Wisdom Wednesdays - Flourishing in Old Age Part 3

Proverbs 3 is a treasure vault of how to flourish in old age.  Just look at this wonderful promise:

My son, don’t forget my teaching,
keep my commands in your heart; 

 for they will add to you many days,
years of life and peace.

Proverbs 3:1-2 (CJB) 

I love reading this and meditating on the fact that if I keep His commandments, He will add many years of LIFE and PEACE to my existence on this earth.  It's a great thing just to be alive, but to be alive with peace is the cherry on top.  Peace is something I prize and pursue with all of my being.

But wait!  That's not all!  Here's another wonderful promise for old age:

  

Don’t be conceited about your own wisdom;
but fear Adonai, and turn from evil. 

This will bring health to your body
and give strength to your bones.

Proverbs 3:7-8 (CJB)

Here's another great benefit of obedience -- a healthy body and strong bones.  These are things I prize, too.  As one grows older, health and strength can diminish.  But, fearing Adonai and turning from evil will preserve them.  Oh, and lest we forget, part of this old-age promise is “don’t be conceited about your own wisdom.”

I've said it before and will repeat it:  about twenty years ago, I got on my knees and asked G-d to lead me to His wisdom.  Not the wisdom of the world.   Not a denomination.  Not a religion.  Not a teacher.  Not a preacher.  And, most of all, not my own.  I wanted His wisdom.  He led me to **Messianic Judaism and observance of His Torah.  That is the wisdom spoken of in this passage.

We're not finished yet, Gail-Friends.   Another benefit is HAPPINESS! Look at this:

 Happy the person who finds wisdom,
the person who acquires understanding;
for her profit exceeds that of silver,
gaining her is better than gold,
she is more precious than pearls —
nothing you want can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand,
riches and honor in her left.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who grasp her;
whoever holds fast to her will be made happy.

Proverbs 3:13-18 (CJB)

While on a visit to an assisted living facility, I met an amazing woman in her 90's.  Her faith and her attitude are an inspiration for all who know her.  One day, she sat at the table with a lady who did nothing but complain.  My friend said cheerily, "I'm going to have to move to another table.  I'm too happy for you!"  Don't you love it?  That's the kind of happy old woman I aspire to be.  Well, that's the kind of old woman I am right now.  I'm blessed, I'm happy, and I'm at peace.

I challenge you, dear Gail-Friends, to do a study of Proverbs 3.  Make a list of all the benefits of obedience to Adonai's wisdom.  You will be surprised, as I was, by the length of the list.  You will see how it touches every area of life with blessing.

** You can learn more about Messianic Judaism by clicking on this LINK on my blog.

You may enjoy reading Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

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Wisdom Wednesdays - Flourishing in Old Age Part 2

This week, I'm meditating on Psalm 71 and the encouragement for growing old found there.  In the Tree of Life Bible version, this psalm is titled, "My Hope When I Am Gray."

So much of this psalm is my testimony, such as:

For You are my hope, Adonai my Lord—
my trust from my youth.

From my birth, I have leaned on You.
You took me out of my mother’s womb.
My praise is always about You.

(verses 5 - 6)

I cannot remember a time when I did not believe in G-d.  My mother's pregnancy was difficult and I am blessed to be alive.  Adonai saved me and I praise and thank Him for protecting and preserving me.

In verse nine, the psalmist prays,

"Do not cast me away in the time of old age.
When my strength fails, do not forsake me."

He prays this prayer, but he has faith and his hope is in Adonai. That is my hope also.  He has seen me through so many deep valleys.  There were times when I almost despaired, but I held to His hand and my Bible.  I believed His promises.  That's what the psalmist does in this passage.  He speaks of his hope:

So even until I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
till I tell of Your strong arm to the next generation,
Your might to all who are to come.
For Your righteousness, O God,
    reaches to high heaven.
You have done great things—O God,
who is like You?
You made me see many troubles and evils
    —You will revive me again—
from the depths of the earth
    You will bring me up again.

That's faith, Gail-Friends. . . believing that G-d will see you through, no matter how dark the valley.  It's believing that He will carry you through the golden years.  

Old age is not for sissies, but flourishing in old age is possible.  By having faith and hope and by praise, we will flourish. 

So I will praise You with the harp for your truth, O my G-d.
I will sing praises to You with the lyre O Holy One of Israel.My lips will shout for joy
—when I sing praises to You—
and my soul, which You have redeemed.

  Also, my tongue will tell of Your righteousness all day.

Next week, I will share some tips from the Scriptures that will help with flourishing in old age. 

You may like to read Flourishing in Old Age Part 1 and Part 3
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I sometimes share my posts with these friends:
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Wisdom Wednesdays - Psalm 90 Pondering

During my quiet time this week, I was meditating on Psalm 90 and these verses caused me to ponder:

"The span of our life is seventy years,
or if we are strong, eighty;" 

I pondered:  My mother was a strong woman, and lived to be almost eighty-five. Jem is seventy, I am almost sixty-six. I'm so grateful to have become old because it is such a beautiful gift to be alive :)
 
Then I pondered this verse:

 "So teach us to count our days,
so that we will become wise."

I've sought HIS wisdom diligently for the past twenty years and, oh, the blessings and treasures I've found by following His Word and His Ways. 

Then I pondered on this verse:

"Fill us at daybreak with your love, 

so that we can sing for joy as long as we live.

 Let our joy last as long as the time you made us suffer,

 for as many years as we experienced trouble."

This is where I have my quiet time in the morning

I pondered:  My quiet time with my Good Shepherd in the morning sets my day up for JOY. I treasure that time with him and linger long as I fellowship with My Beloved.  I come away refreshed and filled with His JOY.  When I miss it, my joy is not so much.

Then, I pondered on the second part of that verse:  I suffered for a large part of my life...so do you think He'll give me thirty more years? If so, I'd live to be ninety-six...maybe even 100. I'd like that because I love life.  As I thought of this, I also pondered on this passage from Psalm 92: (verses 13-16)

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree,
they will grow like a cedar in the L’vanon.  

Planted in the house of Adonai,
they will flourish in the courtyards of our G-d.

Even in old age they will be vigorous,
still full of sap, still bearing fruit, 

 proclaiming that Adonai is upright,
my Rock, in whom there is no wrong."

Daily, I thank G-d that I can see, hear, walk, talk, think, and that I have strength. I pray for Rabbi Jem and I to have good health.  I also pray to live a righteous life, because that will cause us to flourish.  I want to be like Moshe, who was vigorous, full of sap, and still bearing fruit until his death.  I live to proclaim the praises of ADONAI and to do the work of His Kingdom.  

We have lots of palm trees here in Florida, and we have six in our yard.  I've decided to let them be reminders of how we will flourish as we stay in the courtyards of our G-d and live a righteous life.  

one of our flourishing palm trees, bearing much fruit

Then I pondered on this verse:

 "Show your deeds to your servants and your glory to their children. 

May the favor of Adonai our G-d be on us, 

prosper for us all the work that we do 

— yes, prosper the work that we do."

(Psalm 90: 16-17)

I pondered how that verse so completely expresses the desire of my heart.

photo source unknown

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