“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 (ESV)
Do you ever get bogged down in the everyday mundane? I sure do.
Do you sometimes feel like the never-ending emails, to-dos, laundry, homework, conflict resolution, dirty dishes, and carpool lines are always pressing in, always swirling, but never quite getting you anywhere?
Me too.
Some advice I find myself repeating again and again — to myself and the women around me — is not to let the mundane, everyday tasks of life or the busyness of any particular season rob us of rhythms and priorities that help us know and love Jesus more. We always need the reminder to keep our eyes on our eternal hope in Him.
Maybe it’s my age or the season I’m in, but Psalm 90 and its implications have resonated in my heart and mind over the last several months.
The psalmist, often presumed to be Moses, asked God to “teach us to number our days” (Psalm 90:12). Perhaps what’s most encouraging to me in this passage is the use of the word “teach.” This indicates that it’s normal not to automatically have wisdom for how to live our days purposefully, wisely, and rightly motivated. This is something to be learned over time.
Numbering our days means pausing to regularly consider our choices in light of God’s ways. It means recognizing the finite gift of our lives here on earth and gaining “a heart of wisdom” as we steward what God has given us (Psalm 90:12). This framework gives us permission to live with both courage and caution, simultaneously constrained and carefree, in the big, life-altering decisions and in the everyday mundane.
The eternal hope of Christ gives purpose to our days. There is a destination we’re headed to, a hope not yet fully realized … and this world is not it.
So numbering our days isn’t about mustering up fervor to “live life to the fullest” or to “carpe diem” our way through our journey. No, life’s meaning has already been secured by the image of God we carry in us (Genesis 1:27) and the redemption purchased for us by Jesus (Ephesians 1:7).
We number our days when we rejoice in our eternal hope and allow it to shape the choices we make — how we spend our time, where we find encouragement, how we spend money, what entertainment we consume, and who we choose to invest in and listen to.
If we consider every day as part of God’s plan to teach us to take our eyes off of our immediate circumstances, we can set our minds on the God who has purposefully placed us in the midst of our current season so we might live for Him. When we remember that God has numbered our days, we treasure everything that reminds us we already have everything we need in Him.
Father, thank You for the eternal hope we have in Christ. It makes a difference in every mundane day. Help us to number our days well for Your glory and our good. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Some things don’t feel like harmful patterns at first — they just feel like life. Until one day you realize you’ve been here before. Not because you’re doing everything wrong but because something hasn’t shifted yet. And that can be hard to name on your own. This free resource, “An Honest Guide to Getting Unstuck,” is meant to help you slow down and see what’s really going on beneath the surface, so you can start responding differently, right where it counts. If you’re ready for that kind of clarity, you can sign up and get the resource today.
Ruth Chou Simons is a bestselling and award-winning author of several books and Bible studies. She is an artist, podcaster, and speaker and is the founder, CEO, and Chief Creative Officer of GraceLaced, a Scripture art brand. Simons uses each of these platforms to sow the Word of God into people’s hearts, making deep truths beautifully accessible with her signature art and relatable communication style. Ruth and her husband, Troy, are parents to six boys — their greatest adventure. You can connect with Ruth on her website or find her on Instagram.
1 Peter 1:3b-6, “According to his great mercy, [God] has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials …” (ESV).
How does this eternal perspective help you number your days and gain a heart of wisdom?
Spend some time in prayer today, talking to God about the trials you’re enduring and thanking Him for your living hope. And don’t forget to share with us in the comments!
© 2026 by Ruth Chou Simons. All rights reserved.
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