Tag: number our days

29.t. “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”

 

Colossians 4:5  Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.

 Psalms 90:12     So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

 Psalms 39:4   “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

 Ephesians 5:15-17    Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

 Deuteronomy 32:29   If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

 Proverbs 2:2-6    making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

There must be practical, lived-out Christianity, which lives wisely toward those who are outside. How we speak has a lot to do with this, so we must let our speech always be with grace. Why, because at all times, every day and minute throughout our lives, we are conscious of how we are living so that Jesus Christ is being honored and glorified. How many times a day do we pass a person who could use a kind word, helping hand, an acknowledgment, or word of encouragement? We get tied up being busy and allow the busyness of life to trap us into thinking we are too busy, too important, not important, or unable to see people through God’s eyes. “Teach us to number our days”, “making the best use of the time”, “number our days”, and “make me know my end and what is the measure of my days” all speak to having godly wisdom, discernment, knowledge, and understanding of who we are in light of who God is and to what He has called us to. How can we be or reflect the light of Jesus Christ if our eyes are closed to the people around us? How can we grow and mature in displaying grace when we don’t even see others around us.  I am reminded of a time my wife and I went to visit a dear friend who had just lost His wife.  We went out to eat and this man, whose heart what aching from loss, noticed our server seemed out of sorts, troubled.  He graciously spoke to her with true concern and then asked if we could pray for her right there as she was taking our order. This is having eyes open to others and discernment to their hurts and needs, no matter what life has thrown at us.  Even in his grief, his eyes were open for opportunities to show God’s grace and concern. 

We do well to ask God to reveal deep within our hearts and minds, that which is important and that which is not.  Busyness does not mean it is important. When we seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding with the intentional choice, to be led by the Holy Spirit and honor and glorify Jesus Christ, in all things and at all times, it is then we will discern the world and people around us in the light of His grace and love.

Being Ready

“And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Psalms 90:12  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalms 39:4     “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!

Deuteronomy 32:29     If they were wise, they would understand this; they would discern their latter end!

Ecclesiastes 9:10    Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Luke 12:35     “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,  and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks.  Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.  If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants!  But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.  You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

John 9:4     We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

Ephesians 5:16     making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Proverbs 2:2     making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 4:5     Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 7:1     My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;  keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;  bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,

Proverbs 8:32     “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,  but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 16:16     How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 22:17     Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

Proverbs 23:12     Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.

Proverbs 18:1     Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.  A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion.

Jude 1:19     It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.

Being ready at all times is much different than thinking about being ready.  Being ready and living ready is putting the Word of God into action in our lives.  Thinking about being ready is just that, stuff moving through our head and no action to follow it up.  God’s will must be a desired and sought after presence in our lives. This desire and seeking keep us actionable for His purpose and plans.  Reread these verses and as is says in Proverbs 22:17     Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

Prayer of Moses

Psalms 90:1  A Prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!”  For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers.  For we are brought to an end by your anger; by your wrath we are dismayed. You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.  For all our days pass away under your wrath; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.  The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away.  Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you?  So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.  Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants!  Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil.  Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children.  Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands!

This prayer from Moses sums up much of life.  granted many of us do not see this because of the luxury we live in.  This is not true for most of the world.  We live with freedom and complain.  We live with education and complain.  We live with running water, heat, electricity and complain. We have transportation, technology, medical care and a place to call home and we complain.  We have more than enough food and we complain.  There might be a slight chance we don’t complain but we certainly are not truly thankful.  We don’t express our thanks to God for the many blessings He has given us.  Sometimes I wonder if they are blessings because they seem to trap so many into thinking there is no need for God.  How sad is it when we get to a place in our thoughts that we think we are entitled to these blessings, forgetting they are gifts from God who is to be praised and thanked for them.  If you strip it all away and leave us with just our body, mind, and soul is God still real and worthy to be praised? YES YES YES, He is.  He is God.  And for this alone He is worthy of praise.  However, He has added to this many blessings to show of His steadfast love, mercy, and grace for the purpose of drawing a people to Himself.  Scripture says “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.”  and also says: “The LORD is a jealous God,filled with vengeance and rage.He takes revenge on all who oppose himand continues to rage against his enemies!The LORD is slow to get angry, but his power is great,and he never lets the guilty go unpunished.”  For those who hear His voice and come to Him,  He is a loving Father.  To those who reject His voice and is full of rage.  Submit to Him, cling to Him, rely on Him, and trust in Him.  Our life is short and finds fulfilling purpose when humbling serving, honoring, following and obeying God.

Number my Days

“Apply your heart to instruction and your ear to words of knowledge.”

“making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Psalms 39:4  “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am!  Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!

Psalms 90:12   So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Job 28:28   And he said to man, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.’”

Proverbs 2:2  making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding;  yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,  if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,  then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.  For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs 3:13  Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding,  for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold.  She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.  Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor.  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.  She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Proverbs 4:5   Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.

Proverbs 4:7    The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

Proverbs 7:1  My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you;  keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye;  bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart.  Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend,

Proverbs 8:32  “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.  Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.  Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.  For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,  but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 16:16   How much better to get wisdom than gold! To get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

Proverbs 22:17  Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge,

How are we to gain this understanding and wisdom? It comes from choosing it, applying it, seeking it, listening for it, holding firmly to it, and making the best use of our time.  Note David asking got to show how fleeting his time on earth is.  And again he asks God to teach us to number our days.  Why?  Because life teaches us (the older we get) that life is short and we find our path is much better, our lives more fuller, and our purpose more clear when we choose to stay close to God.  When we seek more than anything else to humbly serve, honor and obey Him. Keep these scriptures close  and review them often.