So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

                                                            —Psalm 90:12 (KJV)

It is the end of one year and the beginning of another. Every year at this time I fill in my new calendar. Capturing significant dates like birthdays and anniversaries is my main goal, as well as penciling in trips or events already planned. It’s fun to reminisce as I’m reminded of events, parties and people that filled my previous year. Keeping my calendar current helps me stay organized.

With that in mind, I did some reminder reading about time management. One piece I read ended with the above verse. It was a good parallel but for some reason instead of considering ways to manage my life I thought about the shortness of it. During 2017 I lost two good friends whom I had known since high school and it made me think of them. The plans we made for 2018 now will never happen. I pondered what it meant to “number ‘my’ days.” It is most definitely prudent to plan, yet I have no guarantee for anything past today or even past this moment.      

As I considered this, I realized the point is not just to be organized. That certainly helps, but the real wisdom lies in being mindful of my limited time. I have an expiration date and since I don’t know when it is, my planning must contain a sense of urgency. What goals has God placed on my heart? What is the best way to accomplish them? Have I maximized purpose in my plans? Too often we become so focused on structuring our time we lose sight of the actual objective: using it effectively.

2018 is a new year and not just a clean slate, but another opportunity to wisely use the time God has given us. We have no control over the count of our days but we can control how we make them count. Always prepare for tomorrow while living today as if it won’t come.

 “This is our time on the history line of God. This is it. What will we do with the one deep exhale of God on this earth? For we are but a vapor and we have to make it count. We’re on. Direct us, Lord, and get us on our feet.”

—Beth Moore