Today, July 9th, 2026, is my birthday! This has been a much-anticipated birthday for me all year because I have transitioned from one decade to another.
I call it the “Big One.” The Bible states that the days of our years are three score years and ten, and if, by reason of strength, they be four score years, yet is their strength, labor, and sorrow for it’s soon cut off, and we fly away. Moses’ prayer in Psalm 90 teaches us that God has been our dwelling place in all generations, and that for a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. In the morning like grass which groweth up and flourishes, and in the evening is cut down, and withered. His prayer teaches us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. One nugget for me in this prayer says,
“O satisfy us early with thy mercy, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” This reminded of the scripture ” Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” Ecclesiastes 12:1
From this, I realized that when we look to God’s mercy and grace early and young in our lives, we will have a strong foundation and be glad all of our days, the good, the bad, and the ugly. One final verse in Psalm 90 states that we spend our years as a tale that is told! How true this is in my life. As I reflect on days gone by, sometimes I wonder whether that happened just yesterday, was it something I heard, something I dreamed, it couldn’t have been that long ago. We measure time sometimes by moments that are special: graduations, weddings, births, and sometimes by tremendous loss. I know when our son Zack passed away at 32, I counted days, months, and years, because it has been so traumatic, it’s how I measure time even now.
As I have arrived at this 70th birthday, I want to confront it with a grateful heart. I am so thankful for my healthy, good years, realizing that a lot of people do not have this opportunity. In my mind, I can’t believe I am here; it seems it was yesterday I was 40, so no, it is not a dream, it’s a reality.
Through many ponderings of my heart over the last several days, I began to ask myself this question: “What do you know by looking back, living now, and leaning forward?” Here is my heart’s reply.
Looking Back
I know that my God is faithful; He is good, He provides, and He loves me more than I could ever imagine.
The more you seek him, the more He reveals Himself to you in the most personal ways.
It takes maturing in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ to truly know who God is.
I’ve learned that blessings and burdens can share the same space; they coexist. In the worst of times, God sends heavenly messages and spirit-filled experiences.
I’ve learned that being sifted as wheat brings about abundant bread. Christ is the leaven in every circumstance; He is the bread of life, and with him all things are possible.
I truly know that continually dwelling on our past failures will paralyze our spiritual growth. Christ came not to condemn, but to bring us life abundantly. When we feel guilty or unworthy, it is not Christ, but Satan who accuses us. The constant reminder of our forgiven sins and our deep regret should have no audience with our mind; don’t let Satan rob us of the joy that God has given us.
Living Now
Live in this moment. “This is the day the Lord hath made, may we rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118:24)
I realize the past is gone. What we are to do, we must do it quickly.
Be joyful in hope, be happy in the gifts God has given us, and use them from the least to the greatest. Someone needs what we have.
Idleness is not good for me; working with my hands brings me joy.
Watching my flowers grow thrills my heart.
Looking at mountain scapes makes me dream of the beauty of heaven; as magnificent as they are, they will not compare to what lies ahead.
Seeing my grandson flourish and grow, becoming the Godly man God is preparing him to be, is a gratitude of wonder to my soul.
Having the opportunity to share the goodness of God with a hungry lost soul replenishes mine.
Give me a desire not to judge harshly those who struggle differently from my struggles; we are all on level ground.
May I forgive when it’s beyond my desire to forgive so others will forgive my ultimate offense.
Leaning Forward
May I lean into Jesus for all my cares.
May I trust him, because the anchor holds.
May I celebrate small victories as well as large ones.
May I realize that when the body fails, the spirit can still soar.
When death comes, it’s not the end, but the beginning.
I know He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
Diane Mann
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#dianemannblogs