1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 3 You turn men back to dust, saying, "Return to dust, O sons of men." 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. 5 You sweep men away in the sleep of death; they are like the new grass of the morning--6 though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered.
Almost everything in our existence is measured in time. Scientist measure time from nanoseconds to light years while we all talk of seconds to years on a daily basis. As we become more time conscious, we become less patient and want things to be faster and use less of our time. It is one of the few things that that we cannot stop or even slow down and when it is gone, it is gone forever and cannot be recalled. We cannot think in an environment without the concept of time.
Paul says we are to redeem the time, that is, we are to make the best use of our time. Time can be wasted or it can be used for good. What seems to be a waste of time to some, may in fact be a very important use of that time to another. It is good to make plans but that may be considered as day dreaming to others. We should take time to rest from our labors but that does not justify laziness. Sleep is necessary but too much and too often when we are healthy may be a waste of our time as well as being harmful to our bodies. Time is neither good or bad.
But time measures our earthly lives and soon they will come to an end. Has our time been used to bring us closer to God and to bring glory to his name? Have we left our small part of the world a better place because we were here? Have we used our time only for ourselves or have we helped others along the way?
Heavenly Father I am so thankful for all you have given me, whether tangible or not. Thank you for the time you have given me in this life and I ask you to give me wisdom to use each moment to honor you and to be a blessing to others. Forgive me for wasting the time that I have squandered. Help me take the time to be thankful to you and to those around me. Give me greater patience, more kindness and love, all of which honor you with my time. Help me grasp a greater concept of eternity to help me long to be with you. I pray in the name of Jesus.