We received this thought from Alistair Begg today in an e-mail and wanted to post it for everyone to read.

Such good thoughts....

Teach us to number our days aright,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.” —Psalm 90:12

Dear Friends,
Here is a suitable verse for the start of the year of our Lord 2010. Calvin observes that “it is a clear confession that without divine grace we are utterly foolish concerning the plainest things.”

If statistics alone could impress upon us the brevity of life and the reality of death and the certainty of judgment, we would all address ourselves to the issue. The fact is, the message never registers until God brings it home to us. Moses’ prayer comes at a time when thousands were dying annually in the wilderness. One would think that such fearful mortality would have impressed the whole nation. But it didn’t.

Twenty-first century men and women are no different. We walk through graveyards, treading on the dust of our forefathers, meeting long-lost friends at funerals, and yet we do not number our days aright except through some special operation of the Spirit of God.

Perhaps by now you’re thinking that this is a rather gloomy way to begin the year. Not so! This is not a funeral psalm. It is for the living. When we submit our minds to God’s revelation and we consider Him as Creator, Judge, and Savior, then we will learn to be satisfied every morning in His unfailing love. Then we may safely ask Him to “establish the work of our hands.” In brief, we enter 2010 walking with Him and working for Him.

It would be a useful and beneficial exercise to commit this psalm to memory. (Let me know if you’re successful!) When Isaac Watts in the 17th century wrote the hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past,” it was this psalm which provided its inspiration. When Paul urged the Ephesians to “Be very careful how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…” (Eph. 5:15), I wonder did he have Moses’ prayer in mind.

Well, here we go! I am so thankful that you are partners with us in prayer and that you continue to give so generously that this message of God’s unfailing love reaches more and more people.

Hoping to meet many of you during the year.

Yours as always,

Alistair

www.truthforlife.org