Walking Wisely: Intentional Living in a Chaotic World

Let’s take a look at Ephesians 5:16–18:

“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.”

Notice first the declaration: the days are by default evil. If we’re not intentional about our days, they won’t just drift by—they’ll be wasted, and could even become harmful.

So what does intentional living look like?

1. Look carefully where you’re going.
   – This is an active choice. We examine our schedules, our priorities, our habits—and we decide: “How am I going to spend these hours?”
   – If we leave it to chance, our time will slip away into social media scrolls, mindless TV binges, and distractions that deaden our senses rather than sharpen them.

2. Make the best use of the time.
   – Paul doesn’t say “try” to make the best use—he commands it. The Greek literally says “redeem the time,” as if we’re buying back what’s being stolen by every trivial pursuit.
   – Because these are evil days—days of pressure, temptation, and swift distractions—we must guard our moments as though our lives depend on it.

3. Understand the will of the Lord.
   – To avoid foolishness, we don’t just muster up smarter strategies on our own. We seek God’s face—asking, listening, and waiting on His direction each morning, each hour.
   – This is more than a quick prayer or a perfunctory Bible reading. It’s a posture of dependence: “God, what are You calling me to today? Where do You want me to invest my mind, my energy, my heart?”

4. Be filled with the Spirit.
   – When Paul warns against drunkenness, he’s pointing beyond wine to anything that dulls our senses—entertainments or habits that entertain us at the expense of our focus on God’s voice.
   – To be filled with the Spirit is to keep our minds and hearts tuned to God. It’s a daily, moment-by-moment invitation: “Holy Spirit, guide me, speak to me, sharpen my vision.”

Here’s the bottom line:

• If you don’t choose how to spend your time, you’ll end up spending it on what’s easiest, loudest, or most immediately gratifying—and that usually leads nowhere good.

• But if you intentionally look to God—asking for His will, listening for His voice, and obeying what He says—you’ll walk in wisdom, redeeming every moment for the purposes He’s laid out for you.

How we do it...

• Morning Time Audit

  • Spend 3–5 minutes listing today’s commitments.

  • Pray: “God, what do You want me to focus on today?” Listen for His leading.

  • Block out at least 30 minutes for that priority.

• Set Two “Pause & Ask” Reminders

  • Mid-morning and mid-afternoon, stop and ask, “Am I walking wisely right now?”

  • Jot down any nudge from the Spirit and follow it immediately.

• Evening Spirit Check

  • In 3 minutes, note one moment you redeemed your time and one you drifted.

  • Pray, “Holy Spirit, fill me and sharpen my steps for tomorrow.”

May we refuse foolishness, refuse to let our days slip away, and instead walk each step in the clarity and power of His Spirit.