“O God, you have helped me from my earliest childhood—and I have constantly testified to others of the wonderful things you do.” Psalm 71:17 TLB

This month I turn 65, officially becoming a senior citizen. Bus passes, all discounts. Special seating. Special everything! My golden years. Lord. I truly want them to be golden in every way.

I find comfort in the words of Paul: “This is why we never give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day.” (2 Cor. 4:16)

I have always said that our victories in Christ begin on the inside. We can declare and decree all we want; until we make a QUALITY DECISION within our own being, within our own minds to embrace the strength, grace and victory that Christ is offering nothing will change.

There come moments of decisions throughout our lives. OH, how I wish it was a once for all, but, alas it is not. Yes, there is undeserved grace. Yes, there are miracles. There are oceans of mercy. But the reality of victory is that God uses the age old ingredient that He sowed into the hearts of mankind since the dawn of creation. Our free will.

Without this ingredient, we would be nothing but puppets acting out the will, plans and desires of a Deity in whose image we were NOT formed. Because by adding free will into the cosmic mix of humankind, God truly made us like Himself. Creative. Thinking. Interactive. Able to choose right from wrong. Able to choose death or life.

And so in this autumnal season of my human life, I must make a choice. I must choose to stand ready. I must choose to BE ready. I must press on in the high calling for which Christ has called me. I must watch out that I not lose what I have worked my whole life for, so that I might receive my FULL REWARD. (2 John 1:8)

Beloved. This life is a marathon. I used to be a distance swimmer so I understand the dynamics of marathon. We may start off strong, but we must save some and prepare for that last part of the race, so that when that finish line comes in sight, we can pick up the pace, being FULLY READY, to run in such as way that we will receive the prize.

Lord, in this silver haired section of my life, I pray You make me fully ready for my next chapters so that I might serve You well. I want to declare your goodness to a new generation. Help me, Lord! Amen.

~ Debbie Ecker