What Is the Biblically Wise Way to Walk through Life?

Ashley Hetherington

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time because the days are evil." —Ephesians 5:15–16, ESV

I love my dog, but he poops a lot. And one of the places he loves to poop the most is in my backyard. Once, when I was in a hurry, I ran through the backyard to throw the trash out and almost slipped as my foot encountered one of my dog’s unwelcome gifts.

I’ve since learned from my mistake, and I now make sure to pay careful attention to where I’m stepping when I’m in the backyard, so I don’t step in some poop and ruin my New Balance shoes.

Watching our step is not just good advice for dog territory, though. In our walk with God, we need wisdom to make sure we are staying on the right course. Scripture tells us to keep our feet from following evil, and this means paying careful attention to our ways.

Sometimes when I am careless and not thinking about my next step, I end up suffering the consequences. Or when I feel like I need to be in a hurry, I might end up making a poor choice when I should have just waited on God to give me clarity about the next right decision to make.

You might feel pressured to say yes to a request without first thinking about how much time you actually have to offer. You might want to respond in anger or frustration when a friend disappoints you. You might be eager to jump into a relationship, even if it’s one that doesn’t help you grow closer to God.

While we shouldn’t overthink every next step, we should pay careful attention to our steps and make sure they are wise. Scripture tells us that when we pay careful attention to where we step, we are making the best use of our time.

So, ask God for the wisdom to make the right next step in your waiting season. Pay careful attention to staying on His path, the path of righteousness. When you walk with Him as your guide, you’ll be less likely to slip on those unexpected patches and fall on your face.

God, help me to pay careful attention to where I step.
I want to use wisdom in every step and make the best use of the time You’ve given me.
In Jesus’s name, amen.

WHAT POOR DECISION HAVE YOU MADE IN THE PAST THAT COULD HAVE REQUIRED MORE THOUGHT?
HOW CAN YOU GIVE CAREFUL THOUGHT TO SOMETHING YOU ARE TEMPTED TO MOVE QUICKLY ON RIGHT NOW?

Excerpt from The Joy of the in Between. Used with permission.
Photo Credit: ©Pexels/Tatiana Syrikova

Ashley Hetherington, author of The Joy of the In-Between is a writer, speaker, content creator, Jesus lover, and founder of The Honey Scoop, a lifestyle blog that encourages and equips young women to grow their faith and reach their full potential in God. As someone with a passion for connecting with young women about the struggles of young adult life, Ashley is also the creator of a membership program, The Tree, an online community that helps young women connect with God and read the Bible. Through her writing and speaking, Ashley is a faith leader for those who want to know the Word of God and let truth transform their lives. She has a degree in journalism and interactive studies from Miami University and resides in Nashville, Tennessee.