Contemplative Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 28:67 (New International Version)

In the morning you will say, “If only it were evening!” and in the evening, “If only it were morning!”-because of the terror that will fill your hearts and the sights that your eyes will see.

This passage speaks about the calamities that will come to God’s people if they fail to follow his commands. It is unfortunate that they often disobeyed and experienced these calamities. Things were so bad that they wished the painful days would fly by.

Have you ever wished it were the weekend already? Have you ever wished that 5 o’clock would come so you could go home? I have. I have wished that future parts of my life would vanish.

Perhaps these are just “figures of speech.” We don’t really want parts of our lives to vanish, but we do say these things, and someone hears us say them. I hate to consider what our neighbors and colleagues think of us when they hear us wishing away our lives. I think Christians are supposed to be full of joy. If I am full of joy, I don’t want time to disappear and the joy with it.

Each moment is a blessing from God. Why would we ever wish away a blessing? Seems pretty foolish, but we often do so.

God, help me to notice every blessing you give me. Help me to cherish the experience of every blessing. Help me to not wish away my life.