Coronavirus update.  This is the title over the video running through my television screen every single day.  We hear about how many more people have been infected, the increased number who have succumbed to this disease.  We hear how dangerous and contagious it is. Is this hard for anyone else besides me to watch day after day? It is so heavy and bleak.  But when we consider this moment through a Biblical lens, we will find great wisdom.  Instead of letting all of this increase our fear, let’s take a spiritual posture to allow God to use all of this bad news for our good.  And that brings us to the Verse of the Day:

Psalms 90:12

Teach us to number our days,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (NIV)

To number our days is to acknowledge and live with the understanding that our time in this life is limited.  I have been teaching on fear and how, during this time, we want to be wise, but not allow fear to overtake us.  Instead, let’s use our heightened awareness of our own mortality that has been brought about by covid-19 to remember that our days on this earth are limited.  

This truth can be etched into our spirit by either the spirit of fear or the Spirit of God.  The spirit of fear will carve deep a sense of hopelessness that will cause us to shrink back into a self-protective mindset sucking the joy right out of life.  But the Holy Spirit will graciously sculpt a heart that takes nothing for granted, embraces every good thing God has given, living life to the full.  

Numbering our days with a Biblical perspective keeps us from wasting time on the frivolous, meaningless activities that hijack our time.  Instead, we will grasp tightly to every minute we get to spend with our families and friends. The distractions of this life will not succeed to turn our eyes from the beauty of our children, sunsets, dancing with your wife, and cool breezes sitting on the back porch.  Life was meant to be lived, not feared.

To live in fear or ignorance of our own mortality will subconsciously grant us permission to waste time, take people for granted, ignore the roses, and sleep way too much.  God intends for the Christian life to be vitality, wonder, joyful expectation, beautiful music, heartfelt moments, laughter, hugs, kisses, making exquisite memories that exceed our short time on earth.  This is wisdom.

Foolishness is to be caught up in the rat-race, running from one emergency to another, stressed-out, hair-on-fire (if you have hair), exhausted by feelings of inadequacy and failure.  

Let’s use this moment to allow the Holy Spirit to grab His hammer and chisel to our heart and may the curled scraps of fear, selfishness, isolation, and anxiety fall to the ground.

How has this coronavirus season changed your lifestyle?  Has it created more fear? Have you gained insight on how you were taking good things in your life for granted?  Leave me a comment of how you will let the Holy Spirit help you to live a fuller life.

Live Blessed and Be a Blessing!