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A heart of wisdom

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.
(Psalm 90:12, NIV)

I remember hearing a sermon on this scripture many years ago. It had a profound impact on me. It gave me a sense of purpose and direction that I hadn’t fully grasped before. It rooted something deep in my heart: that my life has purpose, that God has a plan I am invited to partner with, and that everything carries eternal value.

Many of the MAF staff I meet who are serving in programmes around the world, carry this sense of urgency very keenly. They live with a deep awareness that God has entrusted them with a purpose, and they are determined to fulfil it. For many, that has meant moving to the other side of the world, stepping out in faith in visible and sacrificial ways.

The quiet call to faithfulness

But we would be mistaken to think that numbering our days well is only about these big, defining moments; such as moving countries, giving away large sums of money, or giving up a business.

More often, numbering our days well is found in something much quieter.

It is found in the daily decisions of obedience.

The small acts of faithfulness.

The everyday choice to take up our cross and follow Christ.

It is in how we respond when no one is watching.

How we steward our time, our attention, our relationships, and our money.

How we choose presence with Jesus over distraction, of which there are many.

Choosing what matters most

The account of Mary and Martha offers us a beautiful picture of this. Martha was busy, distracted by all that needed to be done. Mary, however, made a conscious decision to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. Martha was agitated and fretting about many things, perhaps she’d lost that eternal perspective. I am sure we have all been Martha, in more situations that we’d care to remember.

‘…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’ Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

Mary chose to number her day differently. Mary knew that better was one moment in His presence than a thousand elsewhere. (Psalm 84:10)

She recognised what truly mattered in that moment, and she chose it.

That is the heart of wisdom.

Numbering our days well is not ultimately about how much we accomplish, but about how closely we walk with Jesus in each day we are given.

Many of the flights that take off are never noticed by the world at large. Yet each one represents lives reached, help delivered, prayers answered. This is what it looks like to number our days well, quiet faithfulness that carries eternal significance flight after flight.

Response

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Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is the world’s largest humanitarian air operator. For over 80 years we have been flying light aircraft over jungles, mountains, swamps and deserts. We enable more than 1,500 aid, development and mission organisations to bring medical care, emergency relief and long-term development. Our pilots and personnel deliver relief workers, doctors, pastors, school books, food, medicines - everything that can only be safely and speedily delivered by air. Our faithful supporters give and pray to make this all possible.

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