Recently, while reading Isaiah 40:28-31, the Lord put a friend on my heart. I felt the need to text her these encouraging words – The everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. But then, the battle in my mind began. My thoughts went back and forth like a game of ping-pong. . . to send the text or not to send.
I thought to myself, “did I hear God correctly?”
So, with a slight hesitation, I sent the text. God knew how His words would land on her heart. All He was asking from me was obedience. Soon after I hit send, I received a beautiful text back from her. Then days later, she called me to share God’s hug to her through that text. This reminded me to be faithful and obedient in each moment. Moments do count. Small moments and big moments are important, and you and I are to be faithful in both. Yesterday is gone; tomorrow is uncertain. Today is here—use it wisely.
Psalm 90:12 in the NASB tells us, to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom. Other versions say:
- So teach us to consider our mortality, so that we might live wisely. (NET)
- Oh! Teach us to live well! Teach us to live wisely and well! (MSG)
- Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. (NLT).
The plea to: number our days, live wisely and the brevity of life, is a request to comprehend how short our lives are in light of God’s eternal nature. Yes, consider God’s ownership over your life (James 4:13-17). God is eternal and our life is a vapor—quickly passing.
It’s not so much the days we have, but it is what we do with the days we are given.
How might your life look different if you held this truth in your heart?
What if you chose to live as though this was your last breath?
Would you:
- Love more deeply?
- Forgive more promptly?
- Give more generously?
- Speak more graciously?
- Care more thoughtful?
- Prioritize more carefully?
Let us not allow the spirit of idleness to win out. This view forgets that God has indeed saved us for good works (Eph 2:10), and that your life and actions have meaning and purpose.
Yes, moments count.
Obedience is up to you. Outcome is up to God.
We further see this affirmed at the end of Psalm 90, which ends with the repetition “establish the work of our hands” (17). Thus God has created us with good works to do, works which might be established by God.
So, what has God been asking you to do?
What has He entrusted to you that needs to be exercised?
Just do it!
Remember, obedience is up to you. Outcome is up to God.
Journeying with Him,