It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness. Lamentation 3:22-23
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Psalm 90:12
I try to take a day towards the end of each December to go to Yosemite, find a perch overlooking a cascading waterfall or reflecting pool, and write down a couple of thoughts about areas that God wants me to grow in personally. They aren’t hard goals or numbered objectives, just areas in my life that are ready for improvement, always with a spiritual purpose.
I took the same piece of paper that I used last year, and looking over my previous list, realized that a few of the things had been accomplished, a few forgotten, and a few unchanged. While I’m glad for what did get done, it’s true that most of us can’t focus on the same few things for a whole year. This doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try – I still wrote out the areas of improvement that I am going to work on this year – but there might be a tweak in our style that could help us out.
As was mentioned at the service here at Ambassador this morning, God often speaks of living in days, not years. He renews his mercies every morning, not every year. We are to learn to number our days, not just our years. And so much of life is daily – our daily bread, worrying only for the present day, seeking God early each day, and not letting a day end with anger in your heart. Today is the day for which God has given us grace and strength, and so today should be our focus. Don’t give up on your list for this year, but renew it in prayer each day. It’s not just your list for sometime in the next twelve months, it’s your list for today, and tomorrow, and the day after that.
So it’s New Year’s Day. Is it a new beginning? Yes, but so is tomorrow. Start both of them right.
