I’m reading this great book titled “God Wild Marriage” by our Sr. Pastor, Steve Holt.  He signed my copy and wrote, “Ephesians 5:18”.  Pastor Steve officiated our wedding and so anything he has to say about marriage is a blessing of wisdom to me.  I had to look up the verse and I’d love to share what I found here.

The NIV has a straightforward approach to the scripture, but I love how the AMP and The Message expand upon the verses.

Ephesians 5:18

New International Version (NIV)

18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

Amplified Bible (AMP)

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit.

The Message (MSG)

18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.

“but ever be filled and stimulated…”  It means continually, we are to be continually filled with His ever-loving ever-giving, ever-guiding, ever-nurturing presence.  Drink deep.

“Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him…”  Fill up to overflowing.  Who doesn’t need a weekly, daily, even hourly refill of His Holy Sprit, of His manifest presence?  I do.  I need it now.  I need it when the baby is crying, when a boiling pot boils over making a mess on the stove, when a friend is grieving the loss of a loved one, or when I am.  Don’t you need it too?  Drink deep.

Pastor Steve writes in his book that one of the things that unleashed the power of God in His marriage was regular praise.  He and his wife started to praise God through worship together.  Nothing fancy, just worship songs and singing along.

My husband has an iPod and we’ll sometimes just listen to worship music while I finish preparing dinner and as we are eating.  It sets the tone for the evening.  It is glorious to find His manifest presence with us at times.  We pray “dine with us…”  Drink deep.

We need to do it more often and more focused.  But we are a work in progress.

“Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father…” I’m not much of a singer and I only know a few worship songs, but I remember reading that David would often sing to God the Psalms.  He was a man after God’s own heart.  I remember that at one of the lowest points of my life I sat up at night in bed and made up a tune and sang the Psalms.  God met me in my grief and gave me comfort and new life.

When rocking one of my boys to sleep I often sing “Silent Night”.  It’s one of the few songs I know really well.  I want my little boys to have dreams that start with songs like Silent Night. In reading through this scripture, now I want to sing it also as an act of worship. I want to be a woman after God’s own heart.  I praise Him and am thankful He doesn’t judge me based on my singing.  God looks at the heart.

One of my mentors, Angie, told me that God loves hearing His word being prayed back to Him.  I’m so thankful for her mentorship and helping me learn how to pray.

Prayer

Lord, may I be ever infilled with you.  I want your manifest presence in my life. I want to feel you at every turn and with every breath.  Help me to breathe in you, to drink deep.  May I decrease and you increase.  Make me a signpost pointing to you.  I want my children and family to know you.  I want the world to know you.  Renew us Lord, revive us.  May we be filled with your Holy Spirit and may our very life be a song of praise to you.

In His Grip,

Monica

For more posts on marriage please go to:
1 Peter 3 Marriage Advice
Celebrating Marriage
Selecting A Spouse

P.S. I am enjoying the book The-God-Wild-Marriage and it has been a blessing to me and our marriage.  Check it out if you’d like an encouraging, uplifting, life-giving book on marriage.

Be inspired, be in His word.  It’s so easy.  Click here for FREE access at BibleGateway.com