O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am! Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, and my lifetime is as nothing before you. Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Surely a man goes about as a shadow! Surely for nothing they are in turmoil; man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you. Ps. 39:4–7
Heavenly Father, though we have zero desire to know the exact day or means by which you will take us home, more than ever we want to live with that day in view. Because the gospel is true, the fear of death has been sabotaged. We can honestly say with Paul, “it is better by far to depart and be with the Lord” (Phil. 1:23).
But until then, how do you want us to invest the rest of our days? We’ve spent enough time rushing, accumulating, planning, and worrying. If you give us one more, ten more, twenty-five more years, how can the gospel of your kingdom and the riches of your grace claim and fill the span of those years?
What do we need to make a bigger deal about, and a lesser deal of? What things do we simply need to let go of? Who should we be spending more time with or, quite honestly, less time with?
The two things which define the rest of history are your commitment to redeem your every-nation people, and your commitment to make all things new through Jesus. How do you want us to engage with both of those stories with our time, hearts, and passion?
Indeed, give us greater love for people who don’t know Jesus, Father. We spend too much time just with other Christians. And help me live more intentionally as an agent of redemption where we live, work, and play. So very Amen we pray, in Jesus’ holy and loving name.