---
title: 'Van Rensselaer on Numbering Our Days'
type: post
author: 'R. Andrew Myers'
date: 2023-10-12
url: https://confessional.org/blog/2023-van-rensselaer-on-numbering-our-days
---

# Van Rensselaer on Numbering Our Days

“We are not inclined to wisdom by nature. Every day of the year’s three hundred and sixty-five, has as many proofs that man is alienated from God and from the wisdom of God. We need help in acquiring wisdom. And if we ever come into its possession, it is only through divine teaching. Let our prayer be ‘So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.’
…
God has made our days long enough and short enough; certain enough and uncertain enough; with joys enough and sorrows enough, to adapt life to the purposes of his grace and providence. May He, in his infinite mercy, so teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom!” — [Cortlandt Van Rensselaer](/authors/cortlandt-van-rensselaer), “On Numbering Our Days” in *The Presbyterian Magazine*, Vol. 10 (Jan. 1860), pp. 1, 8