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Life is Short

Psalm 39:4-5, 7 Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You....But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in You!

 The psalmist serves up some powerful words about how short this life really is in the scheme of things. A handbreadth is about the distance of a human hand....the distance your breath appears when you breathe out on a cold day! That's pretty short. This short life is fleeting! That means that every day you live is one less day on a short countdown! The psalmist reflects on the importance of understanding that life is short.....each day is one more tick gone on a very short countdown. As he reflects on this short life we have been given, his prayer is that God would show him his life's end. I love this because I think the psalmist is seeking to envision where God wants him to end up when his days are over. He wants to gain a picture of this so that he can begin today living into that preferred dream of God for his life! There is no "dress rehearsal" for your life or mine. We get one shot at living our lives with meaning, significance, and purpose. So how does one come to the end of one's short life having lived God's dream?

 First, envision the kind of person you think God would want you to be at your life's end and then..... start living that vision today. Write down 4-5 statements that you would want the people who know you best to say about you at your funeral, and then start living that picture today. Here is mine: He was a man after God's own heart. A faithful husband and father who loved his family like crazy! He lived a life of integrity and authenticity. He served the Lord with gladness and joy. He honored God best by living with humility and trust. He helped lead people to Jesus. This is my target. What is yours? No dress rehearsal.....no "I'll do it tomorrow"....because tomorrow may never come! Start living God's dream for your life today!

 Father, You are the giver of my life. May I never take my life for granted. Save me from believing that I have all the time in the world. When You roll up the script for my life.....it's over! Let me see Your dream for my life's end.........then let me start living toward that end today! My hope is in You! Amen.

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