August Scripture

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

My 92-year-old grandmother is truly one of my best friends and I recently had the opportunity to spend the night at her house. As I laid on the same bed I slept in when was a little girl, I looked around at the once current, but now aged, family pictures that filled the decorative table in the corner. Each photo captured a moment in time that can never be lived again but will always be remembered. Beloved family members that lived before me but will always be remembered.

Five generations were on display.  

Unable to sleep, I picked up a memory book that also sat on that table and began looking through all the pictures. There were pictures of my grandmother as a beautiful, young, teenager all dressed up to go on a date with her then-boyfriend. She didn’t know at the time that that handsome fellow, who had a sparkle in his eye each time he smiled, would someday become her husband, my grandfather, and my children’s papa! More pictures revealed her in a stunning white silk wedding gown as she posed next to her high school sweetheart on their wedding day. Still, more pictures revealed her doing her best to pose for a picture in front of her fireplace as she wrangled toddlers, one of them being my father. Images of her raising three children gave way to ample pictures of her grandchildren and then, great-grandchildren. Sure, each picture may have contained a few more wrinkles, but each had the same gleaming smile. More age, but along with those years, greater wisdom. More responsibility as the family grew, but so much more love to go around.

In this book, were letters each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren wrote to her on her 90th birthday expressing their gratitude for the woman she is, the faithfulness she has shown, memories that have been made and hopes and dreams for all that is still to come. Every word written about her is so deeply true. I’ve watched her for forty years model the type of unwavering love, encouragement, and support mentioned in these notes. When I finished thumbing through this book, I was both filled with gratitude that I got to experience such love and relationship, but I also contemplated my own life and the desire I have that one day, similar things may be said of me. I was filled afresh with a vision to make each day count, to prioritize what matters, and to love deeply and well.

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

This prayer of Moses found in the Psalms expresses his desire to number his days, in other words, to remember just how short this gift of life is. To believe that life is long, that you are guaranteed tomorrow, and that you can continue to put off the right, and good, (but possibly hard!) things you need to do today is to live foolishly. But to number your days by making each day count, having the right priorities, and remembering that life is but a vapor can lead you toward wisdom.

 As James 4:14 says, "You do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”

This may seem depressing and saddening to you, but I would argue that it is the opposite. For when we have the wisdom to remember this truth, we do not just live, we live, differently….passionately…purposefully…intentionally. This life will pass away, but when it does it gives way to eternal life. So while life is short, eternity is long, and we should live like that truth matters.

As you meditate on Psalm 90:12 and what it means for you to number your days, join me in praying this prayer at the start of each day, “Lord, today is a gift from you. Help me to steward it well.”

What will you do with the gift of today?

I pray that you make it count. Live like today matters. Love well. Forgive much. Smile often. Serve relentlessly. Leverage your life for the sake of Jesus and others. Remember what is truly important. Do all this and then one day when you stand before him you will hear the words, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.