Psalm 90:12-17
12 Teach us to number our days,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendor to their children.
17 May the favor[a] of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us—
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Contemplation:
Twenty five to thirty thousand. That's roughly how many days are in a 70 to 80 year lifespan. Numbering our days. It becomes easier the longer we have lived. Less days to count. How many days have you lived? Have you ever counted? Would you count some more or less than others?
Looking over the span of our lives provides perspective. We understand that our time on this earth is finite and recognize our own limitations. In humility, we begin to see the hand of God at work in our present circumstances. The paradox of considering your past is that you realize that some of the most valued moments of your life were also the most adverse. Despite this, we spend our days, planning a future devoid of struggle, affliction, and pain. Could it be these very instruments that shake us from our comfort can become our teachers? Could it be that what disrupts our lives can be embraced and even be cause for gratitude? I think a heart of wisdom would answer in the affirmative.
When we live in the present moment with God, we learn to trust God more deeply because we must. When we we focus on God's compassion and unfailing love, the work of our hands today is established in His eternal purposes. A deep satisfaction arises within us when we are living in the present moment neither burdened by regret or worried about the future. Seeing that our days are numbered, we realize the best way to live free is to be present in this moment, finding God's purpose and enjoying his presence whatever our circumstances. It is deeply satisfying to know that the work of God through our hands right now will outlive us.
Question:
Am I living in a sacred awareness of the present moment God has given me?
Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I spend too much time in the future and the past, forgetting that each day of my life is a gift and stewardship from you. I become so preoccupied with my own plans that I fail to see your larger redemptive plan that existed before me and will continue after me. What would you have me do today that aligns with your eternal purposes? How is your redemptive work in my own life meant to be extended to others beyond me who need to know it?