Bible Verse
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Here, you’ll know & learn:
・Verse Context
・Key Words
・References from Other Verses of the Bible
・Main Message
・How to Apply this Verse in Your Life
・How to Further Study the Verse
You know that feeling when your phone buzzes for the tenth time before lunch? When your calendar looks like a game of Tetris with no empty spaces? We've all been there. And sometimes, if we're really honest with ourselves, all that noise serves a purpose beyond just getting things done. It keeps us from hearing the deeper questions stirring in our hearts—and God's gentle voice trying to reach us through the static. When we're rushing from soccer practice to work meetings to grocery runs, we don't have to face those uncomfortable silences where God might ask us about the things we've been avoiding. Let's talk about how our packed schedules might actually be our hearts' clever way of keeping certain conversations with God at bay.
Short Devotional
Remember the last time you were alone in a quiet room with no TV, no phone, and nothing to distract you? For many of us, that silence feels almost itchy—we reach for something, anything to fill it. Paul's words in Ephesians 5:15-16 hit close to home: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." We often read this as a call to do more, but what if the opportunity we're missing is simply the chance to be still? What if wisdom isn't about filling every moment but creating space for God's voice?
Look at Jesus—even with crowds following him everywhere and people constantly needing him, he would slip away to quiet places just to talk with his Father. It's striking how differently he approached time compared to how we often do. Our calendars tell the truth about what we truly value, don't they? When we pack them so full that even God needs an appointment, what are we saying? The busier we get, the less room we leave for those heart-to-heart talks—the ones where God might bring up subjects we've been carefully dancing around for months or even years.
Let's Pray
God, I come to You now, setting aside the noise of my day to simply be in Your presence. Thank You for always being here, patient and waiting, even when I fill my life with so much activity that I can barely hear You.
I confess that sometimes, I keep myself busy on purpose. The quiet scares me because I'm afraid of what You might ask of me or what truths I might have to face about myself. It's easier to check another box on my to-do list than to sit with the deeper questions of my heart.
Lord, You tell me in Your Word to make the most of every opportunity and to live wisely. Help me see that true wisdom might mean doing less, not more. Show me how to create space in my days for real conversations with You—not just rushed prayers between meetings but moments where I'm fully present with You.
When my calendar starts to overflow, give me the courage to ask myself what I might be avoiding. Am I filling my hours to feel important or to escape feelings of emptiness? Am I running from Your gentle conviction or the growth You're calling me toward?
Thank You for Your patience with me. Thank You for continuing to invite me into a deeper relationship, even when I've chosen busyness over intimacy with You countless times before.
Give me the strength to slow down, to create margins in my life where Your voice can be heard clearly. Help me treasure these quiet moments with You as the true opportunities they are.
I trust that as I make this space, You will meet me here. I believe that what You want to share with me is far more valuable than anything my busyness could provide. In Jesus' name, I set aside my distractions to listen to Your heart.
Amen.
Journaling Prompts
What's one commitment you could let go of this week to create space for God? Not another spiritual activity, but simply unscheduled time to be present with Him?
When was the last time you experienced complete silence? How did it make you feel, and why do you think you felt that way?
Look at your calendar for the past week. If someone who didn't know you looked at how you spent your time, what would they think matters most to you? Does this align with what you say matters most?
There's something wonderfully human about admitting we sometimes hide from God behind our busy lives. It means we care enough to be nervous about what He might say—about the growth He might invite us into. The path forward isn't complicated, though it takes courage: it's simply about making room and seeing those gaps in our schedules not as spaces to fill but as doorways to the conversations that truly matter.
God isn't checking His watch or scrolling through His phone while waiting for your attention. He's fully present, never rushed, and ready whenever you are. So the next time your day feels like it's bursting at the seams, ask yourself: "What might God and I talk about if I cleared just a little space for Him today?”
Until next time,
May the Lord Bless you and keep you;
May He make His face shine upon you;
And be gracious to you and give you peace
God Bless!
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