×

A Prayer for Investing the Rest of Our Days Wisely

     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! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Ps. 39:4-7

Dear heavenly Father, this Scripture is a freeing wake up call to me. Though I have no desire to know the exact day or means by which you will take me home, I want to live more intentionally with that day in view.

Because the gospel is true, I have no fear of dying, for to be absent from my body will mean that I am immediately present with you. The sting of my death has been removed and the grave has been robbed of its victory. I can honestly say with Paul that it is better by far to depart and be with the Lord (Phil. 1:23).

But until that departure, how do you want me to invest the rest of my days? If you give me one more, ten more, twenty-five more years, I want the riches of your grace, and the gospel of your kingdom, to fill and define that brief span.

What do I need to make a bigger deal about, and a lesser deal of? What things do I simply need to let go of? Who should I be spending more time with or, quite honestly, less time with? All of history is bound up with your commitment to redeem your people through the gospel and to make all things new through Jesus. How do you want me to engage with both of those stories, “down the stretch”?

Indeed, give me greater love for people who don’t know Jesus, Father. I spend way too much time just with other Christians. And help me live more intentionally as an agent of redemption and restoration in my community and neighborhood. Thank you for rescuing me from such a tiny pointless story called “personal fulfillment”. So very Amen I pray, in Jesus’ magnificent and merciful name.

LOAD MORE
Loading