My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. – Psalm 71:23
The mandatory retirement age for generals and flag officers in the U.S. military is 64. Many states have mandatory retirement ages as well, some tying it to the age at which a person must begin withdrawing from the IRAs or other retirement programs, currently age 72. However, God has no retirement age for you! You are intended to continue to persevere in the faith, serving in the battle of spiritual warfare. In fact, in your dotage, you have an even greater responsibility to testify to how the Lord has delivered and sustained you across your lifetime.
Even though aging brings discomforts of various kinds, the Lord is your constant Sustainer. Isaiah 40:31 promises renewal for those who wait, trust, and hope in the Lord. Some have suggested that verse reflects on the periods of life: you soar like eagles when young, run without growing weary in your middle years, and walk without fainting in the later years of life.
Plan to center your retirement years around praising and serving the Lord. Recall with regularity how the Lord has demonstrated His faithfulness to you throughout all the seasons of your life. Exult in the victories He has given you. Praise Him yet more and more. Intercede on behalf of generals and flag officers who are facing retirement to find a way to continue in service to the nation. Pray for those who are believers, that their service will include a response to the Lord’s goodness to them.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 71:23
My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Psalm 71
In you, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
2 In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
3 Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
4 Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
5 For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O Lord, from my youth.
6 Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.
7 I have been as a portent to many,
but you are my strong refuge.
8 My mouth is filled with your praise,
and with your glory all the day.
9 Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
forsake me not when my strength is spent.
10 For my enemies speak concerning me;
those who watch for my life consult together
11 and say, “God has forsaken him;
pursue and seize him,
for there is none to deliver him.”
12 O God, be not far from me;
O my God, make haste to help me!
13 May my accusers be put to shame and consumed;
with scorn and disgrace may they be covered
who seek my hurt.
14 But I will hope continually
and will praise you yet more and more.
15 My mouth will tell of your righteous acts,
of your deeds of salvation all the day,
for their number is past my knowledge.
16 With the mighty deeds of the Lord God I will come;
I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone.
17 O God, from my youth you have taught me,
and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.
18 So even to old age and gray hairs,
O God, do not forsake me,
until I proclaim your might to another generation,
your power to all those to come.
19 Your righteousness, O God,
reaches the high heavens.
You who have done great things,
O God, who is like you?
20 You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again.
21 You will increase my greatness
and comfort me again.
22 I will also praise you with the harp
for your faithfulness, O my God;
I will sing praises to you with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
23 My lips will shout for joy,
when I sing praises to you;
my soul also, which you have redeemed.
24 And my tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long,
for they have been put to shame and disappointed
who sought to do me hurt.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
