In or Out Week 3 Thursday

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4

One thing that all of us have in common, I am willing to bet, is that we all have a junk drawer. We all have a drawer in our home where we put things that don’t have a place to belong. The truth is, most of these really don’t even belong in our house because we never use them, and we would do well to get rid of them. Beyond this, on a much deeper level, many of us have things holding us back that don’t belong because they keep us from growing in our relationship with God. If we want to make Christ a priority in our lives, we need to let go of anything holding us back from Him.

David understood that his life was short, and as a result, he wrote in Psalm 39 that he made efforts to get rid of things that did not belong. He began the chapter by saying, “I said to myself, ‘I will watch what I do and not sin in what I say. I will hold my tongue when the ungodly are around me” (verse 1). David was expressing in this verse the importance of not allowing things in his life, specifically sin, that did not belong. He continued several verses later, saying, “Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is” (verse 4). David wanted God to help him remember that his life was short and his days were numbered. Understanding the brevity of his life would help Him live in a way that honored God because he had no time to waste.

You and I, my friend, have no time to waste. We not only have to live intentionally, but we have to also be careful to let go of anything holding us back from Christ. When we say “yes,” to Christ, we also say “no” to other things, including sin and the things that are not of Him. Following Christ means letting go of the things, even good things, that lead us away from Him for something far, far greater: a deeper relationship with Jesus.

Moving Toward Action

What is holding you back from making Christ a priority in your life? Maybe you have been so focused on a relationship, career goals, or something else, that you have neglected your relationship with Christ. Your call today is to let go of the things holding you back. Now, this does not mean eliminating people or career aspirations or whatever else is holding you back. Still, it means letting go of the position you have given them in your life so that Christ can take the first position, which He rightfully deserves.

Going Deeper

Psalm 39:1-13 (NLT)