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October 1 - Proverbs 26-27
Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth. (Proverbs 27:1)
Today I celebrate my sixty-fifth birthday with a grateful heart. Every birthday reminds me that life is a precious gift from God, but this verse from Proverbs brings an even deeper perspective. It reminds me that while birthdays naturally cause us to reflect on the past and think about the future, tomorrow has never been guaranteed. Every day I have lived has been an undeserved gift of God's grace.
Looking back over sixty-five years, I see the faithful hand of the Lord in ways I did not always recognize at the time. There have been seasons of joy and celebration, as well as times of sorrow, disappointment, and uncertainty. Yet through every chapter, God has proven Himself faithful. His promises have never failed. His mercy has been new every morning. His love has remained constant even when my own faith has faltered.
Proverbs 27:1 is not telling me to avoid planning for the future. Rather, it warns against the pride that assumes tomorrow belongs to me. James echoes this same truth when he reminds believers to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that" (James 4:15). My calendar may contain plans, but my life remains in God's hands.
At sixty-five, I realize more clearly than ever that my greatest accomplishments are not measured by possessions accumulated, positions held, or recognition received. They are measured by faithfulness to Christ, love for my family, service to others, and obedience to God's Word. The years ahead, whether many or few, are viewed as opportunities to finish well.
This birthday also reminds me that each sunrise is a fresh invitation to trust God completely. I cannot relive yesterday, and I cannot control tomorrow. But I can walk with Christ today. I can thank Him today. I can serve Him today. I can love those He has placed in my life today.
As I enter another year, my prayer is not merely for more years to live, but for more life in my years. I desire greater wisdom, deeper humility, stronger faith, and a closer walk with my Savior. May my remaining days be marked by kindness, integrity, generosity, and a growing passion for the Gospel.
If the Lord grants me many more birthdays, I will receive them with gratitude. If this should be my final birthday on earth, I know that because of Jesus Christ, the best is yet to come. Heaven is not merely a distant hope but a certain promise secured by His death and resurrection.
So today I rejoice, not because I presume upon tomorrow, but because I know the One who holds tomorrow. My future is not in my hands; it is safely in His. Therefore, I will thank God for sixty-five wonderful years, trust Him for whatever days remain, and seek to glorify Him one day at a time.
"Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth." May this verse keep me humble, grateful, and dependent upon the Lord every day He graciously gives me.
My life verse is John 17:4 "I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."
These words were spoken by our Lord Jesus as He looked toward the cross, confident that He had faithfully accomplished the Father's will. While I could never claim His perfection, I have long desired that His words would shape the direction of my own life. My life's ambition has never been simply to live a long life, but to live a life that glorifies God and faithfully fulfills the work He has entrusted to me.
At sixty-five, I recognize that my assignment is not yet complete. As long as God gives me breath, there is still work to do, people to love, the Gospel to proclaim, Scripture to teach, prayers to offer, and encouragement to give. Retirement may mark the end of a career, but it never marks the end of a Christian's calling. Until the Lord calls me home, I want to remain faithful to His purpose.