I was reading in my Bible today in Ephesians 5 and came across a few verses that made me think about those busy times. It says, “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity.” Apparently, there is a wise way to live and also an unwise way to live. The unwise flounder away a chance to grow closer to the Lord or to make a difference in another’s life. But the wise exploit it.

It goes on to say, “Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.” It is so easy for me to be foolish, to quit studying God’s Word and to shorten my prayer life just to get a better grade. I wish I had spent some more time ascertaining the Lord’s will for my next week at college. I wish I had listened intently to what God wanted me to do that day—like who to talk to or what to pray for.

And then…BAM! Paul lays on us one of my favorite parallels in the Bible: getting hammered vs. getting filled with the Holy Spirit. You see, if we’re going to take advantage of every opportunity, getting drunk on alcohol has to go. Instead, we’re supposed to be “filled with the Holy Spirit.”

You can waste your time numbing your senses, or you can be dialed in to God’s heartbeat.

I want to live under the influence of the Spirit, not some stupid opiate—and certainly not under the weight of my self-constructed desire for my professors’ or my friends’ approval.

If you study the original language used for that phrase “be filled,” a better translation would be “to let yourself be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.” This isn’t a one-shot deal. And it isn’t even active process, like somehow you have to pump yourself up with Holy Spirit steroids. It’s putting yourself into a position for God to empower you with the Holy Spirit regularly. And for me, the best way I know how to do that is to spend time with God, just like I would with a friend or family member I care about. 

I’m taking the challenge to live under the influence of the Spirit this week! I want to ambush every opportunity God has for me today. How are you going to prepare yourself to be continually filled this week?