I used to play basketball with a gentleman who was in his seventies. He was in great shape. He could run up and down the court with the twenty year olds. One day, we were talking and he said, "Joel, it's kind of funny. When I was forty, my doctor told me that my knees wouldn't hold up with me playing as much as I do, but I just kept playing. At fifty, my doctor told me my back would start hurting if I kept running and jumping like this. But I just kept on. At sixty, he told me I could never keep up physically, but I could still run with the young guys. When I hit seventy, finally he told me to just keep playing as much as I wanted to." I laughed and said, "How long are you going to play?" He smiled and replied, "I'm going to play until I get old."
I like his perspective because really, old is in your mind. Your body may age, but if you'll stay young in your heart, it'll help your body to age even better. The scripture says that as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. This man had the heart of a twenty-five year old physically and mentally. He was always grateful, always happy, always in a good mood. You could tell he wasn't making plans to get old and worn out; he was planning on living out his life joyful, vibrant, and in good health.
Today, I encourage you to examine your outlook on life. Are you making plans to be healthy, strong, and vibrant? Are you making plans to be all that God has called you to be? Remember, your life will go in the direction of your thoughts. It all starts in your mind. Make the decision today to set your mind in the right direction so you can move forward into the destiny God has prepared for you.
