The days of our life are seventy years, or perhaps eighty, if we are strong; even then their span is only toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.

Who considers the power of your anger? Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. So teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

Turn, O LORD! How long? Have compassion on your servants! Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad as many days as you have afflicted us, and as many years as we have seen evil. Let your work be manifest to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the LORD our God be upon us, and prosper for us the work of our hands – O prosper the work of our hands!

Psalm 90:10-17

There are many metaphors for describing how short life is. Like a dream, a swift runner, a gesture in the air, a sentence written in the sand, a puff of a breeze, an ocean wave, a short dash between two periods, and the flickering of a star all have been used. It is good to ponder our short lives, but more important to ponder what we have done to witness for our LORD. Moses prayed that he be taught to number his days so he could gain a heart of wisdom. The same prayer should hold true for us today.

Don’t just count your days, make your days count.

Our Daily Bread – January 31, 2004