“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be” (Ps.39:4), how mind-bogglingly loved I am by you (Zeph.3:17), and what doesn’t matter “diddly-squat” (Phil.3:7-11).
Dear Jesus, on this last Monday of November, 2023, it’s a great day for remembering what does and doesn’t matter. We’re in that brief lull-space between Thanksgiving and Advent, just before everything gets busy and becomes a Christmas-blur.
So, in light of the glorious Gospel, your sovereign pleasure, and our Abba-numbered days, where would you have us invest our remaining days? Where should we spend more currency of your grace, and less “bogus-bucks” of regret, worry, and fear?
With whom should we spend face-to-face, heart-to-heart, kindness-and-more-kindness time? What cares have we “cast on you”—but with an attached bungee cord, so we can keep taking them back? Cut the cord, Jesus.
What harmless hobby, benign pastime, or little “ditty” have we chosen over meditating on your beauty, pondering your goodness, and fellowshipping with you, Jesus? Who and what have we been putting off till “the right time”—but the clock is ticking, the calendar is turning, and time is running out?
Who have we hurt, but we’re too stubborn and proud to own it? Who are we holding hostage by the chains of unforgiveness and bitterness? We’re the prisoners needing to be set free. “Spring us” by a fresh understanding of the full and free forgiveness we have in you. Jesus, until our last breath here and our first deep inhaling of the grace of heaven, don’t set our agenda, be our agenda, portion, passion, and delight. So Very Amen.