by Robert Fudge

We are consumed by your anger and terrified by your indignation. 8 You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. 9 All our days pass away under your wrath; we finish our years with a moan. 10 The length of our days is seventy years--or eighty, if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, For they quickly pass, and we fly away. 11 Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. 12 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Our lives are short and uncertain. While it is true that the average life span has increased, it is still short and quickly passes. We can either despair or we can use the time we have for a good purpose. What we consider important too often is very trivial with no lasting value. The first lesson for us is that we take advantage of the opportunities that God gives us. We are given so many in so many ways that can affect us and our future. We also are given opportunities that affect those around us. We have opportunities to help others physically and emotionally. We are to share the blessings that God has given us. This includes money but maybe more valuable than that is the time we can spend with those who are lonely or hurting. The most valuable thing we have to offer is to share the gospel of our Savior with those who do not know him. We need to number our days aright.

We also need a heart of wisdom. James tells us if we lack wisdom, we are to pray for it and God will give generously. The first step of wisdom is knowledge. We must study God’s word and learn his will. There is no shortcut for that. As we study and pray for wisdom, God will provide us with the understanding of how to apply it. This implies that we have a heart open to doing his will. I must be willing to accept what God says; even when I don’t like it or when it is not what I have always been told or believed. This is not easy for most of us. We want to have an open mind and heart but we are hampered with all that we have learned in the past. We need to pray as did Jesus: "not my will but yours be done."

Dear God, please open my heart that I may accept your will for me. Help me to get past the things that hamper my understanding. Give me strength to study your word more and wisdom to understand and apply it. Help me to see the opportunities that abound in my life to serve you. Help me to have compassion toward those who are in need or who are hurting. Show me how to share myself with them. In Jesus name I pray.

May God bless each of us as we live for him.