Numbering Our Days

"Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts" (Psalm 90:12, HCSB).

These words come from a psalm of Moses. It was probably written after he became the leader of Israel which means he was somewhere between 80 and 120 years of age. Most people would assume at that point in life you are a wise as you're going to get. Not Moses. He was committed to the process of learning.

Moses had to learn some lessons the hard way, and after that he was more inclined to listen. Maybe this prayer was written after Moses learned he would not enter the Promise Land because of his disobedience. Maybe the rebuke of the Lord left him feeling his foolishness.

Maybe he uttered this prayer while looking out over a vast multitude, freshly rescued through the sea. Maybe he feared the awesome responsibility of leading the people.

Whatever Moses' motivation, one thing is certain. Moses desired to live his life wisely. What would you do if you knew you were going to die in six months? Most of us would want to make the most of that time. To paraphrase Moses, "Lord, remind me of my mortality and impending judgment, so I'll do the right kind of things.

If you don't know it, your days are numbered. Only God knows the full count of them. One day, possibly soon, you will stand before him and give an account of how you lived. I hope you will be able to stand before him with a wise heart.