Life is Short

Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 NLT

Life is short.

Even for the young mother whose days and nights feel unending.

Even for the one suffering through heartache or disease.

Even for the one who is alone.

Even for the enduring caregiver.

Each week I move a button from one jar on my desk to another. One jar has enough buttons to represent each week I hope to live until I reach age 70. The other jar holds buttons for each week I’ve completed. I started this little visual object lesson after I retired. I want to be mindful and intentional every week I live so that maybe I won’t waste too much time and one day wonder what happened.

How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone (James 4:14 NLT).

Moses, author of Psalm 90, lived to be one hundred and twenty. Moses sought God’s instruction for making each day count. Not for busyness or hurriedness, but for time well spent, including rest. The reasoning is so that we will increase in wisdom. Not limited and skewed human wisdom. God’s infinite, perfect, and practical wisdom.

When we lack motivation in our routines, we lose focus and may miss God’s best. Some of life will be mundane. God works through us even in the ordinary. It’s good to have a day of intentional rest. Our lives are generally limited to seventy or eighty years           (v. 90:10). Let’s learn from our wise, heavenly Father and determine not to waste what time He gives us.

I evaluate how to best spend my time as I move each button every week. I pray. I seek wise counsel. What about you, dear one?

Let’s seek God about how to skillfully live. When we resolve to do so and choose well, we look more like Jesus.

Will you ask Him to teach you how to grow in His ways?

Karen Sims