Casandra Martin

Do you have a photo album? There is something fascinating about flipping through old pictures, trying to recognize blurry faces, laughing about hairstyles and hemlines, and remembering the days that shaped our lives. Those special books connect us to our past, provide depth and richness to today, and give us an anchor to steady us as we move into the future. Each turn of the page reminds us of who we are, where we came from, and who has stood beside us every step of the way.

I have been thinking this week about special people in my life and God keeps bringing me back to the neatest verse in Psalm 139:16 – “All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Your life has a special place in God’s book. Before you were ever born, He made a photo album of your days. There are pictures of the day you were born, your third birthday party, the day you skinned your knee, lost your first tooth, and brought home a handful of dandelions. The pictures mark more than the events of your life – they lay out the plan He has in mind for your heart. There are pictures of the people who made His love real in your life, the events that made you notice His presence, and the times that you spent on your knees in prayer.

Every one of those days is filled with God’s purpose for you. Not one of them is empty. God planned each day carefully so that you could experience the full measure of His goodness, soak in the deep richness of His grace, and delight in the immensity of His love. Whether your life is long or short, each day was counted out by God and written down in His book.

If you look carefully at each of the pictures of your life, you will find something else truly amazing. The fashions may change. The people standing around you may vary. The scenery may differ, but God is always there. He is in every picture of every day of your entire life.

My Jesus Resolution today comes from Psalm 90:12 – “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” God holds all of my days. He has them written down in His book. I want Him to teach me to number my days aright, to learn how to live each day to its fullest, to gain the deepest experience of Him that I can squeeze out of each moment. I spend so much time wishing time would move faster or slower. Today I am going to enjoy today. Remember to smile. You never know when God might be taking your picture.