“Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Ps. 90:12

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” James 4:14

This week we are reminded of the frailty of life.  People we know and love have passed away and others have had close calls.  The people I ‘m thinking of and referencing were not old fogeys but were in mid-life.

In these Scriptures God wants us to increase our sensitivity to how quickly life passes.  Don’t wait until it’s too late.

How do we do number our days without being morbid?

• Acknowledge each day is a gift.   It is a day God gives us to serve Him in whatever our calling is.  A phrase I’m fond of is: “It’s a great day to serve the Lord” Every day is a great day, no matter if it’s a difficult day, a challenging day, or a joyful day.  And it’s always freeing to view it as a day to serve God.

• Each day look for what God has in store. My friend and mentor who was the founding pastor of a large mega-church in southern California would often end his prayers, “Lord, what’s on your agenda today? “  This is a simply way of recognizing that although we have plans and meetings and deadlines, God may bring challenges or people in our lives today that require our attention.  Look for God’s leading and be flexible enough to turn toward what or who He puts in our life.
• Recognize that each day we pay something:

• There is a cost for relational drift or conflict

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” Ephesians 4:31

• Invest in forgiveness and grace

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;” Luke 6:37

These are two options that have an emotional and spiritual price tag.  And in whichever on we chose, the pay back will be evident in our lives.  Choose wisely.