Maybe it's the looming start of the new school year--another year beginning already? Our children another year older already? The summer nearly over again already? Or maybe it's our 30th wedding anniversary tomorrow--how on earth could it possibly be that long? (But I sure am thankful for every one of those years!)
Whatever the reason, this time of year always seems to remind me that time's passing and that I need to treasure each day as the priceless, irreplaceable gift that it is and use it--not wasting a moment--to God's glory.
This is the only August 7, 2017 any of us will ever have. Duh, you say? Yet how many of us squander this precious resource--blithely tossing away it's seemingly endless seconds and minutes in mindless or meaningless pursuits? How many minutes scrolling through facebook or twitter or instagram? How many minutes flipping through channels and watching some dumb show we weren't remotely interested in? How many minutes mindlessly munching on snacks when we're not the least bit hungry? How many minutes shopping or perusing catalogues when we don't need a thing? Ouch...at least for me. All I can say is, I can squander some serious time.
Now for the record, there's nothing necessarily wrong with any of that stuff, BUT before we know it, those minutes and seconds turn into hours and hours of wasted time. Time we can never get back. And in the midst of that time wasting, I have to ask myself--is what I'm doing feeding my mind with that which is true, honorable, pure, lovely, commendable (Phil.4:8)? Hmm. Not so much. Or is what I'm doing demonstrating my love for God or my love for other people? Or is what I'm doing helping and serving others? Or is what I'm doing in some way bringing glory to God?
All good questions to ask before we find ourselves inadvertently slipping and sliding down a rabbit hole of wasted moments...minutes...hours...days...years. And goodness, what about all that time we squander gossiping or grumbling or worrying or scheming? Boy, those minutes are far worse than wasted--they're destructive, devastating, and sinful. Forgive us Father!
One of my favorite verses that I need to revisit time and again--because let's face it, we FORGET!--is Psalm 90:12: "Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." So simple, but so profound. God is the One who can and will teach us to value and use our days profitably, eternally, contentedly, and, yes, gloriously. Even the most mundane moments--if yielded to Him and seeking to honor Him--can be suffused with glory and eternal weight.
But we've got to consciously pause at the start of each new day and ask the Lord to enable us to live this day for Him and by Him. And we've got to keep "checking in" with Him throughout the day--getting a mid-morning or mid-afternoon or early evening course correction or wisdom infusion or joy renewal. Constantly touching base with our Heavenly Daddy is like a heavenly GPS for our hearts--making sure we're still headed on the right path and staying true to our ultimate destination.
I recently heard a powerful example from Ray Vander Laan that I don't think I'll soon forget. He shared how an old rabbi had a giant jar of beautifully colored marbles on his desk. When asked why, the rabbi responded that when he was younger, he decided to count the number of days he would have left in his life if he lived to be 90. Then he put that number of marbles in the jar.
Each morning, he would take one marble out of the jar, put it on his desk, and ask the Lord to enable him to live that day's marble in a way that would be pleasing and honoring to God. Then at the end of the day, he'd pick that marble back up, and ask the Lord how he did with that day's marble? Did he glorify God? Did he love others? For what did he need to ask forgiveness for that day? For what did he need to give thanks? Then the rabbi would throw away the marble because that day was finished and gone forever.
Wow. What a graphic and convicting reminder that this day--this August 7, 2017--is a beautiful, irreplaceable gift from God. Oh how I want this day to be one in which I love God, love others, serve unselfishly, grow wiser, encourage others, express gratitude, ask forgiveness, live joyfully, and use my gifts and time to glorify God.
Help us, teach us, Father "To number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." Teach us, help us to use this lovely, one-of-a-kind marble in ways that please and glorify You.
To God be the glory.
No comments:
Post a Comment