well, it seemed like a good idea at the time".
Even if you don't have church activities to pursue, find other ways to spend your time meaningfully. Volunteer somewhere. Spend more time in the Word. Have a family day. Disconnect from the outside world for a while. Mentor a child. There are so many ways to spend free time without getting into trouble, so to speak.
The idle times in winter are also a breeding ground for Satan. January is known for its' high rate of suicide. It's because the holidays are over. It's cold. There's not much sun. It snows. The skies seem perpetually gray. (Well, it is if you live in the northern tier of the United States like I do.) Spring seems so far away. Winter and the cold seem interminable. We just had 10" of snow and now we're looking at a few more "minor" accumulations over the coming week. It has also gotten bitterly cold. It's hard to focus your mind on the positive during these times. But you HAVE to or else Satan will sneak right in without you even realizing it.
A: I need to find more constructive ways to spend my time. Catching up on my bible studies and blog seems to have filled that "spare" time. If it weren't so cold out I'd probably even try to venture outside with my dog and my camera. I'm glad I have my church because it gives me something to do. Wednesday nights we have a small group bible study (and when I say small group, I mean SMALL GROUP!! There's maybe 6 of us!) Sunday after services we have snack time. We all gather downstairs to chat and eat. (Seems like everything we do in our church involves food! lol)
I need to chase Satan away as he invades my thoughts with negativity. I am Bipolar with depression/anxiety/Seasonal Affective Disorder. So winters are especially hard for me. And trust me, Satan has been hard at work on my brain. I need to fight him off as hard as I can! Any endeavor into something positive keeps old Mr. Satan away. :)
P: Lord, I pray to You as this winter drags on to help me resist Satan's attack. I need to hear Your voice above all that Satan is whispering in my ear. Give me the strength to not give up and give in to this depression. I pray that others who are afflicted with any form of mental illness find peace and strength within Your loving arms. Keep us safe and out of harms way until we can once again see the sun rise on warmer days. Amen.
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