DEVOTIONAL Header2023

Spring Chickens

November 15, 2022
11152022WEEKLYDEVOS

“The glory of young men is their strength, And the honor of old men is their gray hair” (Proverbs 20:29, NASB).

 

She is younger than I but moved slowly with the consequences of age.

 “I’m doing okay; my other doctor told me I was just getting old.”

 “I know what you feel,” I responded. “My mother used to say that getting old was not for sissies.”

 She followed, “My granddaddy surprised us one day—‘cause he never cussed. He said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with getting older, It’s just so d…d inconvenient.’”

 

I honestly don’t know what the word “old” means anymore. When we measure our days against the eternity that is ours, we are all spring chickens.

We experience so many seasons in our lives, and we enter each one with more years under our belts.

Each season has its challenges, each its purpose under God.

I used to think people my age were old. Now that label is farther off. I now have grandkids, but I’m still able to wrestle and run with them. Someday I will not.

As we grow older, we often have more discomfort than when we were young, but we also have so many advantages.

We have loved so many people so much longer.

We have learned from so many mistakes.

We have refined our understanding of God and now know Him best for His wisdom, power, love and grace.

We’ve been able to catch small glimpses where God has worked through our lives to grow or strengthen His kingdom. We can live in gratitude that in some ways He has accomplished His purpose through our being alive and being His.

We have failed Him often, but with years of failure we have grown confident in His forgiveness and learned to offer the same to others.

We now know loved ones who are waiting for us in heaven, making that future journey a joy rather than a heartbreak.

We are not dead yet and can look forward to continued service with skills He has given us a lifetime to build. As Paul stated, “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me” (Philippians 1:22a, NIV).

Getting older may be inconvenient in some ways, but it is so darn beautiful in others.

 

Dear God,

Thank you for this present season of my life that you have planned for your service and glory.

Amen

 

pexels-siddhant-bodile-276328-850708
Weekly Devotions

Foundational Gratitude

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no ...
Weekly Devotions

A Pass-through

“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you…and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:2-3, NIV). ...
Weekly Devotions

Hope

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10, NKJV). With his liver tests slightly off, I ...
Weekly Devotions

Until It Hurts

“Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but ...
Weekly Devotions

When Helping Hurts

“The Lord said to me, ‘Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her ...
pexels-steve-927546
Weekly Devotions

A Switch Too Far

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions” (Mark 7:8, NIV).   He stopped me in church ...
pexels-cottonbro-9588244
Weekly Devotions

A Dangerous Allegory

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm ...
Weekly Devotions

Canyon Living

“This brings you great joy, although you may have to suffer a short time in various trials” (1 Peter 1:6, NET).   Eight years ago, ...