Ps 90:12–So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. ESV
Ps 90:12– Teach us to use wisely all the time we have. CEV
Ps 90:12– Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom. NLT
My husband, Terry, and I were completing errands. One was to pick up his bicycle at a large sports store where he had taken it for an upgrade on the gears. Loading it into the pickup, he realized the clipboard with his papers and lists was missing. So, we returned to the shop find it.
It was on the counter so he could have simply scooped it up and headed for the exit. But instead, he gave a shoutout to the repair guys then began to speak with a couple waiting to be helped.
“Are you a fitness trainer?” the woman asked, having read his training schedule on his clipboard.
When he answered that he was a pastor, her husband blurted, “I think I am wasting my time.”
Terry told me all about the interaction he had, recognizing it as God ordained. I wasn’t close enough to listen, instead pacing by the cycling jerseys hoping for a quick retreat. There were so many errands…
But the man was truly seeking guidance. Retired, he felt he wasn’t contributing much to society. He attended a church, but the pastor was young and wasn’t resonating with the older people in the congregation.
“You could work with your pastor. Help him learn to interact with older people. Mentor him,” Terry suggested.
He added it wasn’t by chance a young pastor who didn’t know how to relate with older people was placed in a church filled with people in this season of life. It was a skill he needed to learn. This man now had a purpose. A way to use his time wisely.
Due to my impatience I failed to recognize the presence of God. I was wasting time, angrily watching my husband from afar, focused on my own agenda. Because of this attitude I missed out, failing to grow in wisdom.
Moments are precious. They aren’t unlimited. Therefore, each should be exchanged for something of value. Something that is expanding the kingdom of God, contributing to the sanctification process, and making us more Christlike.
How do we use time wisely? The best way is to get to know the God who created us and with whom we will spend eternity. Also to make sure our actions are the result of Scripture not by our might but because we are transformed becoming Christlike by learning how to walk out each word.
To use time wisely:
–We are mindful of our thoughts.
Strongholds are patterns of behavior we return to again and again that are contrary to God’s Word. They result in disobedience. Yet we know we have come to know Christ by keeping His commandments. (1 John 2:3-4)
Satan wants us to believe a lie that leads us astray. To conquer strongholds, we learn truth to dispel the lie.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 10 Paul writes: “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” (2 Cor 10:3-5 ESV)
Tony Evans writes in his commentary, “Strongholds can only be demolished by the knowledge of God—that is, by truth. If you’re not taking every thought captive to obey Christ and are instead succumbing to a stronghold, it’s because you either don’t know the truth or aren’t making use of the truth you know.”
–We are mindful of our walk.
The Apostle Paul tells us to walk circumspectly, or carefully. Why? “Because the days are evil.” He advises us to take the time we need to determine the will of God. (Eph. 5:15-17)
Eugene Peterson, author of The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, paraphrases these verses as: “So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times! Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.”
–We are mindful of our talk.
Sometimes we don’t like our situation. We would rather be sipping iced coffee on the beach than stuck at the airport waiting for a late flight. So, we complain. While our complaints are directed against the airline, they are against God because He is sovereign.
Remembering the attributes of God and the fact we are to glorify Him will remind us to speak graciously, choose kind words, make sure our speech benefits all who overhear us. (Ephesians 4:29)
As we navigate each day, let’s look to see what God is doing and join Him instead of hanging back in the cycling jersey section determined to complete our agenda. We can reflect Christ in our attitude, actions, and verbal expressions.
©2024 Susan Cort Johnson *All Rights Reserved
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