Finishing Strong – A Recap

Finishing strong is the aspiration of many Christians. But how can we do that? Steph recaps her six part series on this important topic.

A Recap

In this series of posts, we’ve been exploring how we can make the most of the fall and winter seasons of our lives, how we can honour God in word and deed.

We’ve covered the importance of genuine gratitude, setting priorities, making necessary changes in our relationships, committing afresh to prayer, and being on the lookout for new opportunities to serve the Lord and those He brings into our lives.

Here is a taste of what we’ve talked about:

Offering Thanks

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 ESV) (emphasis mine).

The first few verses of this passage are familiar to many of us, but how can we give thanks when we can no longer do what we once did? When we’re dealing with chronic illness and pain? When friends and family members pass away before we’re ready to say goodbye?

These are only a few of the challenges of getting older, and it is undoubtedly difficult to give thanks in the midst of heartache and pain, but God…

Don’t you just love those two words?

The Lord Himself not only gives us these commands but also the wherewithal to obey them. And on top of that, He pours out abundant blessings. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

Setting Priorities

Matthew records,

“‘Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?’And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets’” (Matthew 22:36-40 ESV).

It isn’t always easy to identify our priorities. And while the Scriptures don’t directly address the items on our (Want) To-Do List, the Lord does give us a litmus test for our priorities.

First, are we expressing our love for Him with our entire being no matter what we’re doing? Could we invite the Lord Jesus to join us if He were still walking among us in the flesh?

Second, have we considered how we can express love to those He brings into our lives? Are we reflecting His nature and pointing people to Jesus by our actions?

Plus, we’re never too old to honestly evaluate our priorities. Do we truly love the Lord and seek to do so with all we are and all we have? Do we love others, or have they become increasingly annoying? :):)

It’s okay to be honest with ourselves. After all, God already knows all about us—and He still loves us.

Adjusting Relationships

Paul wrote to the Galatians,

“…the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:8b-10 ESV).

Whatever the change in our circumstances, we may find ourselves having to adjust how we interact with one another. Our children become adults and no longer need (or desire) our input as they once did. Our spouse retires and is home all. the. time. We must relocate and make a whole new set of friends.

These are only a few of the changes our relationships may undergo. As we seek to “do good to everyone,” we can build on strong relationships and form entirely new ones. However, it will take commitment, patience, and time. And more than that, it will require the Spirit of God to work in and through us.

Seeking Him in Prayer

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 ESV) (emphasis mine).

Giving thanks, as we discussed above, goes hand in hand with unceasing prayer. It’s much easier to give thanks if we regularly commit time to seeking the Lord in prayer, and it’s far easier to remain prayerful when we deliberately choose gratitude.

There is much discussion on what it means to pray without ceasing. While most of us can’t spend endless hours in our figurative or literal prayer closets, we can remain prayerful as we go about our day-to-day tasks.

God invites us to bring everything to Him: our joys and our struggles, our family and our friends, our failings and our future…

Plus, we can practice giving thanks for countless things every day, another form of prayer: food, shelter, a friend’s phone call, the upbeat cashier at the grocery store, the spectacular sunset…

We can rest assured that He hears our every prayer and will guide our every step.

Discovering New Opportunities to Serve

Matthew writes,

“But Jesus called them to him and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,and whoever would be first among you must be your slave,even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many’” (Matthew 20:25-28 ESV).

Our Saviour came to serve. The One before whom every knee will eventually bow actually came to serve, thereby setting the ultimate example for His followers.

No matter how old we are, we can continue to serve in some capacity.

Mentoring young men and women.

Writing encouraging notes to those who are sick or lonely.

Cheering on those in full-time ministry and the Sunday School teachers at church.

And so much more.

There are countless opportunities to serve others, from those that take a few minutes to those that require several hours each week.

“But I can only pray,” you may say.

That’s amazing! How the world needs more devoted prayer warriors!

While our body may not finish strong… And while our mind may weaken… As we seek to walk closely with the Lord and obey His commands by means of the wherewithal He gives, we will finish our life here on earth faithful and strong.

Recommended Reading:

Choosing Gratitude by Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth

The Next Right Thing by Emily P. Freeman

Free of Me by Sharon Hodde Miller

A Faith that Will Not Fail by Michele Cushatt

Graceful Influence by Lori Stanley Roeleveld

How have you served God differently as you age? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.

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