Seize the Day . . . and the Moment

To illustrate the importance of numbering our days, Dr. Leslie Weatherhead once calculated the average length of life with the hours of one day. He concluded that if your age is 20, the time is 11:34 a.m. If you’re 30, the time is 1:51 p.m. At age 40, the time is 4:08 p.m. By the time you reach 50, it’s 6:25 p.m. If you’re 60, the time is 8:42 p.m. And if you’re 70, it’s 11:00 p.m.

That puts it into perspective for us. In reality, we may not have as much time as we think. Psalm 90:12 reminds us, “Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom” (NLT). The Living Bible says it this way: “Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are; help us to spend them as we should.”

Life is filled with opportunities. Now, what we do with them is the big question. Do we let them slip by, saying, “Maybe next time. There is always another day”? Or, do we seize them?

We all know to seize the day, from the Latin term carpe diem. But do we seize the moment? Do we seize the opportunity? We shouldn’t put it off too long, because life is marching by.

Ephesians 5:15–16 says, “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days” (NLT).

And Ecclesiastes 11 tells us, “Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don’t know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both” (verse 6 NLT).

What opportunities do you need to seize today? Take advantage of them while they’re still available. Take advantages of the opportunities that God puts in your life.