Grow old with a purpose

Greetings:
Growing older has many frightening aspects - an aging body which is more susceptible to illness and injury; declining strength; feelings of uselessness; the loss of friends and loved ones through death; the reality of one’s own death drawing nearer; and loneliness.
Psalm 71 is the psalm of an old man. There are many lessons to be learned from this particular psalm. Read it and realize we are never too old not to serve God.
A psalmist is an old man with many trials and problem. He is obviously a joyful man who is able to put his focus on The Lord in the midst of these trials. The psalm shows us that God’s way to grow old is to develop a walk with him now.
The reason that the psalmist could handle his problems so well as an old man was that he had developed a walk and laid a foundation with God in the years leading up to this time.
He knew God had enabled him to be strong inside, even though his body was growing weaker and his enemies were powerful.
The psalm is filled with a deep personal understanding and practical knowledge of God.
The psalmist had been taught of God from his youth. The man knew God as his refuge. He calls God his rock of habitation, his rock, and fortress; his hope and confidence.
This man knew his God and it is obvious that he had known him for years and had proved God’s faithfulness in a number of previous difficult situations. So in this instance when he needs to trust in God, it is not a matter of him saying, “God, if you exist, whoever you are, if you’re out there I need your help!”
He didn’t need to take a blind leap of faith because he knew his God in a personal, practical, proven way.
Although the psalmist was old and could have just kicked back and rested. He did not.
Remember God’s way for us to grow old is for us to develop a walk with him now – a walk that involves a deep personal knowledge of God; a walk that includes the habits of trust, praise, and hope; and a walk that involves a lifestyle of ministry for God.
Be blessed.