Growing Old Gracefully
I guess hitting the big 6-0 back in December has caused me to do some reflecting in recent months. One area of reflection has been my disposition as I, Lord willing, grow older.
This morning’s Old Testament reading included II Samuel 23 which begins with a description of King David in his latter years. One phrase used to describe him is “the sweet psalmist”.
You know what? Just because the Lord may allow us to live into our “golden years”does not mean that we have to become grouchy.
A couple months ago, I read a devotional that went right along with these thoughts. Here is an excerpt:
I heard about a preacher that used to pray, “Lord, deliver me from becoming a mean old man!” A friend said to me, “As I grow into old age, I want to become mellow, not rotten.”
(from Time to be Renewed by Warren Wiersbe)
I don’t know about you, but my desire is to become more mellow with age – not mean. This certainly is not insinuating that we compromise on truth – absolutely not! But it DOES mean that we become more gracious in proclaiming the truth.
“But GROW IN GRACE, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.”
2 Peter 3:18 KJV
Can we say that, as we grow older, we are growing in grace?
One key to staying sweet in our senior years is found in verse 2…
“The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.”
2 Samuel 23:2 KJV
We must desire to be filled with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit and hatefulness CANNOT abide together. We must choose with which one we want to be filled.
We must stay in His Word and on our knees. We will never reach an age when we have “arrived” spiritually and can take a break from communion with the Lord. As long as there is breath in our body, we must be diligent to maintain close fellowship with Him.
Even in David’s latter years, he longed to be a good testimony for the glory of God!
“Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.”
Psalm 71:18 KJV
I don’t believe that David could have accomplished this if he had grown sour in his old age.
By God’s grace alone, let’s desire to be:
❤️nice and nurturing nanas – not nasty and negative
❤️gracious and grateful grandmas – not grumpy and gruff.
❤️mellow and merry mimis – not mean and moody