Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

(Psalm 90:12, NIV)

On the first day of the fall semester at Kentucky State University, a professor walked into the cafeteria and noticed three students hunched over their calculators.  Impressed by their early dedication, the professor asked what tough assignment had them working so hard.

One girl looked up and replied honestly, “We’re figuring out how many days until Christmas break.”

That sounds about right. Some of us have barely started something when we’re already looking forward to when it ends.

Whether it’s the school year, a job, a commitment, or even just a long week ahead, it’s easy to slip into “countdown mode.”  We start looking ahead to the next thing — the weekend, the break, the vacation — and we tell ourselves that we’ll be happier when that day arrives.  Until then, we just hold our breath and push through.

But Psalm 90:12 gives us a different perspective.  Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  He’s not just talking about marking dates off on a calendar — he’s asking God to help us see the value in each day.  Not just the fun days. All of them.

Every day is a gift.  Even the ones that feel boring or difficult — the ones filled with classes, traffic, diapers, deadlines, or laundry.  Days like those are shaping who we’re becoming.  Wisdom comes when we stop coasting through life and start living each day with awareness, gratitude, and intention.

God doesn’t want us to sleepwalk through today just to get to tomorrow.  He’s already here — in this moment — inviting us to experience his presence right where we are. Even on the days that don’t feel all that special.

It’s okay to look forward to rest and breaks.  God designed rhythms of rest for a reason. But don’t miss the beauty and purpose in this day.  You won’t get to live this exact day again.

So go ahead and count the days.  But don’t just count the days until something.  Count each one as a gift.

Prayer: Father, help me not to wish my days away. Teach me to number my days — not just to get through them, but to live them wisely. Help me to find joy in the present moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Alan Smith
Reprinted with permission from Alan Smith’s Thought For the Day