Teach Us to Number Our Days

Teach us to number our days, That we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90 KJV

Lord, teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may gain in wisdom.Help us to value the importance of each day so that we don't take our days for granted. Help us to see each day as a gift from Our Creator to be used to further His plan for our life and to give Him glory. Forgive us when we have acted as if we were the captain of our own ship and failed to appreciated Today.

I had no idea when I went about making my plans that I would be in the hospital for ten days this fall, and a second time before the month was over to correct an error in diagnosis and a resulting error in the prescription of medicine. It was not in my life's goals, nor in my Church planner nor in anyone's Blackberry and yet there I was lying on my back; sick, fearful and many times feeling alone.

I saw others come and go in the same condition or worse, and most of us had other things that we thought we would be doing. The jaunt to the hospital was inconvenient, expensive and worrisome, and yet it was a reality for a sizable portion of my month.

During this time, I had plenty of time to reflect. I learned many unasked for lessons. I got to see myself from a different perspective and learned aspects of God's loving kindness that I had not before encountered.

One such reflection centered on the fact that we never know what tomorrow holds. I was impressed with that thought that since this is true, I needed to do whatever God has put in my heart to do Today. That might start with just saying "Yes, Lord", and yielding to His wishes. It may be a series of small decisions all leading to His final goal. It might begin with the preparation to be able to do what He has asked. Many times obedience entails a number of baby steps rather than one dramatic and immediate finish. For me, obeying God may start with prayers for guidance, asking others for help with the parts I am not sure of, talking up my courage, or getting an accountability partner to help eliminate false starts and no follow-through.

Since I doubt if we get points in heaven for almost obeying God or for thinking about doing so, I figured out that I needed to do those things I have already heard Him say do and stop adding them to my list of things to do when I have time. Transformation comes decision by decision, step by obedient step and act upon act.

The truth of the matter is we have Today. Wiser folk than I have said, "Don't put off for tomorrow the things we can do Today."
"Lord, thank you for using even an unexpected, unpleasant occurrence to teach me to number my days for I truly want to gain in wisdom."