Mental and spiritual adjustments must be made as we go down life's road. As adults, we move rapidly through the changes from singleness to marriage, from parenthood to becoming grandparents. Our relationships change. Parents, uncles and aunts, and others of their generation grow old and die. Our children grow up and move out. One of the changes to which an aging person must adjust is the reality of physical decline. Here are three biblical suggestions that can help you deal with the physical side of aging:
Acknowledge physical decline gratefully.
Growing older is not a disgrace. Looking older need not be humiliating. Having limitations must not be seen as something shameful. The Bible says that reaching old age is a blessing. It says of Abraham at age 175, "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered tot his people" (Genesis 25:8). Rehoboam, king of Israel, erred seriously when he ignored the counsel of his elderly advisors (1 Kings 12). The aged were called "elders" in Israel (Joshua 24:31). They were to be respected (Leviticus 19:32) and looked at as wise (Job 12:12). Gray hair is an old person's "splendor" (Proverbs 20:29). So we should count every year of life as a gift of God and as a reason for gratitude. We want to get old without being grumpy, set in our ways, and disagreeable. As believers, we should want to continue to experience spiritual growth so that we can meet the challenges to older people mentioned by Paul in Titus 2:1-4.
Live one day at a time.
Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, then said, "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). Instead of dwelling on all the unpleasant possibilities that lie ahead, we should thank God for today and enjoy what we can now, trusting the future to Him. The Bible says that whatever God permits, He will provide what we need. He won't let us be tested without giving us all the grace we need (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus promised to be with us all the way (Matthew 28:20). We honor the Lord, give a good testimony, and add joy to our later years when we obey Christ's instructions to live life one day at a time, and to let tomorrow take care of itself.
Keep reasonably active.
The older we get, the easier it is to take the path of least resistance. This is a serious mistake. But so is the opposite extreme. Some poeple are so determined to fight off the effects of old age that they become obsessed with exercise and spend a lot of money to look young. They seem to think they can stop the aging process. Paul told Timothy that physical exercise "profits a little" (1 Timothy 4:8). However, he went on to make it clear that our emphasis should be on the spiritual area of life, which has benefits that last forever. Exercise and disciplined eating are commendable. We should keep as active as we are reasonably able to. But we must always place more emphasis on our spiritual growth. This is one aspect of our lives that age cannot diminish.
-RBC Ministries
Acknowledge physical decline gratefully.
Growing older is not a disgrace. Looking older need not be humiliating. Having limitations must not be seen as something shameful. The Bible says that reaching old age is a blessing. It says of Abraham at age 175, "Then Abraham breathed his last and died in a good old age, an old man and full of years, and was gathered tot his people" (Genesis 25:8). Rehoboam, king of Israel, erred seriously when he ignored the counsel of his elderly advisors (1 Kings 12). The aged were called "elders" in Israel (Joshua 24:31). They were to be respected (Leviticus 19:32) and looked at as wise (Job 12:12). Gray hair is an old person's "splendor" (Proverbs 20:29). So we should count every year of life as a gift of God and as a reason for gratitude. We want to get old without being grumpy, set in our ways, and disagreeable. As believers, we should want to continue to experience spiritual growth so that we can meet the challenges to older people mentioned by Paul in Titus 2:1-4.
Live one day at a time.
Jesus told us not to worry about tomorrow, then said, "Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). Instead of dwelling on all the unpleasant possibilities that lie ahead, we should thank God for today and enjoy what we can now, trusting the future to Him. The Bible says that whatever God permits, He will provide what we need. He won't let us be tested without giving us all the grace we need (1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus promised to be with us all the way (Matthew 28:20). We honor the Lord, give a good testimony, and add joy to our later years when we obey Christ's instructions to live life one day at a time, and to let tomorrow take care of itself.
Keep reasonably active.
The older we get, the easier it is to take the path of least resistance. This is a serious mistake. But so is the opposite extreme. Some poeple are so determined to fight off the effects of old age that they become obsessed with exercise and spend a lot of money to look young. They seem to think they can stop the aging process. Paul told Timothy that physical exercise "profits a little" (1 Timothy 4:8). However, he went on to make it clear that our emphasis should be on the spiritual area of life, which has benefits that last forever. Exercise and disciplined eating are commendable. We should keep as active as we are reasonably able to. But we must always place more emphasis on our spiritual growth. This is one aspect of our lives that age cannot diminish.
-RBC Ministries
1 comment:
nice post..talagang sa pagtanda tayo pupunta..hehe..at habang tayo ay nagkakaedad ay maraming pagbabago sa buhay natin..
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