LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 90:12, So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

We begin a new year today; Happy New Year to you! I do not know about you, but it seems as if we were just celebrating the beginning of 2024. I have heard many times that the older one gets, the faster time seems to go by. All of us has probably thought that and shake our heads about how the time goes by.

Moses wrote this Psalm and asked the question in verse 11 for the reader to consider the righteous anger and wrath of God. He asks God for wisdom to consider and take into account what God’s people do with their time. If you have thought about how fast time goes by regarding your life, you might understand what Moses is asking from God. It is important for each of us to think about how we make use of the time, the days, God has given to us.

The last two pages of the blog have been about taking time to reflect on 2024 and remember to give “gratitude” – our praise and thanksgiving for all God has done for us. That might involve reflecting on the forgiveness of sin in our lives. Yes, Jesus did forgive the past, present, and future sins of those who Believe in Him. But confession of what Believer’s do, say, or think restores fellowship with God. He does not take sin lightly; therefore, Believers should value each moment of each day by walking the narrow way into eternity in God’s kingdom. Not one of us knows what tomorrow will bring! That being said, each Believer ought to dedicate each day to living as God desires and not do anything that satisfies the desires of the flesh.

I believe there are events that occur in the life of the believer that cause him/her to reflect on how their day is spent. Psalm 39:4-5, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered, and that my life is fleeing away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath.’ (The new Living Translation). Do not be discouraged nor be down about this. Instead, be encouraged to make the best of the life God has given to you, living a life that God blesses and is blessed by you. David Jeremiah noted in his Study Bible, “A day is like a dollar; it can be spent wisely or foolishly, but once it is spent, it cannot be spent again”.

David prayed each morning that God would lead him through each day to do His will (Psalm 143:10). Jesus prayed early in the morning, that should be our example. Jesus taught while on earth to number our days. In Luke 12:19-21, about a rich man who had for many years filled his barns with the harvest and thought only about the easy life of eating, drinking, and being merry; he had no time to think about God. The rich man believed he had many more years to enjoy all he had, but God took his life that night. If he had taken the time to “to number our days, that he might gain a heart of wisdom”, perhaps he would have pursued the things that had eternal rewards and significance.

Take time on this first day of the new year and consider how you might best spend your days in 2025! Will you pursue wisdom, truth, goodness and walk the narrow way by seeking God’s kingdom and His righteousness before everything else? God does not force His gift of eternal life on anyone, nor does He make anyone walk on His narrow way. But for those who learn to number their days and live for Him see each day as a valuable gift from God and live each day as an opportunity to store up treasures in heaven (Luke 12:33).