« Philadelphia metro (revised 10/17) | Main | Global »
National
By John | October 23, 2008
From the Word: Back into dust (from Psalm 90)
”You turn man back into dust and say, ‘Return, O children of men.’ For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it passes by, or as a watch in the night.” (Psalm 90:3-4)
Lord, life is so transient. That certainly is one of the themes of this psalm. Moses wrote this, or so it is attributed to him. As someone who spent most of his life having to do things he never planned - or wanted - to do, he could see the futility of all that he did were it not for Your hand on his life. He did say, “confirm the work of our hands” (v17), but he also realized that without Your favor and lovingkindness (v17, 14) life is but labor and sorrow that is soon gone (v10).
Do I have regrets about how I have lived my life these past 50+ years? I don’t have to think very hard to come up with a list of things I wish I had not said or done. Most of my regrets are thoughtless and dumb things I have said - O to be able to get just a few of those words back! But I am also grateful for some of the right choices I have made, to seek to walk with Jesus daily and to put Him first in all that I do. Not that I have been entirely successful, but I have kept pressing on (Phil 3:14).
So, Lord, teach me to number my days, to present to You a heart of wisdom, a life that can prove to be useful to You, that as You turn me back into dust, I can rejoice that You have confirmed the work of my hands and have satisfied us with Your lovingkindness. Help me to grow in my understanding of this message, Lord. Amen.
Please pray with us this week:
I have the stimulating opportunity to interact regularly with directors of Nav ministries in other major metropolitan areas throughout the country. Two of our Metro directors are dealing with significant challenges right now. Our director for Minneapolis is in Scottsdale, Arizona, to be with his wife who is undergoing medical treatment for the next several months. And our director for Chicago had a house fire last week that caused smoke damage to virtually everything in the house. They are looking for housing for the next two to three months while they have to clean or repair almost everything they own. Please pray with us for these gifted men as they face the demands of their situations, that God in His faithfulness will work their difficult circumstances ultimately for good for the advancement of the gospel, and that in each of their situations, they will keep their eyes fixed on Jesus (Heb 12:2) to keep them from the natural tendency toward discouragement. Thanks.
Topics: In the Word and Prayer |