I admit it — the only way I got through high school math was because of Todd Williams! Almost every morning before class I was in a state of panic until I found him in the hall and begged him for help with my homework. I gave him gum and candy and a thousand thanks and he tried his best to help me survive algebra. I squeaked by with a C and I give Todd the credit for lifting me to the level of my glowing mediocrity.

It’s not any better today. If I have to count, I still use my fingers and break out into a sweat if one of my kids asks me a math question from their homework.

Here’s what is totally weird — I can do retail math. Give me a clearance rack in Macy’s and I morph into a mathematical genius — I can tell you exactly how much that cute blouse costs if it is 20% off the lowest price with an additional 15% off, subtracting the $17 from my gift card — in less than five seconds! It’s freaky. I am like a living, breathing retail calculator!

But, there is a math I am learning now while I am in the glorious middle of my life — a math I am trying to get really good at by doing it every day. I’m learning to number my days.

Do you number your days?

Let’s assume the average person in the U.S. lives about 27,375 days — for some people it’s more, for some it’s less. But, let’s suppose that’s our average. It’s like God deposited 27,375 days into each of our “life accounts.” We make a withdrawal every day from that account but we can’t ever make a deposit!

How much have you withdrawn so far? Me? I’ve withdrawn 19,345 days (give or take a few) so far! So, if that average comes true for me, how much is left in my account? To find out, I subtract that number from 27,375 and I get a whopping 8,030 days! That sounds so few, doesn’t it?! I thought surely I needed to call Todd Williams because I had messed up the math, but I picked up my iPhone and asked Siri and found out I was right. If I am average, I have 22 years left.

Girl, that kind of math will help us number our days and value each one of them. How about you? Take a moment and do the math, too:

1: Multiply your age by 365. That equals how many days you have lived so far — give or take a few.

2: Subtract that number (how many days you have lived) from 27,375.

That number is how many days are still in your account!

Now, no matter how big or small your number, this isn’t bad news, this is good news because God is behind it. He’s in this and is overseeing it all. The prophet Job wrote, A person’s days are determined; You (God) have decreed the number of his months. (Job 14:5 NIV) And David the psalmist said,  All the days ordained for me were written in Your (God’s) book. (Psalm 139:16 NIV)

God has determined how many days we live, but we get to determine how we live those many days.

In other words, God sets the number of our days, but it’s up to us to make them count.

That is why we pray along with Moses, Teach us to number our days that we may have a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12 ESV)

No matter what the average may be, none of us really know how many days are in our “life account.” Learning to number our days will give us wisdom to live each one wisely.

Wisdom helps us live each day like it was our last day and at the same time, the first day of the rest of our lives!

Wisdom helps us to treat each day with value and purpose. As we develop hearts of wisdom, our perspective changes — we see each day as a fresh start, a new opportunity, a second chance.

Wisdom helps us live, not just get through, each day with an understanding of our purpose and an awareness of God’s presence.

If you’re thinking about the days that you can’t get back, days you may have wasted or sped through, let me remind you — me — all of us — that a heart of wisdom that comes from numbering our days is also a heart that wisely moves forward, forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. (Philippians 3:13 ESV)

Let’s make a wise withdrawal today. Let’s spend this day as wisely as we would spend a dollar if we only had a few — as if every minute were a precious penny! As we learn to number our days, we will become women with hearts of wisdom who don’t just go through life; we will be women who grow through life.

Lord, You are our source of wisdom. We need You to teach us how to number our days. Make this truth come alive in our hearts, on our calendars, through the way we do life. Protect us against regret and guilt that could beat us up over the days we’ve already spent. Fill us with hope and anticipation over this day and every day to come. Thank You for new mercies every morning, great is Your faithfulness. Amen.

P.S. If this blog stirred up some regret from your past, check out 2 Simple Ways to Change Your Past. It will help you stop the past from ruining your future.

What do you plan to do with your remaining days? Share with us in the comments below.