Devotional writer Oswald Chambers told of meeting
a man he had known years ago,
"a mighty man of God," who had become shallow,
talkative, and dead spiritually. In ten short years,
the man had decayed and did not know it.
"The fear of sloth and indulgence has come home
with a huge fear," Chambers wrote,
"and fairly driven me to God to keep me from
forgetting what I owe Him." It is good medicine and
therapy to praise God. It keeps us young!
Lonliness is a major problem in our "golden years"
if we do not know Christ and trust Him. As we grow
older, friends and family either move away or die; and
sometimes we must relocate, and that means pulling
up roots and being transplanted. Sometimes those
who ought to care the most pay the least attention to
us. Not everybody can afford to live in a busy
retirement home where staff experts plan interesting
meetings where residents can get to know
new people.
As we enter our mature years, we need not fear,
because God will protect us. He will be our shelter in
the storm, our fortress in the battle. As we
continually abide in Him, He will strengthen us and
enable us to praise Him; and that praise will keep us
from criticizing and complaining. God will surround
and sustain us. He will not always prevent troubles,
but He will protect us in troubles and eventually bring
out better than we went in.
