As a unit of time, a day is a twenty-four hour period, which will remain as long as our earthly life lasts. Each time the clock strikes midnight, a new day is dawning, equipped with its own issues, lessons, and opportunities. We must regard each day as valuable and useful because there is no time like the present. The future, at best, is most uncertain. It is said that each of us lives “a day-at-a-time,” because just about everything is subject to time.
No one can guarantee what a day has in store. However, we can be assured that each day will have its own “lessons” to show or teach us something whether to be known or to be reminded of. In the Bible we read about Elihu, one of Job’s “comforters,” and who, it seemed, had a higher conception of God than the others. Elihu said, “Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom” (Job 32:7). Elihu’s statement is accurate and applicable to us today. The point worth considering is, what can we learn from each new day?
King David stated, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard” (Psalm 19:1-3). The theme of this psalm is about the works and Word of God, thus “Day unto day utters speech” implies a continuous declaration about Almighty God’s power and greatness. “Night unto night shows knowledge” suggests a connection to God’s creative power as evidenced in the moon and vast expanse of the stars visible at night.
Here are examples that “days do have a voice” in that they “show” us things we can learn and respond to. Because of His goodness, mercies, and blessings, God makes ample provisions to meet or exceed both our spiritual and temporal daily needs. David wrote. “Surely, goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” (Psalm 23:6). “All the days of my life” expresses that God’s goodness and mercy is guaranteed to me as long as life lasts. A day also presents opportunities for us to be closer drawn to God rejoicing in His great and wonderful provisions. Therefore, “let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.”
Each day should be approached in a prayerful manner and with an open and receptive mindset, seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding, to grasp what it has to offer. Not surprising that Moses prayed, “Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). A new day brings to our attention how we ought to learn from our mistakes, failures, omissions, and short-comings of the previous day. Also, the need to learn how to work better and get along with others. “Days should speak and multitude of years should teach wisdom.”
Christians should embark on each new day, with an endeavor to be more alert and wiser about Satan’s (the believers’ adversary) subtle tactics and devices that are intended to bring harm to God’s people. We must also seek the Holy Spirit’s help in overcoming habitual or besetting sins of the past, which can affect our Godly walk.
Since days become weeks, it might also be useful at the start of a new week to ask ourselves, “Can I make the present week better than the previous one? Did I spend enough time in prayer and meditation? Could I have trusted the Almighty more, consideration of His will and purpose? It is good to remember that each new day and week draws us that much closer to the Lord’s imminent return.
A person’s length of days is “determined by God and his bounds are appointed that he cannot pass” (Job 14:5). Man’s life is fixed and determined by God, who is his creator in the first place. And man definitely lives according to God’s will, purpose, and pleasure because his bounds are appointed by the sovereign God. This means that God has ‘fixed and settled’ the number of a person’s days on earth that cannot be exceeded. Let us therefore, allow days to speak to us and many years teach us wisdom.
David realized that time was fleeting and he had only so many days of life on earth. Hence, he wanted to ascertain from God how much time he had left. This was David’s prayer. “O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; let me know how fleeting I am” (Psalm 39:4). It appears that David wanted God to “remind” him that his days were numbered and perhaps he needed to take advantage of every moment and opportunity to live for His God. Let us make David’s prayer our prayer, also.
It is quite clear that days will always have a voice, which must be allowed to speak and teach us something worth knowing and applying. We should also desire deeper insights into the things of God as each new day presents itself and many years teach wisdom.