Insights into Ageing (4)

‘The fear of the Lord adds length to life...’ Proverbs 10:27 NIV

Don’t let fear dominate your later years. Don’t let life’s ‘unknowables’, such as finances, health, loneliness, loss of friends and family members, get you down. The Bible says, ‘…You do not know the path of the wind…how bones are formed in the womb…you do not know the activity of God…’ (Ecclesiastes 11:5 NAS) There’s much in life you’ll never know, yet God has brought you this far! So, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart… Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord…Then you will gain renewed health and vitality.’ (Proverbs 3:5-8 NLT) It’s who, not what, you know that will prosper and protect you all of your days. Put the unknown into God’s hand and trust Him with your worries. ‘Sow your seed in the morning [your youthful years] and do not be idle in the evening [your older years]’ because you do not know whether your evening and your morning sowing ‘will succeed…or…both of them…’ (Ecclesiastes 11:6 NAS) Activate, don’t vegetate! And decide to rejoice every day. General MacArthur said, ‘Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up interest wrinkles the soul… When the wires are down and your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then and only then, have you grown old.’ Determine to add joy to the gift of long life. ‘Indeed, if a man should live many years, let him rejoice in them all…’ (Ecclesiastes 11:8 NAS)