But a breath…

Daily Readings: Numbers 9-10, Psalm 39

Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.

Psalm 39:4-7 

Reading passages like this one in Psalms is such a welcome and necessary reminder. The money we make and the things we acquire in this life are all so incredibly temporary. We are but a breath. However, with that breath we have all been given here on earth, we have also been given the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others that, along with helping their lives here and now, will also last for an eternity!

The world needs more marketplace missionaries that are out there in the normal world realizing that their day-to-day journey is their mission field. It needs more people that embrace living in the moment, being truly present with the people around them, seeking to be a living example of God’s love here on earth, and remembering that their days are a mere breath; not more people rushing around focused primarily on moving into the next tax bracket and acquire the latest gadget.

David reminds us today that the wealth we heap up rushing around in vain will eventually be forgotten. A lifespan of 70, 80, 90, or even 100 years doesn’t even begin to give us even the slightest glimpse of eternity.

It is but a breath.

How will we use this brief life we are blessed with? If God could actually show you your days like David spoke about in Psalm 39, would you live more intentionally? Would you make the most of the little moments throughout the day instead of being consumed by stress, worry, or even consumed by success?

I want to always remember that this lifetime is but a breath. I want the mere breath that I have been given to have an impact on as many lives as possible that lasts for an eternity.

Thought to ponder

What causes you to occasionally rush around in vain instead of focusing your energy on the people in front of you and giving them the absolute best of yourself each and every day?