Psalm 90:12 ESV
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
What does this verse mean to you? When it says, “Number,” what is the psalmist saying?
Have you considered the end of your life? Not to be morbid, but it will come one day, and yet, it is a shock to some that that day would come. However, death is one of the only things guaranteed to all men and most spend no time preparing, living intentionally, connecting in friendship, or doing what really matters. Why is that? Have you prepared for your death?
Why do you think that wisdom is gained as a result of “numbering your days?” And what’s with the “heart?” How does the heart relate to wisdom?
I believe that when you begin to live each day with an understanding that you will die, suddenly your priorities change. The urgent things of today shift to the important things that really matter. Wisdom is gained because instead of living from moment to moment, distraction to distraction, pleasure to the next entertainment, you gain perspective of what is truly important. The heart is involved because there is an emotional connection to the legacy and meaning your life will leave behind. Will you have lived a life that influenced others? Will your life have mattered?
Very few people live their lives doing what really matters. And many reach a point where they look up and ask, “How did I get here?”
Too often, other people’s agendas dictate what we do or focus on instead of looking to the end of our lives and what kind of legacy we will leave behind. What things could you give up and start doing in place of that time that will help people in some way? It doesn’t have to be profound; you can start today. The difficulty is longevity and consistently training yourself to live each day like it’s your last.