As we draw near to the end of another year, it is a good time to take stock of 2011 and how we have used our time in the last 360 days. And what have we learnt.
One thing we can certainly attest to is that Life passes extremely fast. Before we know it the year is over. Have we done what we have set out to accomplish. If not, we should seriously consider how we can fit in the important and significant things we want to do with our time in 2012.
Remember, our days are numbered. Our lives are limited. I think most of the time we forget that life is short. We give little thought to the shortness of life.
When we are young it seems like it is going to take forever to graduate from high school. In our 20’s and 30’s it seems like we still have our entire life before us. But around 40 we might suddenly realize that our life is probably half over. During the middle-aged years we start to sense how quickly life is passing. As we get older life seems to pass more quickly each year.
The Bible says that a person’s life is like a breath or vapor.
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. - James 4:14
Psalm 39:4-6 says:
“Lord, make me to know my end,
and what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, the number of my days is small like the size of a hand.
And my age is as nothing before You.
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
The Bible also says that life is like a shadow which only temporarily appears.
And like a flower that flourishes then quickly withers and fades away.
Psalm 90 is actually a prayer of Moses.
Verse 12 is a good model prayer. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. We need ask the Lord to help us to be mindful of the shortness and frailty of our life.
So how then should we live, recognizing that Life is Short?
#1 Realizing that life is short gives us Wisdom.
That’ s what Ps. 90:12 says:
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”.
When we understand that life is short we become wiser people.
We view life & the issues of life more accurately.
We have a better perspective on things.
We make wiser decisions.
We handle problems & issues more wisely.
We invest our time & energy more wisely.
it gives us a sense of urgency.
It causes us to carefully choose how we are going to live and what we are going to live for.
#2 Realizing that life is short can motivate us to do better in our relationships.
Here is a song "Poems, Prayers & Promises" which I hope you will enjoy and inspire you to make good use of our time.
The days they pass so quickly now,
Nights are seldom long.
And time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes somehow frighten me,
Still I have to smile.
It turns me on think of growing old.
(Poems, Prayers and Promises, 1971.)
Chris Rice shares the same message in the video below:
Life means so much!
One thing we can certainly attest to is that Life passes extremely fast. Before we know it the year is over. Have we done what we have set out to accomplish. If not, we should seriously consider how we can fit in the important and significant things we want to do with our time in 2012.
Remember, our days are numbered. Our lives are limited. I think most of the time we forget that life is short. We give little thought to the shortness of life.
When we are young it seems like it is going to take forever to graduate from high school. In our 20’s and 30’s it seems like we still have our entire life before us. But around 40 we might suddenly realize that our life is probably half over. During the middle-aged years we start to sense how quickly life is passing. As we get older life seems to pass more quickly each year.
The Bible says that a person’s life is like a breath or vapor.
Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. - James 4:14
Psalm 39:4-6 says:
“Lord, make me to know my end,
and what is the measure of my days,
That I may know how frail I am.
Indeed, the number of my days is small like the size of a hand.
And my age is as nothing before You.
Certainly every man at his best state is but vapor.”
The Bible also says that life is like a shadow which only temporarily appears.
And like a flower that flourishes then quickly withers and fades away.
Psalm 90 is actually a prayer of Moses.
Verse 12 is a good model prayer. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”. We need ask the Lord to help us to be mindful of the shortness and frailty of our life.
So how then should we live, recognizing that Life is Short?
#1 Realizing that life is short gives us Wisdom.
That’ s what Ps. 90:12 says:
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom”.
When we understand that life is short we become wiser people.
We view life & the issues of life more accurately.
We have a better perspective on things.
We make wiser decisions.
We handle problems & issues more wisely.
We invest our time & energy more wisely.
it gives us a sense of urgency.
It causes us to carefully choose how we are going to live and what we are going to live for.
#2 Realizing that life is short can motivate us to do better in our relationships.
For example, it can help us as parents.
The time we have for raising our children is short.
The time with our children living at home is limited.
Therefore, remembering this stirs me and motivates me.
It motivates me to use everyday and every opportunity to teach them all that I can.
The time we have for raising our children is short.
The time with our children living at home is limited.
Therefore, remembering this stirs me and motivates me.
It motivates me to use everyday and every opportunity to teach them all that I can.
We tend to take most of our relationships for granted.
So, remembering that life is short can remind us of their preciousness.
It can help us to be more loving.
More forgiving.
More unselfish.
Here is a song "Poems, Prayers & Promises" which I hope you will enjoy and inspire you to make good use of our time.
The days they pass so quickly now,
Nights are seldom long.
And time around me whispers when it's cold.
The changes somehow frighten me,
Still I have to smile.
It turns me on think of growing old.
(Poems, Prayers and Promises, 1971.)
Chris Rice shares the same message in the video below:
Teach us to count our days. Teach us to make our days count
Life means so much!
And so, on a daily basis we are faced with the reality that we exist on this earth in a temporary dwelling. In the blink of an eye the world changes, days turn into years, and the blessings from God continue to flow.
Life means so much. Treasure each moment.
Live everyday to the fullest. What you do with this day is extremely important.
Focus on the important things. Your relationship with God. Your family. Your legacy. Sharing your faith stories. You do not know how much time you have.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays !
Life means so much. Treasure each moment.
Live everyday to the fullest. What you do with this day is extremely important.
Focus on the important things. Your relationship with God. Your family. Your legacy. Sharing your faith stories. You do not know how much time you have.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays !
No comments:
Post a Comment