THANKFUL

Chatting with Jesus
Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Lord, does my viewpoint on life match the psalmist?
Reality can be brutal. Life smacked the psalmist upside his head when he caught his reflection in the mirror. “Where did the time go?”

It seems like yesterday, as a youth, I watched my father’s sheep. While still a kid, Samuel anointed me as king of Israel. (1 Samuel 16) My once ruddy complexion now is wrinkled like a prune. The skin around my neck sags like a turkey gullet. A cane steadies my gait as I stroll through the palace. I need a shawl to keep me warm, even in summer. My children are arguing over who will succeed me as king. And how I hate fiber is a staple of my diet.

Is this when the psalmist penned his famous words about the brevity of life? In his weakened condition, did he foresee his time on Earth coming to an end.

”LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered—how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.”—Psalm 39:4-5 (NLT)

These Scriptures can be unsettling to some people who discover their priorities in this life are misplaced. Some spend their lives chasing fame, wealth, or pleasure only to find these hold no eternal value.

Through your grace, Lord, you reveal to your followers what’s important. Life is too short. May we not waste time pursuing things that do not matter. Teach us what holds eternal value— our faith, family, and friends.

Lord, with you our lives are not in vain. You give meaning. You give purpose. May we echo the psalmist’s wisdom: “And so. Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you.”—Psalm 39:7 (NLT)

Amen, Jesus.