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No matter how old or young we may be, we should never lose the zeal that we have to enjoy life to its fullest. Many times people start off with an infectious vigor to pursue the dreams and desires that are within their hearts, but when they stumble and fall in their pursuit, they become discouraged, disheartened and dissuaded from continuing on towards their hearts fulfillment. What we must realize is that falling down doesn't mean that we have failed. Stumbling on the road towards our victory doesn't mean that the finish line disappeared. It simply means that we need to stand up again, regroup, refocus and continue on until victory will be ours. We must have an unrelenting resolve that nothing will be able to make us quit what we know in our hearts is meant for us to take a hold of. (Psalm 145:14) (Psalm 138:7-8)
The only difference between a victor and a quitter is which one had more resolve and belief in themselves to continue on despite the difficulty or hardship that was in their path at that moment. We also have to remember and keep in mind that every stumbling block, every detour, every hardship makes us better, wiser and stronger than we were before it. When we have faith and confidence in the Lord and remember His promise that all things will work together for our good in the end, then we will have the forethought of knowing that the temporary setbacks serve a greater purpose in equipping us towards our imminent victory. (Job 23:10) (Romans 8:28)
I encourage you to believe in yourself again if there has been doubt. What dreams have been quieted within your heart? What did you want to accomplish in times past that you have given up on? However large or small the dream, desire or accomplishment may be, you should pursue it anew. Believe that your life is meant to be significant. Believe that God created you to be the Victor and not the victim. As long as you have breath within your being it is not too late for you to stand on the mountaintop of victory. The Lord who has loved you, redeemed you, believed in you also wishes for your latter end to be greater than your former beginnings. (Revelation 1:5-6) (Job 42:12)
I hope this message inspires and challenges your heart to reach towards your hearts desires again no matter how daring they may be.
THE GIFTS OF AGE
I love young people. I feel the same way as Archbishop Desmond Tutu who once said, “I have the highest regard for young people…Young people are idealistic. They dream dreams about a better world.”
They not only dream dreams, they have the audacity to believe in those dreams and often enough enthusiasm to nurture them into something close to real life.
I love young people. What fun I would have “back in the day” – ridiculous fun. And what hope. I was changing so quickly and it seemed I could be limited only by my dreams. If I believed it might be possible, I felt I could make it so.
There are tremendous gifts that come with youth. Like optimism and the ability to change. When anything seems possible, more than a little of it becomes possible if one only believes enough and adapts quickly.
And then we age. Please don’t hear a note of discouragement – it’s just that aging is something I am only slowly coming to embrace. It creeps up on a person like silent fog in the night; we awaken one morning in the midst of it and wonder how it got there.
We age, whether we choose to or not. And some people dread it. Singer Doris Day once said, “The really frightening thing about middle age is that you know you'll grow out of it.” That fear can be all too real.
Some people dread aging. And some people deny it. They try to avoid the fact that they are growing older and their bodies are in decline. One woman who had ignored her failing eyesight for too long was asked, “How long have you worn glasses?”
“Since yesterday,” she replied. “As I was baking some tollhouse cookies I picked up the fly swatter and killed four chocolate chips.” Some people deny aging and live as if nothing has changed.
And some people avoid it – or try to. They idealize youth and never become comfortable in their older, looser-fitting skin. One man quipped: “A few years ago my wife started to wear tight jeans. I went out and bought a convertible. Then she bleached her hair. I took a lot of multiple vitamin shots. Just a few months ago, she had a face lift and a “tummy tuck.” And that's the way it’s been for the two of us: side by side -- growing young together.”
Since age can’t really be avoided, there are those, also, who learn to laugh at it. Humor won’t chase old age away, but laughter certainly makes it more bearable.
A parody of the musical hit “My Favorite Things” is making the rounds among oldsters. The song, inaccurately attributed to Julie Andrews, reminds us that it helps to laugh at what we can’t change.
“Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string;
These are a few of my favorite things…”
You get the idea.
We may try to deny it or avoid it. We may dread it or learn to laugh at it. But unless an accident or illness robs us of the chance to grow old, we’ll all experience it.
Which is okay. For if youth has its gifts, I believe age does, too. When aged well, the idealism of youth is tempered now with solid experience. Youth’s enthusiasm is made more valuable when combined in old age with good judgment. And youth’s ability to become anything they can imagine, in old age takes the form of character; trustworthy and reliable – character so rich only decades of living could ever grow and refine it.
These are the gifts of age. They are gifts found in those who live their lives intentionally and well. They take a lifetime to acquire and they are precious beyond belief.
By Steve Goodier
Read and meditate on these scriptures:
Hebrews 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a Great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an High Priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”
Philippians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
Hebrews 13:5-6 “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
All of these scriptures can be found in the King James Version Bible.
Today’s Selected Poem: THINGS TO FORGET
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/enpoem141.htm
Today’s Selected Testimony: ANGELS IN THE ROOM
Click here to read --- http://www.Godswork.org/testimony84.htm
In Christ’s Service,
Dwayne Savaya
God’s Work Ministry |
