August #jammed: Reflecting on Grace.

Day 223: Pay attention.

“ 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.” Ephesians 5:15-17 (NLT)

As I followed the trail of candy wrappers out of the kitchen, through the family room and up the stairs to her room …I understood why my daughter can’t sit still

“Lauren…..” I called out ….

Laughter answered. Not just any laughter …mischievous, I-just-got-away-with-something …incessant giggly laughter.

It’s a recurring problem. She resorts to peppermints when there’s no other candy in the house. And then no one can get anything done until the sugar wears off and the Lo Show takes it’s final bow.

Today’s verse reminds me that its important not to walk through life acting as if we’re on a sugar high.It cautions us to be wary of this type of behavior, and not to encourage or attribute to it. “Don’t live like fools.” “Don’t act thoughtlessly.”

It’s easy to fly off the handle when we consider every piece of threatening information as  a plausible threat to our lives,  and let it seep under our skin and affect us like a piece of candy affects my daughter. Let’s not react to “what-ifs” as if they are real. 

“Be careful how you live…” -We don’t go flying out into the heat without sunscreen, and reading God’s Word everyday is like applying SPF to our hearts.

…”like those who are wise” -Wise people don’t run around like chickens with their heads cut off, blowing up everyones phones and crying hysterically …even when tragedy does befall them …let alone at just the thought of it. When we walk with Christ each day, we can calmly breathe in and out of any situation …

“Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” -These are “evil” days, so we should expect it to be lurking around every corner. Not in paranoia. But in preparation. Knowing Who we trust with our lives and Whose we are.

“Understand what the Lord wants you to do.” -Pray in every situation. It’s in His Word and it’s the answer to how we accomplish the trusted direction of His will for our lives.

Father, Thank You for providing us with a way to stand up under the pressure of this world. Praise You for Your Son, Jesus, and all He has done to pave the way for our forgiveness. We confess, we do not always run every situation by You, and are often not in the Word enough to know how to respond. Bless us to seek You, listen to You, and follow You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Get the conversation started by commenting below, and let’s encourage one another as we face life in 2017 armed with grace! 

#greatgrace17

Happy Candy Wrapper Picker Upping,

Megs

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