TODAY IN THE WORD

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 21:1-7
Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might. - Psalm 21:13
TODAY IN THE WORD
The popular 1950's television program 'Queen for a Day' took ordinary women with serious needs and made them feel like royalty for twenty-four hours. The winning contestant had her requests granted, a crown placed on her head, and a bouquet of flowers put in her hands. She even got to sit on a throne and be addressed as 'Your majesty.'

We're going to enjoy a little bit of royalty today as we join King David in a hymn of thanksgiving and praise to God. This is called a royal psalm, for obvious reasons. David wrote it as the king of Israel, acknowledging that God had given him his throne and established his kingdom.

We want to consider these verses as an example of what it's like when we are enjoying a spring season in our walk with Christ. See if this list of benefits describes those times in your life when you have been in extra-close fellowship with Him and you seem to be progressing 'from victory unto victory' spiritually.

David began by praising God for the strength He provides. Among other things, God's strength enabled David to defeat his enemies (vv. 1, 5). We need God's power for victory over our enemy the devil (1 Pet. 5:. And with each spiritual victory comes the joy of realizing we don't have to be knocked around by sin and temptation.

The king also thanked God for answered prayer (Ps. 21:2). When our faith has a springlike freshness to it, it is usually evident in our prayer lives. This is not to say we can manipulate God to get what we want. David was writing as someone whose delight was in God, so that his prayers reflected God's desires (Ps. 37:4).

David also realized that his blessings did not end on this earth-Ðthey last forever (vv. 4, 6). Although the doctrine of eternal life was not fully developed in the Old Testament, David had written prophetically about the resurrection of Christ (Ps. 16:9-11). In our case, eternal life is a clear promise of God's Word.

The list keeps getting better. God's presence was the joy of David's life because he understood God's 'unfailing love' (v. 7). This is God's loyal love, a term you'll run into almost every time you go to the Psalms. His love never gets old, He will never leave you or forsake you (Heb. 13:5).
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Most of the time we don't have any problem coming up with a prayer request list.

When was the last time you made a 'thank-you' list? Try it today. Recall the prayers God has answered recently, the needs He has provided for, spiritual victories you have enjoyed and last but not least, the faithful character of our Lord. Then begin thanking God for each item on your list, and your faith will grow stronger.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 32:1-6
Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. - Psalm 32:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
Viking explorer Eric the Red discovered a new North Atlantic island in the tenth century. It was covered mostly with glaciers and rocks, having only a few patches of land that were suitable for living. Yet Eric gave his discovery the name Greenland, in the hope that colonists would be more likely to come to the new island if it had an attractive name.

Whether Eric's ruse worked is a question for the historians. But it illustrates our human tendency to put a positive spin on reality. Psalm 32 may have been written against the background of another ruse. We do not have the exact details in the text, but David apparently sinned in some way and tried to cover it up (vv. 3-5)(Some believe it was David's sin with Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11).

The king tried to deny the truth for a period of time, but it only made him miserable. He complained that his strength 'was sapped as in the heat of summer' (v. 4).

Some of our Today readers may identify with this analogy more quickly than others, but all of us have experienced summer heat that left us feeling drained and exhausted. Of all the seasons, summer has the unique ability to steal our energy. David chose his word picture well, because our Christian lives can also enter a period in which our faith feels parched and weak.

In David's case, sin was the cause of a summer drought in his heart, and even his body. The remedy for David's dryness was full confession of his sin to God and a prayer for forgiveness. If that is the cause of our problem, the remedy is the same. Instead of being blasted by the summer heat of guilt, the believer whose 'sin account' is current with God is blessed.

There are other reasons for a period of time like this, of course. Physical or emotional suffering, intense spiritual struggle, or any number of other circumstances can bear down on us and drain away our strength. But whether our need is to confess, or persevere in the face of a hard trial, God has new strength waiting for us when we turn to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We again encourage you to use Scripture verses in prayer. Today's lesson calls for this kind of response.

The Scripture we suggest is another passage that will probably be very familiar to you, Isaiah 40:28-31. Why not go to these powerful verses and turn the prophet's statements into a prayer for spiritual strength? Since yesterday's application emphasized thanksgiving, you may want to continue that theme by thanking God that He never grows weary, and that He promises strength to those who are tired. Even if your faith is not in a summer drought right now, you'll find these truths invigorating.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 Samuel 17:1-12a, 25-37, 45-50
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10
TODAY IN THE WORD
So many major league baseball players entered military service in World War II that by 1944, there weren't many able-bodied players left. That June the Cincinnati Reds set a record for the youngest player ever to appear in a big league game when they sent a 15-year-old lefthander named Joe Nuxhall to the mound. The nervous youngster pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up two runs, five hits, and five walks. Nuxhall did return to the majors in 1952, and won more than 100 games in his career.

There are some things younger teenagers are not expected to do, such as defeat older, more seasoned opponents. No one had to convince Nuxhall or the Reds that he was out of his league that day but no one could convince a young David of his so-called disadvantage.

Today's lesson marks a shift in focus for our seasons of faith study, from the seasons of the year to those of life: youth, the middle years, and old age.

God's Word has wonderful, wise, and encouraging things to say about each season, and we'll study some great passages. All of us fit into one of these age categories, so there's something here for everyone.

What better way to begin talking about the season of youth than with David's victory over Goliath? This story has become a part of our general cultural knowledge, but most people think of it simply as an inspiring story of the little guy beating the big guy. Lots of people love to cheer for the underdog.

But that has nothing to do with the heart of this exciting account. David didn't win on youthful exuberance. He came against Goliath in the name and power of the God of Israel, to vindicate God's honor (vv. 37, 46-47). In this story, the giant was the underdog.

However, it is impossible to ignore the fact that David was 'only a boy' (v. 42). His age was a drawback as far as the other people in the story were concerned. David's older brothers got mad at him because they thought their little brother was showing off. Saul shook his head at the sight of a boy in a man's armor. And Goliath mocked David for daring to challenge him.

But none of that bothered God's shepherd-warrior. Let's make sure we don't underestimate what God can do with young people who are sold out to Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
'Set an example for the believers,' Paul told young Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12).

For most of us in the Today family, our challenge is to encourage the young and help equip them spiritually to be the kind of examples Paul wrote about. Here at Moody Bible Institute, we have a campus full of godly young men and women who are preparing for spiritual leadership. Please pray for them today.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 2 Timothy 1:1-7
God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline. - 2 Timothy 1:7
TODAY IN THE WORD
Mickey Mantle, the late Hall-of-Famer for the New York Yankees, was a teenager when the Yankees sent him back to the minors in 1951. Convinced he couldn't make it as a ballplayer, Mantle called his father, who came to Kansas City and found a tearful Mickey ready to quit the game. 'OK, son, if that's all the guts you have, you might as well come home with me and work in the zinc mines,' the elder Mantle said. His dad's challenge stung Mantle back to reality, and he went on to greatness.

Paul's challenge to Timothy wasn't a stinging rebuke, but the apostle did urge his young spiritual son to 'get back in the game,' so to speak.

For some reason, Timothy's spiritual fervor had begun to lag, even though he was in his youthful years (see 1 Tim. 4:12). He needed to rekindle the flame of his spiritual gift (v. 6) and get back in the game.

Being called youthful doesn't mean Timothy was a kid. The word youth in the New Testament could refer to someone up to the age of forty. Timothy was evidently a tenderhearted, maybe even timid, kind of person. It has been suggested that the hardships of serving as pastor of the church in Ephesus had caused Timothy to draw back a little. Maybe opposition intimidated him.

But on the other hand, Timothy had a godly heritage, the energy of youth, Paul's example for encouragement and commission, his spiritual gifts and most of all, powerful divine resources. This was Timothy's season to put all of those resources to work and excel in his ministry.

Not many people would argue with the fact that our youthful, building years are an exciting time of life. We're establishing ourselves, starting families, and trying to make a difference in the world. These are also great years to make a lasting impact for Christ.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Are you in these building years of life? Ask God to give you a kingdom vision and an eternal perspective.

And if you are farther along the way, chances are you have children or other family members, co-workers, neighbors, or friends who are younger. Why not determine to be a Lois, Eunice, or Paul to a younger person? They need your example, and the church needs their gifts and energy.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 11:1-8
However many years a man may live, let him enjoy them all. - Ecclesiastes 11:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Thomas Dewey is a name the older generation will know. He was a brilliant young attorney who won widespread recognition for his battles against organized crime. Dewey became a frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination in 1940, when he was just thirty-eight. An official in Franklin Roosevelt's administration made fun of Dewey's age by saying he had 'thrown his diaper into the ring.' Dewey didn't get the nod, but in 1944 and 1948 he was nominated, although he was defeated in both presidential races. He also suffered defeat in the 1938 race for governor of New York, but went on to be elected for three terms as governor.

Few things are more uncertain than the outcome of a political race, yet Thomas Dewey was willing to 'cast [his] bread upon the waters' (v. 1). He sounds like the kind of person Solomon described in Ecclesiastes 11. Since the future is uncertain, the king says, there's no need to be too cautious about pursuing various plans.

In fact, if we are too timid, always afraid of what might happen, we won't get anything done (v. 4). At first glance, Solomon's advice may seem contradictory. You might think he would say that since life is so uncertain, don't take too many chances. But Solomon advises exactly the opposite. In modern terms, he is saying, 'Go for it!'

Now before we make Solomon sound like some kind of tenth-century B.C. motivational speaker, we need to remember that his advice is tempered by several important theological truths. For example, in verse 5 we read that God holds the central place in the universe. Plans made without Him are doomed to ultimate failure. The reason any of our efforts succeed at all is because He is at work, guiding and deciding.

We're also reminded that the days of opportunity won't last forever (v. . Life is short, in other words. This is an especially good word for people in the prime of young adulthood. The Bible isn't being cynical or pessimistic, just realistic.

The other truth that guides these verses isn't so apparent here, but it's part of the context of the whole book. Solomon can encourage us to enjoy our years because God has given human beings the gift of happiness, which comes from a life well lived.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
If you have a 'go for it' type of personality, you're probably saying amen to Solomon's counsel.

But whether you're the all-out or the cautious type, you're wise to submit all your plans, dreams, and hopes to God for His review, redirection, or approval. That's because He alone can judge a person's true motives (Pr. 16:2). In light of this, here's a good verse to memorize: 'Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed' (Pr. 16:3).

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ecclesiastes 11:9 12:1, 13-14
Let your heart give you joy in the days of your youth. - Ecclesiastes 11:9
TODAY IN THE WORD
Charles Spurgeon, the great British preacher who was called to a pastorate in London in 1854 at the tender age of twenty, said of youth, 'Every age has its temptations. The young will learn that there are peculiar snares for little ones. Christ knew these. It was no small temptation at 12 years of age, to sit among the teachers, hearing them and answering their questions. It would have turned the head of most boys, yet Jesus went back to Nazareth and was subject to His parents.'

Youth, which in the Bible refers to anyone up to age forty, is a great season of faith. It's well known that more than eighty percent of all conversions occur by the age of eighteen. A person in his or her youthful years, when energy and commitment are usually abundant, can make a tremendous impact for Christ.

But as Spurgeon said, youth has its 'peculiar snares.' One of the most common is a tendency toward pride and self-sufficiency a feeling of invincibility that can lead young people to think they can do no wrong, or that the rules of life don't apply to them.

Today's verses offer a powerful, one-word antidote to that kind of thinking: God! Wonderful possibilities await the young with all of their energy and ideas, but they can't afford to live as if God didn't have anything to say about their lives. Actually, none of us can afford to live that way.

Yesterday we mentioned the fact that Solomon didn't have any problem telling young people to enjoy the blessings of life God had for them. This king who had started out so wisely in his own youth just didn't want young people to forget that every person is accountable to God.

This is interesting advice, coming from someone who had started his career on the throne of Israel as a young man wearing the title of 'the wisest person who ever lived.' Solomon fell on bitter times in his later years, mainly because he didn't follow the advice he offers here.

But those who are careful to remember God, keeping Him in the forefront of their thinking when they are young, will avoid the bitterness and disappointment of a life lived in His displeasure.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
One reason the gospel is good news is that even if you're past your youth, it's not too late to begin your season of faith.

Maybe you have never come to Christ or you're not sure where you stand with Him. You can settle the issue today. Admit that you are a sinner (Rom. 3:23) deserving of God's eternal judgment (Rom. 6:23). Recognize that Christ died for your sins on the cross (Rom. 5:, and believe in Him for your forgiveness and salvation (Rom. 10:9-10). And if you know the Lord, share this good news with someone else today, if possible.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Hebrews 5:11 6:3
Solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. - Hebrews 5:14
TODAY IN THE WORD
In August 1754, a magazine in London quoted George Washington as saying after a battle, 'I heard the bullets whistle, and, believe me, there is something charming in the sound.' Britain's King George II is said to have responded, 'He would not say so, had he been used to hearing many.'

Years later, when asked if he still found charm in whistling bullets, Washington replied, 'If I said so, it was when I was young.

It's interesting how the passing of time changes our outlook. What happened to George Washington in the years between those two statements is called maturity. It usually arrives somewhere between youth and old age, and it's another season of faith mentioned in the Bible.

The writer of Hebrews, addressing Jewish Christians who weren't growing spiritually the way they should have been, gives us a classic statement on the subject of spiritual maturity.

The immediate context is the writer's desire to explain more about the eternal high priesthood of Jesus Christ, a good serving of 'solid food' more advanced doctrine they should have had no trouble digesting. But because of their wavering between Judaism and Christianity, these believers were still in the kindergarten of faith memorizing their ABCs.

Adults would look pretty funny sitting on those little chairs in a kindergarten. You can make the application to the life of faith yourself. Notice that unlike physical growth, spiritual growth isn't a given. It doesn't just happen because someone has been a Christian for twenty or thirty years.

Instead, it's the result of a deliberate process that does involve time, but also something more important. Mature people are those who, over a period of time, constantly train themselves in the things of God by knowing and using His Word to discern between good and evil. In other words, growing into spiritual maturity takes dedication and hard work.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The season of maturity has its blessings and responsibilities too.

One of the benefits, and responsibilities, that come with spiritual maturity is that of teaching others particularly those younger in the faith who are still on a milk diet. If you are in the mature season of your faith, you may not have the title of teacher, but God wants to use you to disciple others. Can you point to someone you are helping grow in Christ?

And if you're younger in the faith, ask God to give you a spiritual mentor who can be a strong example for you.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Ephesians 4:7-16
We do...speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age. - 1 Corinthians 2:6
TODAY IN THE WORD
A few months ago, Adam Johnson decided to toss a baseball around for a while. What made an ordinary ability unusual for this six-year-old was that a year ago, Adam was in danger of losing his right arm to bone cancer. But in a 'pioneering transplant,' surgeons removed most of Adam's cancerous upper arm bone and fused the remaining portion with a donor bone. Doctors said it was the first time a living bone, with its blood supply intact, was combined with a donor bone. The expected result is that the new bone will grow as little Adam grows, giving him a full-sized arm when he is an adult.

What a dramatic reminder of the way God designed our bodies as a unit made up of interconnecting parts 'held together by every supporting ligament' (v. 16) and we could add, by every bone. Paul loved to use the analogy of the human body to teach spiritual truth about our place as believers in the body of Christ.

God designed the human body to develop and mature until we can stand on our own as full-grown, functional adults. In the physical realm, anything less than this development is considered abnormal, a stunting of the body's potential.

It's the same in the spiritual realm. God has provided the gifted teachers and leaders cataloged in Ephesians 4 to lead us in study, worship, and service so that as we exercise our faith, our spiritual lives grow strong. The result is a mature church made up of mature individual members who are knit together in knowledge, love, and commitment.

And, Paul says, if we want to know what we should look like when we're mature, we need to look at Jesus. His perfect example suggests that all of us have a lot of growing to do, no matter where we are in life. But it also means we never have to stop growing and developing.

The mature years can be a great season of faith, because it's then that the promise and potential of youth can be realized. A mature Christian is one who has learned how to think with the mind of Christ, see with His eyes, love what He loves, and grieve over the things that grieve Him.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Today's verse leaves no doubt that you won't get the wisdom you need for spiritual maturity from the latest self-help guru.

Paul's 'message of wisdom' is a shorthand for the Word of God, the book we meet around each day. We never get tired of encouraging you to maintain your daily devotional appointment with God and His Word. How is it going for you this month? If you're right on target, that's great. If you've missed a day or two, this weekend might give you a few extra minutes to catch up.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: 1 John 4:11-21
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us. - 1 John 4:16-17
TODAY IN THE WORD
Anyone searching for an example of mature Christian love will find one in the life of hymnwriter Fanny Crosby. Going blind in an accident shortly after birth, she lived to the age of 92 and gave the church some of its best-loved hymns. Asked if she believed Christians would know each other in heaven, Mrs. Crosby answered, 'I've thought about that quite often and I know that I will not have a bit of trouble recognizing my friends or my beautiful Savior. However, in case I do, I will go to the One whom I feel is my Savior and will say, 'May I please look at Your hands?' I'll know my Savior by the print of the nails in His hand.'

You may recognize that last line as the theme of one of Fanny Crosby's well-known hymns, 'I Shall Know Him.' Our subject today is the maturity of love, and it's obvious from her life and writings that this amazing woman displayed a love for Christ that's worth imitating.

The world has a fuzzy definition of love. There is enough bad understanding out there to last most people a lifetime. That's one reason the Bible's clear teaching on love is so refreshing. God's Word never stutters or wavers on what it means to love God or other people. Biblical love demands a commitment of the will, not just fiery emotions.

You can see this, for example, in verses 14 and 15. Love is not whatever the people involved want it to be. Christian love is firmly anchored in the confession that Jesus is Son of God and Savior of the world. We didn't come up with this on our own, either. It's the Holy Spirit's ministry within us that produces this confidence.

Since love is a response to God's never-failing love for us, He defines the boundaries and sets the conditions. That's why the Bible commands us to love one another (v. 21). This was John's immediate concern because he wanted his readers to realize that anyone who did not live a life of love toward others was living a lie.

But when we grasp how much God loves us, and we live out His love toward our fellow Christians, God's love is 'complete,' or perfect, in us. That's another term for mature love.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Genuine love is an unmistakable mark of those who are living in the mature season of their faith.

How can we know whether we are measuring up to the standard the Bible sets for complete or mature love? The Word has its own gauge, stated in Philippians 2:1-4. Why not take a few extra minutes to review these verses, asking God to make His love strong in and through you? You may also want to read verses 5-11 and thank the Lord for the incredible love Christ demonstrated on the cross.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 91:1-16
I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. -
TODAY IN THE WORD
Here's another story from the life of Fanny Crosby (see yesterday's study) that illustrates a mature season of faith.

One evening, Fanny was at the home of Dr. William Doane, the musician who set many of her poems to music. The Doane family was describing the beautiful sunset to Fanny, and the conversation turned to the wonder that a God who could create such a sunset would die for sinful people. Suddenly, Fanny asked Dr. Doane to write down some verses that came to mind. She dictated a poem called 'Draw Me Nearer,' and Dr. Doane later wrote the music to this prayerful hymn.

One trait of a spiritually mature person is the ability to enjoy intimacy with God. Fanny Crosby had this quality to her life, and the gift of being able to put it into memorable words. So did the writer of Psalm 91.

Actually, that's an understatement. This is one of the most powerful, awe-inspiring psalms in Israel's hymnbook. A believer who can read this psalm and not hunger to know God more intimately may need a spiritual pulse check!

Every verse of the psalm resonates with intimacy. The writer uses vivid imagery to describe God's care for His children, moving easily from one word picture to another. God is a strong fortress for those who take refuge in Him, and He's like a mother hen who hides her chicks from danger under her wings.

Apparently the writer's world was as dangerous a place to be as the world of the 1990s. He mentions problems such as fear, plague, famine, war, and death as terrors from which the child of God can seek safety in His shadow.

God is also a safe 'dwelling' (v. 9) for believers who seek Him even though they may live in a tent. It takes spiritual maturity to realize your security is not in the locks and electronic system on your doors and windows, but in the Lord. God's angels are the best guardian system ever developed.

This great psalm ends on an ever higher note God's own declaration of His protection, provision, and answered prayer for the person who loves Him and 'acknowledges [His] name' (v. 14). Talk about intimacy! When we draw close to God, He will pull us close to Himself.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Protection, provision, and answered prayer. Three great reasons to thank God today, wouldn't you agree?

God's protection is so all-surrounding and constant we don't often think about it until we're in danger. Today, let's thank God that He holds us and our families in His hands. His provision is all around us too, so why not spend a few minutes thanking the Father for this evidence of His love? Give Him the praise He deserves.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 19:7-11
The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. - Psalm 119:72
TODAY IN THE WORD
Beginning in 2000, Americans will have a new one-dollar coin. But officials say the Sacagawea dollar honoring the Native American woman who guided the Lewis and Clark expedition will avoid the problems of the Susan B. Anthony dollar. The new coin will be the same size and weight as the Anthony, but it will have smooth edges so it can easily be distinguished by touch from quarters and other coins. It will also be set apart by its gold tone although officials have not yet decided what metals will be used to give the coin its color. Not gold itself, obviously! So even though people may look like they have a pocketful of gold next year, looks will be deceiving.

The writers of Scripture often compare God's Word to gold because it stands for something of the highest value. It takes a mature eye to look at 'all that glitters' and determine what is really valuable and what simply looks valuable. And it takes spiritual maturity to value the things of God above even the most sought-after wealth on earth.

We're talking about the season of faith called maturity, likening it to the mature period of a person's life when the lessons and experiences are put to work and result in productive output. One of the benefits of physical and emotional maturity is the ability to enjoy fully-formed, satisfying relationships.

In the same way, the spiritually mature Christian is able to enjoy deeply satisfying intimacy with God and experience the richness and sweetness of His Word. This was David's experience, and it can be ours today.

David talked about God's law in concrete terms, using words like commands, precepts, and ordinances that referred to specific provisions within the law of Moses. For our purposes, it's important to notice that whatever form the Word takes, it is profitable in our lives.

Gold was the most valuable commodity in David's time, and honey was the sweetest substance known. So David used both of these terms to describe the beauty and value of God's Word. Only a spiritually immature believer (the 'simple,' v. 7) would let go of the Word for the glitter of the world.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
How much do you treasure the Word of God? Answer that question, and you'll have a pretty reliable indicator of your spiritual maturity.

Here are two 'measuring sticks' to help you. The suffering patriarch Job said he would choose the words of God's mouth over a good meal any day (Job 23:12). And Jesus said, 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God' (Matt. 4:4). Can you identify with this kind of commitment?

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 92:12-15
I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God. - Psalm 52:8
TODAY IN THE WORD
Bible teacher Chuck Swindoll has this message of encouragement for older Christians. 'If nobody else has told you lately, hear me today, those of you in the colorful, twilight days of life we need you.' Swindoll goes on to advise seniors, 'Live with the realities of the present, anticipate the future with hope, and let go of past disappointments.'

This is a great word for people who are in the season of life the world calls senior citizens. The world may target this segment of society (we'll let you decide at what age 'seniorhood' begins) mostly for financial plans, retirement centers, and political clout. But God has something more enduring in mind for His older children. It's called eternal clout.

There may not be a specific biblical term for the season of faith people enter when they reach the so-called golden years, but the Bible has a lot to say about this period of life. It's obvious from Scripture that God's desire and plan is for this time to be productive. Retirement in the extreme sense of trading a life of fruitful activity for that of a spectator is unheard-of in the Bible.

There are plenty of diet supplements and exercise routines that promise to keep older people fresh like a fruit-bearing tree (v. 14). But the psalmist is talking about staying energetic in soul and spirit. The key to spiritual fruitfulness in these years is actually the same as it is for a young or middle-aged person. It's a life centered in the worship and praise of God.

That's why the writer located the flourishing believer in 'the house of the Lord' and 'the courts of our God' (v. 12). This is the temple, the place where God is worshipped and adored and served, and where His people draw their strength.

The reason God gives long and productive lives to those who serve Him is that He is 'upright' (v. 15), or holy, totally separate from any evil. We know that God sends out His blessings based on righteousness because while wicked people may flourish temporarily, like new grass, they will be destroyed (v. 7). What a tremendous contrast for us to consider today.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Temporary success versus lifelong blessing. Put in these terms, it doesn't sound like a hard choice to make.

The problem, of course, is that choices don't always come to us with the consequences so clearly marked. We often have to sift through some confusing options to get at the heart of an important decision. Choosing to honor and serve God consistently is a decision we have to reaffirm regularly. Let's ask Him for wisdom to make good choices this week.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. - Psalm 103:1
TODAY IN THE WORD
A medical study published earlier this year suggests that the reason people tend to awaken earlier as they get older is not because, as popularly thought, their natural sleep-wake cycle has changed with age. Instead, these researchers say healthy people, young and old, share the same daily cycle of about 24 hours, 11 minutes. In other words, what the human body considers a day basically doesn't change with age. Other factors are to blame for the sleep disorders older people often experience.

Most seniors would welcome news about a physical trait they share in common with healthy young people. Well, here's good news about a spiritual trait young and old can share alike: renewed strength in the inner person as a gift from God.

That's the bottom line of today's study, and a theme we'll encounter often over the next few days as we consider this season of faith. The road that leads to renewed strength begins at a familiar point: heartfelt praise of God.

David's praise in this psalm had a definite target. He wanted to review God's endless benefits to those who trust Him. In fact, we're only scratching the surface of Psalm 103 today. It's packed with reasons for praise.

The blessings begin with God's forgiveness that erases our sins and diseases parallel terms for the spiritual ailments that drag us down. He not only rescues us from the pit of sin, but adds the crown of His love (v. 4), that great Old Testament term referring to His loyal, never-ending love. And God adds to these His compassion, or 'tender mercies.'

David also says the Lord satisfies our desires with good things (v. 5), a reference to the kind of satisfaction we can enjoy when our deepest desires are for the things of God. There's a maturity to this kind of 'wanting' that takes a person far beyond the level of a childlike wish list full of things.

Notice the connection between the right kind of desires and the promise of renewed spiritual strength. We need to synchronize our desires with God 'so that' (v. 5) we will be satisfied with His fulfillment and learn to find our joy in Him. The picture of a soaring eagle said it all for David. You can soar spiritually no matter what your age is!
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
We know that seniors are well represented among our Today in the Word readers, and we thank God for every one of them.

For those of you in this age category, why not ask God for renewed strength today to share your much-needed wisdom and perspective with family, friends, and fellow believers at your church? And if you know an older believer who holds a special place in your life, make it a point to show your appreciation before the week is over.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Isaiah 40:27-31
Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. - Isaiah 40:31
TODAY IN THE WORD
According to a study by Dr. Daniel Mroczek of Fordham University, youth is not a guarantee that a person will be happy. Mroczek studied 2꺷 people from ages 25 to 74, and found that the older people had a greater sense of well-being than their younger counterparts. He wrote, 'There was a positive relationship between age and well-being; as age went up, well-being went up. As people get older, they are able to regulate their happiness. They have a sense of wisdom that few younger people have yet attained.'

Studies like this suggest that the so-called golden or retirement years don't have to signal the end of anyone's productive period. If a general cross-section of people in this age group can report a strong sense of well-being, imagine the level of peace, contentment, and satisfaction senior Christians ought to be able to report.

That's not always the case, though, and today's reading has something important to say about the issue. It's true that Isaiah 40 was not written specifically to older people. But it holds a message of hope for two of the problems older people often face.

The first is a sense of being forgotten, even abandoned in some cases. Isaiah told his readers, in effect, 'How can you say God has forgotten you? Have you forgotten that He's the eternal God, the Creator of everything? He's far too powerful and loving and strong to ever get tired.

Then the prophet addressed a second problem his readers faced, which many seniors also deal with a sense of weariness and weakness, whether physical or emotional or spiritual. God is not only beyond growing weak Himself, He delights in taking weak and tired people and giving them a new surge of strength.

But there's a condition attached to this promise. God reserves special strength for people who make Him the focus of their hope.

This is talking about more than just salvation. A person whose hope is in God is someone who has turned from every other possible source of security and has staked his or her life completely on God. That's what it takes to soar like an eagle.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
Earlier we gave you Chuck Swindoll's formula for joyful, productive living as an older Christian (see the September 21 study): 'Live with the realities of the present, anticipate the future with hope, and let go of past disappointments.'

This is a good test to help you answer the question of whether you are living life to its fullest. We encourage all of our readers today to measure their daily lives against these standards, and make adjustments if necessary.

[Soldier4Christ]

Read: Psalm 37:23-31
I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. - Psalm 37:25
TODAY IN THE WORD
In a recent article in Christianity Today magazine entitled 'Gambling Away the Golden Years,' John W. Kennedy points out that among elderly people, addiction to gambling is a growing problem. The gambling industry is very skillful at marketing its wares to seniors, offering every conceivable incentive. Part of the reason gambling is so popular among people in this group is that many of them have more disposable income and time available than at any other time in their lives, and many are also seeking an escape from loneliness.

In the middle of this moral and spiritual fog, we need to hear the ringing testimony of a biblical 'senior citizen,' King David. He beautifully affirms the hope of God's people, and God's faithfulness, in the poetic words of today's verse. The Word speaks to the fears and anxieties that can grip a person's heart in the season of faith that comes during the older years.

Notice first David's straightforward statement, 'Now I am old.' There was no self-consciousness or sense of regret at all about reaching this stage of life, which is as it should be (v. 25).

Now admittedly, older people in our culture face a problem David didn't encounter. In ancient Israel, as in most non-Western cultures even today, a grey head was considered a badge of honor. The elderly were looked to for wisdom, not set on the sidelines or exploited.

But thank the Lord, culture doesn't have the last word in the lives of God's children. Psalm 37 details the incredible stability godly older people can have in Him, and the lasting impact they can make on their world.

For example, God will firmly anchor those whose lives are a delight to Him those who 'turn from evil and do good.' They may stumble, but they will not finally fall (v. 24). Neither will they be forsaken (v. 27).

From this position of spiritual strength, these seasoned saints can pass on blessing to their descendants (v. 26). They can even help ensure the stability of an entire nation (v. 29) and share the wisdom of God accumulated over many years of trials endured and tests completed (v. 30). That's a priceless legacy.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
David was absolutely convinced that older people have a lot to offer the kingdom of God. That fact will never change.

Senior friend, what do you consider the three most valuable spiritual assets you have that God can use in a meaningful way? You may want to think about it and write them out. Then turn them into a prayer request, offering these strengths to God, thanking God for the opportunities you already have to serve Him, and praying for new ones. This is a good exercise for all the Today family, in fact.