The Right Prayer for the Old 'Grayhead'

It is 12/24/11, and my family is coming over soon.  What a joy!  At our church, we are getting ready to serve about 400 people Christmas dinner.  The place is filled with volunteers who love the Lord & the people they will serve today.  Another great joy!  

At the same time, I am not feeling well.  I have a low grade fever, a scratchy cough, and no energy.  With all this, there are various stresses connected with the season and with ministry which are predictable for all pastors.  There is a fresh vision simmering among the elders of FF for 2012.  

But one thing is pulsating inside of me as I live in this 21st century at 62 1/2 years of age.  It is summed up in Ps.71:18, "Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come."  

This Psalm is considered one that David wrote in his later years.  There are 2 verses I would like to consider.  Ps.71:17-18 read,"O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, unitl I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come."

There is one overwhelming desire in David, that as God had been good to him and had shown him so much of the glory of God, that in his waning years, he would be faithful to impart all that God had shown him to those coming after.  I want to examine these 2 verses more closely and notice some of the nuances.  My prayer is that for all of us, this vision to give away what we have received from the Lord to those younger than we who can carry on the work of the Lord.

First, notice David's reflection on how God has instructed him from his youth.  Ever since David was a lad, God had fathered him, supported him, revealed His love for him, showed mighty things about the nature and ways of the God of Israel.  David uses the phrase 'O God', as an emphatic expression declaring great desire for more of the Lord and a thanksgiving for the grace already shown him.  All that is in the phrase, 'O God'.  

God sent David as messenger among other assignments & David took his call seriously.  He states that from his youth to his present writing, he had declared the wondrous works of the Lord to all who would pay attention (and even to those who didn't want to know I might add).  Wondrus works is a broad term that includes a glossary of things that God had done for David.  Here is just a few.

1) God had revealed Himself to David when he was young.

2) God had delivered & FORGIVEN him for all his sins.

3) God had been his father and had shown him underserved favor.

4) God had taught him His commands & ways & nature.

5) God had defeated every foe that had ever confronted him, all of which were too great for him.

6) God had answered countless prayers.

7) God had favored his military & kingly career.

8) God had blessed his life with a high calling, a successful career, wives & children, riches & honor, fame, long life, etc.

9) God had given him the greatest of all riches, His Word to read & know & practice.

10) God had given David great influence to effect his generation & THE GENERATIONS COMING AFTER HIM FOR GOD!

It is all these things that David was declaring to his generation and all the others he could influence coming after.  As David recalled all of this, it dawned on him that this was God's intention all along.  It was never intended by the Great Divine that His blessings should STOP WITH ME!  If I am blessed, I am to pass that on; not just the material blessings but the KNOWLEDGE OF THE GENEROUS MOST HOLY!

David recognized that the faithfulness of God had carried him through the years.  Now when David is old and the 'plan' of God has become plain, he prays to his heavenly Father.  David must complete the task set for him.  He must remain faithful even through his older years.  He has more to declare about God's favor & faithfulness & power.  

God had never forsaked David and that, David knew right well.  He prays, "Keep Your Hand on me O God.  Now when I am old & tempted to lay down & let others run, I must stay true to one final thing - to communicate the goodness of God to the 'up & comers'.  And it is God's strength & power that must be proclaimed.  The Almighty God had carried him so far, done so much, protected him so well, been so faithful; as David looked back at his life, he could only conclude, "The next generation must know about this so that, they too, can SEEK & experience the great God for themselves.

Then this new generation may catch the same vision David had.  And isn't this the loving thing to do?  Once I know the goodness of my Savior, how can I not share that with everyone around me; particularly with those much younger; that they may find & know the Lord.  O, the ways of the Lord are past finding out!!!  

Now I ask you, is that the what you feel?  Is that the conviction of your heart?  Is that the burden of your heart?  Is that the depth of your gratitude towards God?  If not, then it is time to take stock of your life & remember just how magnificent the Lord has been to you.  And understanding why God has been so good to you must also be perceived.  We must understand that ALL THAT GOD HAS DONE IS TO BE SHARED & GIVEN AWAY!

My prayer for all of us that we will see this critical truth & allow it to instruct our motives & behaviors.  We, at FF (Faith Fellowship) are devoting ourselves to the 5&20 plan.  It is a title we are given for 'passing the baton' of faith to the next generation.  This burden starts with parents giving away their faith to their children.  What do you want your children to look like when they are 20 years old?  What should they be like and what do they need to become that great Christian person?  And there are 5 foudation principles needed to build a Christian into what God wants.  You will hear more about these 5 in the near future but suffice the brief list - (1) Valuing the Word - (2) Worship, prayer, & the Spirit filled life - (3) Fellowship = serving God with others - (4) serving & reaching out (soul winning & discipling) - (5) Holiness.

But really, every member of FF needs to carry this burden.  It is the RIGHT PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO ARE OLDER!  Lord, keep me strong until I tell the last message to the last young person brought my way!  That is my prayer.  I hope & pray it is yours.  Jesus keep you strong this Christmas my good friends.