“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant of the University of Alabama was one of the best football coaches of all time. His relatives discovered a yellowed, crumpled piece of paper in his wallet when he passed away. He probably read it often, as he carried it around with him for years. It said, “This is the beginning of a new day. God has given me this day to use as I will. I can waste it or use it for good. What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving something in its place that I have traded for it. I want it to be a gain, not a loss—good, not evil. Success, not failure, in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.”
We live in uncertain times. There seems to be conflict, controversy, or contention everywhere you look. However, I think there’s one thing we can all agree on: we can all agree that time is one of our most valuable and finite commodities, regardless of our ethnicity, gender, political affiliation, or place in the theological spectrum. Most of us struggle to fit all of our obligations into schedules that are busier than ever. The saying “time is money” is one that many people agree with. Important documents are categorized as "time-sensitive.” The majority of individuals are aware of how crucial time is to us.
Although most people would agree that time is important, we frequently forget that it is also a finite resource. We can only use our limited supply of time in one of two ways: wisely or foolishly. Thankfully, God hasn’t left it up to us to decide how to spend our time. The Lord declares in Psalm 118:24, “This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” Here, we discover that every day is a gift from God—a day that He created and gave to every single one of us. Our response to His gift should be joy and gladness. We don’t have to wake up when the alarm goes off; we get to wake up! Think of the alternative.
We learn from Psalm 90:12 that having a wise heart comes from knowing how many days we have. To live with the knowledge that our days are counted is to number our days. God wants us to live in a spirit of appreciation for His gift of each new day rather than fear or dread at how short life is. By prioritizing what is important instead of letting what is urgent at the time dictate our schedule, we may better manage our time.
Prayer: Father, I’m grateful for the gift of this brand-new day. Help me with numbering it so that I can be efficient with my time. Tell me what You want to accomplish today through and in me.
