16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
Time is a gift from God; it is a God-given space within which fulfilment is possible. You can only fulfill your destiny within a time frame. You have 24 hours a day; your friend or neighbour does as well. Everyone does. What makes the difference in life is how we have been able to invest time. Redeeming the time simply means doing what you ought to do, with whom you ought to do it, and how you ought to do it, at the right time. That’s what it means to redeem the time. That means you are doing the right thing at the right time. You are not doing the right thing at the wrong time, and you are not doing the wrong thing at the right time. It takes good understanding of time and judgment to redeem time. Ephesians 5:16 tells us to redeem the time for the days are evil. How? Verse 17 of Ephesians 5 tells us to not be unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is. Understanding what God’s will is for us per time helps to redeem time. We must know God’s set order and purpose for us per time. How? Verse 18 of Ephesians 5 tells us to not be drunk with wine wherein is excess, but to be filled with the Spirit of God. The Spirit is the One who reveals the will of God to us per time. When we are filled with the Spirit, we know the will of God for us always.
Getting filled with the Spirit to know the will of God for us per time that we might redeem the time, requires maintaining an atmosphere of prayer, joy, ministering to the Lord and meditation in the Word. We come under the influence of the Spirit when we keep an atmosphere of joy around us, and minister to the Lord in singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing, and making melody to the Lord in our hearts. By the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will discern the will of God. We will discern both time and judgment and know what we ought to do per time. That’s why we must be filled with the Holy Spirit. You come under the influence of the Spirit, and you begin to discern what each moment of your life is meant for, what are you supposed to be doing now? With whom are you supposed to be doing it? How are you supposed to be doing it? At what pace are you supposed to be doing it?
My Solid Front (Confession):
In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare that my time is precious to me, and that I do the right things at the right time, redeeming the time, for the days are evil. I declare and decree that my path will never cross the path of the destroyer in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Further Meditation: Colossians 4:5-6; Ephesians 5:15-20.