“They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green…” (Psalm 92:14)
It seems that most of us will do anything we can to put off the inevitable…..getting older. As I celebrate one more year of getting older though, I realize that the things that used to bother me just don’t seem as important anymore and that I look at things differently in life. Rather than fearing aging, it’s important to embrace each day with grace and gratitude, and keep an abundance of joy flowing through my life. When I reflect upon God’s overflowing of blessings in my life, I am filled with hope, thankfulness, and joy, and I know that He has a new beginning in store for me in each stage of my life! He challenges me to move beyond past disappointments and failures and experience His blessings; I’ve learned that I can trust God to always be with me, walk with me, and sometimes even carry me through the good times and the bad.
“God walks with us… He scoops us up in His arms or simply sits with us in silent strength until we cannot avoid the awesome recognition that yes, even now, He is there.” - Gloria Gaither
In Matthew 13, Jesus tells us a parable about a mustard seed and how it starts out as the smallest seed (within each of us!), and as it is watered it will grow and produce great results (as we mature and become stronger!) This seed of God never stops growing as long as we walk in obedience and choose to live in Christ. Spiritual growth is an ongoing process, and in order for us to mature we must allow God to renew our minds; His abundance and love is as endless as the heavens and His faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds; He is the fountain of living water that could quench thirst forever! Growth comes by His grace and He is the source; He gives us every opportunity to grow and bring us to maturity.
“I believe that God is in me, as the sun is in the color and fragrance of a flower, the Light in my darkness, the Voice in my silence.” - - Helen Keller
As we get older, I think we are approaching a time in our lives when we begin to reach a level of spiritual maturity we didn’t experience in our youth; we are at an age in which we have acquired spiritual experience which makes us truly rich. The aging of a Christian is a blessing!
“You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I’m telling the world your wonders; I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray. God, don’t walk off and leave me until I get out the news of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, your famous and righteous ways, O God. God you’ve done it all!” (Psalm 71 17-19 MSG)
Linking up with Joan to “Share His Beauty” and Angel at "Finding The Inspiring"
when I think of having an abundant life I think about how my life was before I asked Jesus into my heart, I thought then I was really living life, but I see now that since I've been serving Him for so many years now I really am living the abundant life, and it keeps getting better. AMEN
ReplyDeleteThis was a beautiful and uplifting post Denise! I am always saddened when I see people fighting so hard against whatever stage of life they are in, whether it's a child trying to grow up too fast or an adult trying to be a teenager again. God has prepared somehting special in each phase of life for each of us.
ReplyDelete~God Bless You~
Lisa
Ah! A timely post! =) In November I celebrated my 50th birthday! I'm not upset with the number, but it seems the older I get, the more I long to serve Him in deeper more meaningful way! I want to make a real difference, you know? I love the verse Psalm 92:14 that you quoted. It is such an encouragement!
ReplyDeleteDenise,
ReplyDeleteI turned 41 back in September, it wasn't the number that bothered me it was the time I feel like wasted before that, the time I spent without God in my life, having an abundant life is found on God alone and as each year passes it gets so much better. the verse from Psalm you quoted makes me think of all the Old Testament stories of God's blessings on His people well into their old age.
Blessings to you Denise.
Denise, reading your post placed me in a serene mood as I pondered growing older. Yes, I'm embracing each day, embracing what life offers to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up to Follow Me Fridays! Your post is very timely as I've been dealing with the theme of aging in my own life. Thank you for the encouraging words. Hope to see you next week!
ReplyDeleteThere are times when our joy seems to level off because it is difficult to remain on a high all the time. We do need to remind ourselves that our Strength commeth from the Lord and Joy is our strength. Lovely word here
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