诗篇 71:1-2, 9, 12-18, 23-24
“耶和华啊，我投靠你； 求你叫我永不羞愧！ 求你凭你的公义搭救我，救拔我； 侧耳听我，拯救我！
我年老的时候，求你不要丢弃我！ 我力气衰弱的时候，求你不要离弃我！
神啊，求你不要远离我！ 我的 神啊，求你速速帮助我！ 愿那与我性命为敌的，羞愧被灭； 愿那谋害我的，受辱蒙羞。 我却要常常盼望， 并要越发赞美你。 我的口终日要述说你的公义和你的救恩， 因我不计其数。 我要来 说 主—耶和华大能的事； 我单要提说你的公义。 神啊，自我年幼时，你就教训我； 直到如今，我传扬你奇妙的作为。 神啊，我到年老发白的时候， 求你不要离弃我！ 等我将你的能力指示下代， 将你的大能指示后世的人。
我歌颂你的时候， 我的嘴唇和你所赎我的灵魂都必欢呼； 并且我的舌头必终日讲论你的公义， 因为那些谋害我的人已经蒙羞受辱了。”
反思
当我们看自己的岁月过去的时候，就要看见自己越来越成熟。基督徒的成长就是要越老越能依赖神。做父母的都想要孩子越长大越独立，可是，属灵生命的成长就是要越老越依靠神！求主帮助我们能一生都能依靠主的救赎！
1）成长不代表成熟！
大卫年轻的时候有一颗单纯信靠主的心。不过，做王了之后却犯了奸淫和杀人的罪。人在岁月的成长不代表生命的成熟。学习在属灵的生命有更大的突破。
2）独立就不会依靠！
在大卫年纪大的时候依然要仰赖主的救赎。神要我们越来越依靠，越来越相信祂！虽然孩子成长要学会独立，我们的属灵生命却是要依靠主更多。
3）熟悉更需要谨慎！
人老的时候就会依靠经验多过神。不要把熟悉的环境成为你跌倒的时候。越熟悉就要越谨慎来面对。
祷告
主啊！感谢祢提醒孩子要学会越老越依靠祢。帮助我不以经验来服侍，而是让每一次的服侍都能完全依靠祢！奉耶稣的名，阿门！
依靠, 老, 诗篇
Aging with greater dependence on God
Psalms 71:17-21 NLT
O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again.
Reflection
Its one thing to be excited and energetic when you are young, it’s another to be still energetic and excited when you are growing old. The psalmist recalled the faithfulness of God and his steadfast walk from childhood. While he struggled with difficulties in his old age, he did not solve the problems with his own wits and ideas but remained dependent on God’s aid and providence. Its good to become more independent as we grow older so that we won’t be so dependent on our parents for financial , help and basic needs. But its different for our spiritual walk. While The Lord allows us to grow and become mature, we need to grow in dependence on God more. The Christian journey is one where you grow in dependence rather than independence. You grow in child-likeness rather than childishness. You grow in Christ-likeness rather than Christ-less-ness.
Prayer
Lord, let me grow in dependence on You. Its so easy to say “I am old” among young people and retreat to a situation where my testimony goes as such:“ I remember when I was young, I was so passionate… So full of faith….so dependent on God’s voice”. Lord, I want to remain faithful, passionate and even more dependent on Your Holy Spirit as I grow in my age! Take away the impulsiveness, brashness, rudeness from my youthful pride and add on wisdom, stability and consistency in my spiritual pilgrimage. Teach me to proclaim Your power in the new generation and Your mighty works to all who come after me! Bless my bros n sis to age well in greater dependency on God! In Jesus’ Name, amen.
