Redeeming Our Time: Walking by the Spirit with Our Days

Scripture Focus
Ephesians 5:15–16 (NASB 1995) “So then be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”
 
 
 
Sermon Reflection
 
Walking by the Spirit is not abstract or mystical. It is deeply practical, and one of the clearest places it shows up is in how we use our time.
 
Paul’s command in Ephesians 5 is not simply to be busy or productive, but to walk carefully and wisely. This kind of wisdom is not about intellect or efficiency. It is about belief. Those who trust the Lord live differently because they understand that time is not endless and life is not accidental. Every day is a gift, and every moment carries purpose.
 
The Spirit does not lead us through feelings or impulses but through the Word of God. When the Word of Christ dwells richly in us, it begins to reorder our priorities. What we once rushed toward may lose its grip. What we once neglected begins to matter again. Time, then, becomes a testimony. It reveals what we truly value and who we are truly walking with.
 
To redeem time means to recognize that God gives us appointed moments, spiritual windows that require response. These moments are not guaranteed to last forever. When we walk by the Spirit, we do not panic or rush, but we do respond with intention, faithfulness, and obedience.
 
 
 
How I Should Respond
 
Let me speak to you personally for a moment.
 
If you want to know what you are devoted to, look at where your time is going. Your schedule tells a story. It reveals what shapes your decisions, captures your attention, and governs your life.
 
Walking by the Spirit does not mean trying harder or filling your calendar with religious activity. It means asking the Lord to order your days. It means surrendering your pace, your priorities, and your planning to Him. You are not being asked to do more. You are being invited to walk differently. To move from reaction to intention. From pressure to purpose. From flesh-driven busyness to Spirit-led fruitfulness.
 
So instead of asking, “Do I have time for God?” begin asking, “Does my use of time reflect that I walk with God?”
 
 
 
Weekly Prayer
 
Father,
Teach me to number my days, so that I may gain a heart of wisdom. Help me to walk carefully, not driven by urgency or distraction, but led by Your Spirit. Reorder my priorities so that my time reflects my devotion to You. Guard me from wasting the moments You have given and help me to redeem them for Your glory. Order my days, align my heart, and shape my life through Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
 
 
Application for the Week: A 5-Day Plan
 
Day 1: Examine Your Time
 
Ask the Lord to reveal where your time is truly going. Write down how you spent your last few days and reflect honestly. What does it reveal about your priorities?
 
Day 2: Dwell in the Word
 
Set aside intentional time to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you. Do not rush. Read slowly. Ask the Spirit to shape your thinking and desires through Scripture.
 
Day 3: Pray for Alignment
 
Spend time in prayer, not just asking God for things, but aligning your heart with His will. Invite Him to reorder your schedule and your pace.
 
Day 4: Invest in Fellowship
 
Reach out to another believer. Encourage them, pray with them, or walk alongside them. Remember that walking by the Spirit is never meant to be done alone.
 
Day 5: Practice Rest
 
Intentionally rest before the Lord. Rest is an act of trust, a declaration that God is sovereign and you are not. Allow stillness to shape your soul.
 
 
 
Final Thought
 
You were not just rescued from something. You were recreated for something. Time is not neutral. It is a gift, and it is a test. You may not control how many days you are given, but you do steward how you walk through them.
 
The Spirit of God is calling you to redeem your time, not in fear, but in faith. Walk wisely. Walk intentionally. And let every day you are given point to the glory of God.
 
Redeem the time. Walk by the Spirit.