Handle with care

Jonathan Fleming November 17, 2023 3 3

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Psalm 90 (NRSVA)

1 

Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
    in all generations.

2 

Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.

3 

You turn us back to dust,
    and say, ‘Turn back, you mortals.’

4 

For a thousand years in your sight
    are like yesterday when it is past,
    or like a watch in the night.

5 

You sweep them away; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning;

6 

in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.

7 

For we are consumed by your anger;
    by your wrath we are overwhelmed.

8 

You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

9 

For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    our years come to an end like a sigh.

10 

The days of our life are seventy years,
    or perhaps eighty, if we are strong;
even then their span is only toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.

11 

Who considers the power of your anger?
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is due to you.

12 

So teach us to count our days
    that we may gain a wise heart.

13 

Turn, O Lord! How long?
    Have compassion on your servants!

14 

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

15 

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.

16 

Let your work be manifest to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.

17 

Let the favour of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and prosper for us the work of our hands—
    O prosper the work of our hands!

We never know what is around the corner, do we? The world moves at such a fast pace with little time to be still, to pray, to reflect, with sleep being in short supply for some…

Psalm 90 is a wake up call. The Psalmist reminds us how brief life can be alongside the eternal nature of God, calling us to use our time wisely. The number of years is exactly that: a number, which is a fleeting moment in the grander scheme of God’s eternal kingdom.

Are we good stewards of the time gifted to us?
Do we allocate our time and energy to the right things and the right people for the right reasons?
Are we intentional enough in the choices we make and in our actions?

Perhaps we need to hit pause and look at the screen… Perhaps we need to take time to be still in God’s presence and to pray for the wisdom needed to be the best version of ourselves and to allow ourselves to awaken each day with thankfulness for another precious opportunity to thrive rather than merely survive.

We spend a huge amount of our time in places where we can do very little, be it in bed, on the road (or pavement) and even the loo! Do we give ourselves enough permission to allocate adequate periods of time to what really matters, be it our relationships, serving our church and community, personal growth or devotion?

How much time are we wasting and how can we rectify that?

May we approach the life that we have been gifted by the Lord with both purpose and awareness. May we open our eyes each day mindful of the world around us and the opportunity that we have each been blessed with to make a meaningful difference, both in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Let us pray

Lord God

We thank you for the time you have given us on your Earth.

Guide, challenge and inspire us to not waste it.

So be it.

Amen