Have you noticed how time seems to move differently as we age? As a child, I felt like the days stretched on forever…a single summer seemed like endless cousin joy, and waiting for a birthday or Christmas was almost unbearable. But now, as an adult, I swear the weeks and months seem to fly by. Yesterday, I traveled back home to attend my godson’s gender reveal. I remember when he was born, and now he’s celebrating having a little one of his own.

I stopped to visit my uncle and great aunt. While they were always considered an elder in the family, it’s more evident the family elders are in their elderly phase of life. The neighborhood kids I remember from my young adulthood are now grown, with their own grown children! Now, one year fades into the next before we’ve even caught our breath. This shift is more than just perception. It’s a reminder from God that our days are fleeting, and we are called to use them with wisdom and care.

The psalmist captures this reality when he prays, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12, NIV). In other words, we aren’t just to count the years that pass but to make the years—and the days within them—count. Every sunrise is an opportunity to live with intention, to love more deeply, and to grow more faithfully. If we aren’t mindful, we risk letting time pass while our hearts drift from what matters most.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NLT) speaks directly to this truth: “So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.” Life has many demands that compete for our attention…work deadlines, family responsibilities, financial pressures. Yet, in the midst of it all, God calls us to slow down and live wisely. That means investing our time in what nurtures our souls, strengthens our families, deepens our faith, and brings light to a world that desperately needs hope.

Time will continue to move quickly, and we cannot control its pace. But we can decide how we will walk through it. When our priorities are aligned with God’s, we discover peace even in the busyness. We can look back not with regret but with gratitude for a life lived intentionally.

Here’s a question for you to reflect on this week: pause and ask yourself—how am I spending my time? What needs more of my heart, and what is draining it unnecessarily? Choose today to live on purpose, to lean into God’s wisdom, and to let every moment reflect His love.