So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

I had a birthday last month. As I reflected that day, I tweaked some numbers thinking that a different birthday perspective might amuse my grand kids. This year I celebrated 27, 740 days or 665,760 hours or almost 40 million minutes of life. Wow, I think. That’s awesome! God has already given me an extended, long life as it says in Psalms.

Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; Psalm 90:10

As I’m writing, the clock continues to tick off seconds like fine sand pouring through an hourglass. How much of it has funneled downward to the bottom! What’s left is up to the Lord!

It’s sobering to examine my life in terms of days, hours and minutes and then ask: What portion of that time have I spent in God’s Presence? Before I was reborn? Now as a Christian? Even on my very best days worshiping in church, attending prayer groups or praying alone at home, the percentage of time spent in God’s Presence is a pittance compared to time spent otherwise. In the last 24 hours, was it ten, five or one percent? Hmm… Ouch! Numbers don’t lie about one’s actual spiritual commitment. We all long to seek God’s face more, but this side of heaven, the world pulls us away far too easily.

Jesus lived for 33 years. That is approximately 12,045 days, 289,080 hours or 17,344,800 minutes that Jesus walked on earth doing the Father’s will. We know from Scripture that Jesus was always in the Father’s Presence 24/7, whether crushed by crowds, surrounded by disciples or alone on the mountain in prayer. He ministered, healed and taught surrounded by His Father’s presence. In John 8:29 Jesus tells the Jews about His abiding relationship with God.

He who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him.”

Jesus was absolutely immersed in the divine Presence of the Father. He knew no other way to be except 100% with God. It is what makes His cry on the cross so utterly heart breaking when for the first time Jesus suffered the void of God’s absence. At the ninth hour on the cross Jesus, who had only known God’s continuous being with Him, was left alone in the abyss of sin. Anguished, He cried out,

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Matthew 27:41

Shouldn’t Jesus’ wrenching words make us cry out to God, “Father, prone as I am to wander, cast me not away from your Presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Teach me to number my days and grant me a heart of wisdom to seek you more and more.”

We all receive years, days and seconds according to the Father’s good pleasure. I don’t want to spend any more sand in the glass apart from the Lord. Like David, I admit, “Where can I go from your spirit? Or where can I flee from your Presence?” It isn’t too late. It’s never too late. I believe God isn’t done yet but I give Him all the percentages. My remaining days, hours and minutes are to be filled with Jesus in divine Presence. What of you? Can you do the numbers? Will you?