Life is A Gift – Be Intentional About it!

I have always wanted to live to at least 120 years. I got very specific about this number when I read the verse:

Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever.
Deuteronomy 34:7 NLT

Listening to my friend Isaac preach yesterday reminded me that not only is tomorrow not guaranteed/promised, as each day passed, I got closer to the day when I leave this earth.

I have never feared death, that is after getting born again. However, being the workaholic I am, there are some aspects of my life I may leave barren or unattended with much focus on others

It is important to take time to reflect and meditate. A philosopher said, direction is more important than speed. Jim Rohn said Do not major on minor things.

In your endeavors, do not neglect daily fellowship with God, do not forget to nurture those relationships that God has put in your life, do not neglect to work on yourself, do not neglect your health and wellbeing….among many others things. Have the wisdom to strike a healthy balance.

It got me thinking about one of my favorite songs back when I was a rockhead. The song is If today was your last day and tomorrow was too late by Nickleback. I am amused by how powerful the subconscious mind is because it’s close to 8-11 years since I listened to this song. However, I sang along to almost every lyric when I played the song. Lesson: Nurture your mind with the clean, pure and praiseworthy.

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].
Philippians 4:8 AMP

The song simply emphasizes that we should be intentional with our lives and not take anything for granted. The singer starts by saying: “My best friend gave me the best advice, he said each day is a gift and not a given right.”

As much as we may make a lot of plans concerning tomorrow, we should yield to God’s will. We should let God take control of our plans and order our steps.

Come now [and pay attention to this], you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and carry on our business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen in your life tomorrow. [What is secure in your life?] You are merely a vapor [like a puff of smoke or a wisp of steam from a cooking pot] that is visible for a little while and then vanishes [into thin air]. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and we will do this or that.”
James 4:13-15 AMP