The Three-Day Social Media Reset by Allie Marie SmithSýnishorn

Day 2: Your One and Only Precious Life

David, the psalmist, asked God to impress upon him the brevity of his life, praying, “Show me, Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure” (Psalm 39:4-5, NIV).

Our lives are beautiful, fleeting, and precious. We are like a California golden poppy dancing in the high desert wind, clothed in splendor but quickly fading. To glorify God, fulfill His purpose for our lives, and leave a lasting mark on the world, we must know how passing our lives are so we can live with wisdom on and off social media.

Endless scrolling, comparison, and superficial online relationships can leave us empty, discontent, and envious. If we’re not careful, social media can lead us to squander our lives and distract us from the better things of God and the abundant life Jesus offers.

To live a good life, to live a life of beauty and greatness and depth, we must know how fleeting we are. Wisdom requires that we grasp how swiftly our sacred lives are passing away. If we don’t understand this, we’ll live like fools in the shallows of life, immersed in the meaningless vanities and pursuits that King Solomon calls “a chasing after the wind” (Ecclesiastes 1:14, NIV). You can run and hustle after the wind, but it cannot be caught. We can chase human approval, fame, material wealth, and beauty on and off social media, but they will soon be gone even if we catch them for a moment.

When we choose not to conform to the patterns of this world, including the patterns of social media, we can live a meaningful life and leave a beautiful legacy. If you live to be a silver-haired eighty-year-old man or woman, you will have taken 672 billion breaths. And after you take your final breath, you must provide an account of how you spent your life.

Every second of your life is sacred, and a new one is never promised. God invites you to savor and steward each day He gives you, making the most of your life and leaving only goodness and beauty behind when it ends. This is your one chance at life; only you can decide how to spend it.

Reflect
What do you want your legacy to be? What do you hope people will say about you at your celebration of life service?

Pray
Lord, help me to number my days and live with wisdom. Turn my eyes away from worthless things and help me live an extraordinary life that leaves others in awe of You.

Read
You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure. (Psalm 39:4-5, NIV)

Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12, NIV)

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (James 4:14, NIV)