This is the beginning of a New Year—2025 and we know what a new year means. It means resolutions, new beginnings and fresh starts. However, for some people a new year can be a time to start over, while for others it’s a time to continue on with the same old cycles.
Nevertheless, no matter what your thought is in regard to this matter, we all need wisdom on how to live the years that we’ve been given. And Moses gives us a prayer to follow in psalms 90.
As I said, Psalm 90 is a prayer of Moses recorded by David and here are verses 10 and 12 of this passage and prayer:“We live about 70 years or, if we are strong, 80 years. But most of them are filled with hard work and pain. Then, suddenly, the years are gone, and we fly away. Therefore, teach us how short our lives are so that we may become wise.” -Psalms 90:10, 12
Here are 5 areas where we can become more wise: *(these are the areas of our lives that affect us the most and they also help determine our ability to make decisions and do life).
- Your ears hear: Therefore be mindful about what you listen to and be mindful about who you listen to!
- Your mind reasons and retains: Therefore, be intentional about what you think about and be intentional about what you remember.
- Your heart feels and remembers: Therefore develop thick skin and a soft heart and allow what you have experienced to make you better, not bitter.
- Your mouth releases what you sense, feel and have experienced: Therefore be careful what you say and be careful how you say it.
- Your eyes see: Therefore be aware of what gets your attention because it could be a distraction be aware about what you focus on because your focus determines your direction.
When I began to think about this post, I wondered if it was a little “Debby Downer” to start the new year, however I don’t think it is. I actually think that it is a good reminder for us to understand that we have been given the days that are ahead of us and we need divine wisdom to live these days to their fullest!
Therefore, don’t waste another minute on the wrongs of yesterday. Today is a new day and a fresh start.
The poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. This new day is too dear with its hopes and invitations to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
So here’s a prayer we could pray:
“Lord, Teach me to number my days, so that I may become wise in how I live my life. Let my words, deeds and actions be beneficial and positive, and may they be acceptable in your sight. Teach me how short my life is so that I may become wise.” Amen
