IMUA PSALM

IMUA!  PSALM FOR MY OLD AGE:

The righteous flourish like the palm tree
    and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord;
    they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
    they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the Lord is upright;
    he is my rock, and there is no 

    unrighteousness in him.     
Psalm 92:12-15

Lord, thank you for this Psalm’s encouragement today. There is a propensity in our world to dismiss those who are old, to marginalize and ignore them. I am thankful for and drawn to people like Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Elizabeth, Joshua, Caleb – those who, in their old age, bore the holy mark of Your anointing on them as they continued to trust you for fruitfulness well into their old age – even when it seemed ridiculous and scary.

Like them, I am considered old. In fact, I have been for a decade or more – at least in the mindset of our world. Even in our churches I have overheard the rhetoric that young people need to be front and center, leading the charge for Your glory – strongly implying those older need to fade quietly away into the shadows. Young pastors no longer look to wisdom of the ages, and I fear we are smack-dab in the times where tickling people’s ears is more desirable than establishing deep roots. My heart aches when I hear such talk.

I appreciate this Psalm for its reminder to keep bearing fruit in my old age; to remember I am still full of life, more than capable, more equipped than ever before to declare Your greatness, Your steadfastness, Your holy righteousness. I am capable because of all You’ve poured into me all these decades, and because You have anointed me to flourish, to bear fruit, to be relevant even in my old age!

Yes, I am old – older than I’ve been before, BUT younger than I will be tomorrow. Today You call me forth from the doldrums of inane world views and, indeed, from my own though-talk, to walk upright and strong, to go forth and be fruitful! For the honor of all You’ve grown and established within me, I accept the challenge and the calling, O LORD, my Rock, my righteousness, my source and my supply, my joy and my anointing!

IMUA!
Move forward in strength

smcs 2/6/2020