January 2nd Devotionals

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

Psalm 39:4

LORD, make me to know my end And what is the extent of my days; Let me know how transient I am.

January 2^nd is for most, a return to normalcy, the holiday season is over, the new year has began and it’s back to the hustle and bustle of the day to day. Get up, get dressed, get the kids dressed, go to school, go to work, get home, eat dinner, do whatever, bed, repeat. The drudgery of the everyday seems almost beg for you to get it done as quickly as possible, and the society that we live in echoes that very sentiment. 5 minutes might as well be an eternity in today’s day and age, the world has gotten to the point that the 90 seconds that it takes to toast a toaster pastry is too long so the companies post the instructions for alternative way of cooking them in the microwave.

In this hustle and bustle we find ourselves stressed, and in this stress we refused to live for the right now. We promise ourselves, our families, our loved ones, that tomorrow will be different. If only I get that next promotion. If only we can get this new item. If only…if only. The problem is tomorrow is always a day away, and today gets sacrificed. We miss important things like a child’s game winning score or riding a bike when our children our young. We fail to be there when their first love breaks their heart. Sure we’ve made mistakes but life will be better, and my children will forgive me for my absence when I buy a new car, a new house, a new…something and we’ll all be happy and together.

Unfortunately, more often than not those new things don’t buy the contentment that we’ve promised ourselves, there’s always that one more thing between now and a happy ever after. We look back and our lives are wasted and we regret chasing those worldly goods, and even sadder is that when that realization comes, all too often it comes too late.

David, the second king of Israel, understands this simple but profound truth when he asks for the Lord to keep him humble. He desires is to remember what is truly important in life. Moses, when he wrote Psalm 90, asks for the same thing when he asks the Lord to give us the wisdom to “number our days aright”. In other words he asks that Lord help us to remember that life is short. Furthermore, Moses is asking for the wisdom to put our priorities in order.

Let’s put it this way, if you were to drop dead, right now, what would be remembered of you. Would you be remembered as a person who put God and family first? Someone who truly experienced peace, love and joy? Or would you be known as that nameless person with the nice car, house and job? If you think about it and you answer that your more like the latter person, maybe it’s time to reevaluate. Remember the person that dies with the most toys is still dead.

It may seem odd that only two days into the New Year and yesterday we were celebrating the new, that we discuss mortality. But, at the same time, we must realize that with every New Year that comes, the previous year is gone and no matter how hard we wish for it, it won’t be back. Human life is short and fragile. It’s a truth that can easily be forgotten when life gets hectic, but that’s the reason why it’s important to really reflect on where we are in our lives. Are we happy, and if not what do we need to make us happy? Those things that we chase may seem like the obvious answer but if we reflect on it for any length happiness doesn’t come from the store, it’s not something that we buy.

If we think about it long enough we must admit that the things that we cherish are our friends, our family; those we love. Remember that. Life is too short to forget it, and the world is quick to get us too busy to really care for those things we cherish. The world would let us believe that with enough money we’ll be immortal but we all have one life and such a short run of 70 some odd years, those in the their 80s, 90s, 100s are the vast minority, and the years fly by quickly, and we only have one time around.

If after yesterday you’ve become a Christian or through the devotional reaffirmed your commitment than celebrate what you choose was a truly awesome moment since with that decision comes the promise of a spiritual eternity. Yesterday you made a commitment to the Lord, so today’s the day that you make a commitment to your friends, your family, yourself. A promise that you’ll live every day as if it’s your last and live so that none ever question that you love them. A Mercedes will break down and rust, termites will bring a mansion to the ground but love endures.

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the awesome gift of your love and for forgiveness. Lord, please insure that I keep my priorities in order. Help me keep my eyes on the important things and give me the wisdom to live a life worthy of your servant and one that will be remembered as one of love. Allow my remaining time on earth to be a blessing to both you and those who know me. AMEN

DAILY QUESTION: Are your priorities in order? If not, what are you going to do so that your life reflects your priorities as you wish them to be?

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