De-Clutter Your Schedule
Careful Living – Part 2

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:15-21

Key Verse: Ephesians 5:15

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise

For a serious Christ follower, when we see a scripture that tells us to be very careful how we live, we must pay attention!  Our schedules reveal whether we are living carefully or not.  With God’s help we must take control of our schedules and surrender them to the Lordship of Christ.

If you never think about whether you should schedule an event, then life’s events are in charge of your schedule.  This is far too common: a person wants some of your time or an event presents itself and we say yes.  If you and I are going to let God take control of our calendars, we must slow our reaction time down before we make decisions that fill our calendars.  We need to start whispering some prayers for guidance.  We may need to pray for courage to say no to someone or something.  Many of us feel guilty when we say no, thus our lives are too full and too hectic.

Careful living means thoughtful living.  We must stop mindlessly filling our calendars with everything that comes along.  The Apostle Paul calls that unwise living.  He goes on to say, “Make the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”  This is reminding us not to fill our schedules so full of worldly activities that we have no time or energy for the eternal activities that make a real difference.

Father, grant me wisdom to choose carefully what I schedule and the courage to de-clutter my calendar.  In Jesus’ name, amen.