Filled With The Holy Spirit

Filled with the Holy Spirit

Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5:15-18

I wish I could forget some of the moments from the past where I was less than careful and wise with some of the decisions I made. I recall some foolish and rash choices that did not glorify God. I regret them, and at times they haunt me, but I accept that it’s God’s way of keeping me from doing them again.

We need to live carefully and wisely. Everything we do and say will have an immediate impact—positively or negatively—on at least one other person, possibly affecting them for the rest of their lives. We should make the most of every opportunity, many of which don’t look like opportunities at all. What looks like hard work or uphill battles, God may have put in our paths to make us live up to our potential. With that in mind, I didn’t want to waste any opportunity because my mind was under the influence of alcohol.

As a coach, I made it clear to my staff, coaches, and players that I didn’t have a problem with them drinking alcohol in moderation, but I didn’t want them to use it in excess. At times I wondered, though, why anyone would spend money on something that could potentially destroy themselves and others around them. Some players used alcohol as a crutch to get over feelings of insecurity or low self-esteem, feelings that probably went back to childhood. Other players were addicted to alcohol, whether as a result of family genetics, overuse, or abuse. Time and time again, I would see that players who drank picked friends who drank—they couldn’t have a good time without it. It gave them “courage” to do some very foolish things.

What about you? Where do you stand on alcohol? Does any of the behavior I mentioned describe you or someone close to you? I don’t have a problem with alcohol and its use, but I do have grave concerns about its negative impact in our lives and in the world.

Uncommon Key > Drinking is a huge part of this culture. If you drink, do it in moderation. Get help if you cannot keep it under control.