Psalm 71:18a – Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation. (NKJV)

From reading the Daily devotionals, I have come to the conclusion that some of the authors and probably a great number of the readers are people of advanced years. I am one of them. I have done a variety of tasks in the churches that we have attended in different places over the years, but it is only in the last few years that I have been contributing to the Daily devotionals. It has been my privilege to declare the Lord's strength to the present generation.

Each birthday and each new year, we are all reminded that we are yet another year older. Mind you, people will say that we are only as old as we feel, but reality tells us that this is not always the case.

Is that a problem? It wasn't for the author of Psalm 71. He knew that he could depend on His Lord. God is his refuge, his rock, and his fortress.

Psalm 71:5-9 – For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother's womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, but You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. (NKJV)

He knew that God was with him from his birth on, all through his youth, and on to his adulthood. Then he prayed that God would be with him, even in his old age. Similar thoughts occur in other psalms.

Psalm 92:12-15 – The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing, to declare that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him. (NKJV)

It is so wonderful that all of us, regardless of age, can bring the Word of God to the people. Some of us do it from the pulpit, others through the PresbyCan Daily devotionals. There are those who teach Sunday School or Bible classes. Many of us discuss our personal faith with family members, neighbours, people we work with, or those we have contact with on a regular basis.

It is good to know that even in our senior years, we can bring the Word of God to different people in different ways.

Prayer: Our Father, thank You for Your assurance that You are with us from our birth on, and that You strengthen us even in our old age to bring Your Word to others. We offer this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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