Psalm 90; Deuteronomy 32

What are you doing today? Myself, I am cleaning my house. My nephew and his sweet family are coming for a visit next week. So today I’ll be scrubbing floors, cleaning bathrooms, changing sheets, and dusting about an inch of dust from my shelves. If my back makes it through today, I’m gonna sleep pretty good tonight!

So, what are your plans? What did you do yesterday? I trust you plan to go to church tomorrow. What about tomorrow afternoon? How are you going to fill your day?

Reading Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90 and his song in Deuteronomy 32, I am challenged to make today count. Moses doesn’t sugar-coat it. Life is not easy. Death is inevitable.

The length of your days is seventy years – eighty if we have the strength; yet their span is but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. (Psalm 90:10)

I’m closer to that “span” than I care to admit. Oh, I’m reminded every day I’ve put a lot of miles on this body the past six decades. But my mind is a bit slower to accept the fact I am no longer young. Years have gone by without me even realizing it. Then I read what Moses says in verse 12:

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

He didn’t say number our years. Number our days. Every day. I’ve heard it said we should learn to live in the moment. I kind of think that’s what Moses is talking about here. Every day counts for something. God is working in our lives every day. Why would we want to miss seeing that? There must be wisdom in recognizing the importance of each and every day.

Moses tells us life is full of trouble and sorrow. But he also says:

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. (verse 14)

ALL our days. Not just the days of our youth. Not just the good days. All of them.

Listen to the next verse:

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.

Doesn’t that seem like an odd request? Make us glad for the bad times? Does Moses suggest we be glad when we struggle, when we hurt, when we are beat up and exhausted? Why would he say that?

May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. (verse 16)

I bet you know what he’s talking about. Those times when you were hurting, and at the end of your ropes, feeling hopeless and lost. Then God shows Himself in that amazingly personal way of His. Or when you were going through that difficult situation, but continued to be filled with the joy of the Lord. What did your experience say to your children about God?

Moses reminds us to be thankful for the opportunity to let God show off through our circumstances. When we are weak, He is strong. The battle is the Lord’s. He promises to never leave or forsake us. And we can know that He does all things well.

God has given us this day, March 23, 2019. We are not promised tomorrow. Let’s determine to make today count for eternity.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands. (verse 17)