A few months back I was reading Andrew Murray’s On Prayer, which is really just a collection of daily devotionals that he wrote on a variety of prayer-related topics. One is entitled, “Day by Day” and has, as its theme verse, Exodus 16:4 – “And the people shall go out and gather the portion (of manna) of a day in its day.” Think about that statement: “The portion of a day in its day.” You can’t grab tomorrow’s portion today (though we try continually) and yesterday’s portion is already used up. Each day has it’s own portion and each day is connected to the one that went before it and to the one that presumably (and it is a bit of a presumption on our part) will follow. Anyway, I thought that I’d share a particularly thought provoking statement by Dr. Murray about this passage and, really, the value of each day. He says this:
How great the value which this truth teaches us to attach to each single day! We are so easily led to look at life as a great whole, and to neglect the little today, to forget that the single days do indeed make up the whole, and that the value of each single day depends on its influence on the whole. One day lost is a link broken in the chain, which it often takes more than another day to mend. One day lost influences the next and makes its keeping more difficult. Yes, one day lost may be the loss of what months or years of careful labor had secured.
Brilliant, isn’t it? Sometimes I read a statement like that and wonder if I will ever have the privilege of being that thoughtful. And then also, when I read that statement I am also reminded of the prayer that Moses prays in Psalm 90, where he prays that God would “teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Ps. 90:12) That is to say, a heart that understands that our days are very few and very valuable! Value this one.
What a timely thought, I have been overwhelmed by all the activities this Spring, several big events going on plus all of the regular activities of a house full of teenagers (and one who thinks she is) It is the second reminder this week (two in two days) so I think I need to get the message to do one day at a time and enjoy all that is going on. Thank you for sharing these great words of wisdom.
Thank you. Well said and well received!