When I was a young mother I chased around after the kids and had energy and strength. Dave and I farmed 900 acres of alfalfa with the assistance of an irrigator and a lady who drove the equipment that picked the bales up out of the fields.
But mostly, it was just the two of us doing all the cutting, baling and equipment repair. The owner we worked for had developed the land out in the desert, close to the Gila River, south of Phoenix.
We often joked and said it was our desert wilderness but it was the place we learned about the promises and the power of God. I will digress briefly. Here we started listening to teachings on cassette tapes about “who we are in Christ”. We began studying, not just reading, but studying God’s word and through the prompting of the Holy Spirit we began applying the Scriptures to our lives.
We worked long, hard hours and we were definitely in shape physically but more importantly we were developing spiritual muscle.
“ …But teach yourself to be devoted to God. 8 Training your body helps you in some ways. But devotion to God helps you in every way. It brings you blessings in this life and in the future life too. ” I Timothy 4:7b-8 ERV
Yesterday, we were preparing for our annual garage sale and a young woman stopped by with her family. She was strong, energetic and friendly. She had no problem helping her husband load their truck with the items they had purchased.
She reminded me of the me from those days of farming. Watching her also reminded me that I need to work on regaining some physical strength. I certainly want to continue to live a long and healthy life.
As I was thinking about yesterday’s meeting I remembered Caleb from the Old Testament. He was a younger man when the Israelites left Egypt and started their 40 year trek in the desert. He was one of the twelve spies that came back and told Moses the land “was flowing with milk and honey” and “there are giants in the land but we can take the giants”. The people were stopped by fear and would not go forward as God commanded. Joshua and Caleb, however, remained faithful to the Lord and so, years later, they went in to conquer the land and enjoy its richness.
“Joshua gave Caleb some land among the people of Judah, as God had told him to do. Caleb’s share was Hebron, which at that time was known as Arba’s Town, because Arba was the famous ancestor of the Anakim. 14 Caleb attacked Hebron and forced the three Anakim clans of[ Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to leave.” Joshua 15:13-14 CEV
As an older man, probably my age or older, Caleb fought the inhabitants of the land, who were giants, and won! He was able-bodied and able to accomplish all that God had for him to do. I want to be like Caleb.
Am I Older? Yes. Wiser? Definitely. Growing in faith? Certainly. Physically stronger? Working on that!
“Lord, show me how to continue to grow physically and spiritually stronger so I am able to accomplish all you have planned for me. I want to be a giant slayer!”.
Whatever our lot in life we all have something God wants us to do. Remember we can do ALL things through Christ who gives us the strength!