Stay active and stay engaged

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Selfcare”

Our Bible verse for today: “Here I am today, eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength for battle and for daily tasks is now as it was then.” Joshua 14:10-11 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Stay active and stay engaged”

I have written many times about the fact that Caleb is one of my favorite people in the Bible. All the evidence points to a man who was vital, vigorous, and engaged through all the seasons of his life. As a young man we find him being sent by Moses as a spy to the Promised Land (Numbers 13:6). In middle-age we find him continuing to serve his people and presiding as the patriarch over his family (Numbers 14:24). Here in Joshua 14:10-11 we learn that even in his old age he was active, strong, involved, and looking forward to the future.

That’s how you do it. That’s how you live life large, make a meaningful difference in all the stages of your life and living fully until the day you die. This is a life lived well and the attitude behind it is a key element in good selfcare. Whereas idleness and living without focus or purpose all add up to a life that is much less than it could be, a life filled purpose, focus, intentionality, and a determined resolve to make a meaningful difference is the key to living well.

Not only will that attitude and approach to life help to keep us physically healthy, but it keeps our minds sharp as well. In the Pastor’s devotional book, “Apples of Gold” the editors offer this insight:

“Throughout our lives the flexibility of our brains, called neuroplasticity, is reinforced by learning and experiencing new things … Maintaining the ability to acquire new skills and knowledge in our roles is critical to staying current and staying healthy. Doing new things and meeting new people helps us grow in understanding and wisdom so we don’t stagnate in an inflexible life.”

Don’t stagnate in an inflexible life. Essentially, that means that we will be at our best, and we will stay at our best, when we stay actively engaged in life by participating in meaningful activities. That’s what Caleb did throughout his long life and we see that modeled for us by active people all around us – people who are living life large and who are helping to make their little corner of the world a better place – and doing so throughout all the seasons of life.

So, that’s how you do it. That’s how you stay vital and dynamic even into old age. Stay active and stay engaged.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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