Have you tasted the goodness of God in your life? Of course you have! If you’ve lived long enough to be retired, you’ve experienced countless blessings and miracles throughout your life, even if you have never thought of them as such. You are a miracle yourself! Scientist tell us that it’s an absolute miracle that even one human being makes it from conception to a full term baby because of all the numerous conditions and variables that have to be perfect for it to thrive. Not only did you survive in the womb to be born in this world, you’ve survived decades living here! How many close calls have you experienced during your lifetime? You’ve been healed from disease and saved from tiny organisms that could easily take your life if it weren’t for your body’s incredible defense system. How often have you experienced a near miss in traffic or other situations? I can recall many, and I’m sure you can also.
Don’t Knock it Until You’ve Tried It
I love to cook and I enjoy trying out new dishes. When my husband and I were first married. he let me know right off his favorite dishes, which included basically meat, potatoes and macaroni and cheese – and that’s it!
The creative in me couldn’t stand to cook much less eat these same boring foods every night, so I got out my cookbook, looked for the most deliciously sounding recipes I could find using a variety of nutritious meats vegetables and other savory ingredients, prepared my scrumptious meal and proudly presented it on the table before him each evening.
For several weeks, the dialogue was the same each night. “What are we having for dinner?” he would ask. I’d say something like “Been stroganoff” or whatever new exotic dish I’d found to cook that day. He’d always reply, “I don’t like that!” To which I’d reply you haven’t tasted it, how do you know you don’t like it?” “Try it and see!”
He would reluctantly taste it and then exclaim, “This is really good!” And proceeded to gobble the whole thing down.” Today, he enjoys eating a variety of dishes and now whenever I try something new, his words are “That looks good!”
In reality, it wasn’t that he previously didn’t like these variety of new dishes, he didn’t know they existed.
Discovering God
Unfortunately, this is the attitude many of us often have toward God.
We may say we don’t believe in God, yet never have made the effort to learn about him or to seek him out. Shouldn’t we take the time to read the Bible cover to cover to find out for ourselves what it really has to say to us before we decide that we don’t believe it’s the inspired word of God?
There’s so much to learn about God and His Word. I’ve read and studied it all my life and I still find new delicate dishes of his grace, mercy and love every day. The incredible prophecies that have been fulfilled, the words of comfort and promises for this life and the life to come as well as the challenges to become a better person are endless and inspiring.
One thing I love about retired life is actually having the time to get into the word to study and pray. When our children were young, it was hard to find one quiet minute to ourselves. I’d set my alarm clock very early just to have just a few minutes alone with God before the children woke up. Then when I worked, I’d do the same, by having a quick morning devotion and then pray in my car on the way to work.
Now as retired people, we get to take as long as we want or need each day to meditate on the Word of God, pray and seek Him. It truly is one of the sweetest blessings of retirement!
If you haven’t tasted the goodness of the Lord lately, I encourage you to dip your toe into this living water. He’s been waiting for you and I promise you will be refreshed and nourished. There’s always more to learn and more treasures to discover.
Admittedly, some passages can be complicated and confusing at times. If you’d like help understanding the Bible, I recommend checking out Gary Hamrick’s teachings. He’s extremely knowledgeable and goes through the Bible one chapter at a time. He’s fantastic at explaining the chapters both in historical context and practical application to our modern lives today. You can find him here at Cornerstone Chapel.
Brothers and sisters, we taught you how to live in a way that would please God, and you are living that way. Now we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way even more.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 NCV
Duking Out Retired Life 