This Is Your Best Age | Joel Osteen

God bless you, great to be with you today, and hope you'll stay connected with us during the week through our daily podcast, our YouTube channel, social media, and you can come visit us in person. We'd love to have you be a part of one of our services. I'd like to start with something funny, and I heard about this husband and wife, and they'd been arguing and fussing for years, and the wife finally got so fed up, she packed up her husband's belongings and sent him out the front door. As he was leaving, she said, I hope you have a miserable, depressing, frustrating life. The husband turned around, his face brightened up. He said, you mean you want me to stay? All right, y'all, say it like you mean it. This is my Bible. I am what it says I am. I have what it says I have. I can do what it says I can do. Today I will be taught the Word of God. I boldly confess my mind is alert. My heart is receptive. I will never be the same. In Jesus' name, God bless you. I want to talk to you today about this is your best age. It's easy to discount ourselves because we're too young or too old. We don't have enough experience or we're past our prime. We make excuses as to why we can't excel. Joel, I'm over the hill now. I'm not as sharp as I used to be, not as agile. But you have to recognize there are great things on the other side of the hill. You never age out with God, you age into your purpose. Abraham became a father at 100 years old. John wrote the book of Revelation in his 90s.

Noah built the ark when he was over 500 years old. And you think you're done at 60, at 70, at 80? You're just getting started. The scripture says your latter days will be better than your former days. Moses was 80 years old, living in the desert, thinking he was washed up. He'd made mistakes and had to hide from his enemies. He'd been out there 40 years in what we would call the prime of his life, 40s, 50s, when he had all this passion, strength, endurance. But now he's past his prime, he's coasting, thinking he missed his chance. That's when God came to him in a burning bush and said, now is the time to go deliver my people. You would think God would want someone younger. God get Joshua. He's in his 30s. He has more endurance, more followers on social media. He's in the in crowd. God, Moses is washed up. No, God has an assignment for you at every age. You are not too old. This world needs what you have. We need your wisdom, your talent, your experience. We need your love. At 80 years old, after Moses thought he was done, he went to the Pharaoh and delivered the Israelites. He saw the Red Sea part, water come out of a rock, manna in the desert. He received the Ten Commandments and became one of the most influential leaders in history. His greatest impact came as a senior citizen after he had, quote, passed his prime. Don't believe those lies that you're too old.

You don't have much to offer. You're not valuable. God doesn't look at your age, he looks at your availability. His purpose didn't stop when you turned 60. Your assignment didn't go away at 70. Your value didn't decrease at 80. If anything, it increased. You have wisdom. You have experience. You've gone through highs and lows and seen the faithfulness of God. Age hasn't lessened you, it's prepared you. Now, here's the key, quit telling yourself that you're old. I can't move like I used to. I can't remember things very good. My knees are about to give out. You're talking yourself into being old. You're prophesying aches and pains and going downhill. Now, I know our body ages. I'm not saying to deny reality, but how about saying what God says about you? My youth is being renewed like the eagles. I will run and not be weary. I'll walk and not faint. The more you talk about getting old, the older you'll get. The more you think about your stiffness, your memory not as good, your tiredness, the more it's going to increase. Do yourself a favor, think young thoughts, think freshness, think vitality, energetic, strong, creative. Another important thing is you need to have some friends that are younger than you.

Don't hang around everyone your age, especially if they're talking about their ailments and what they can't do, how they couldn't... Hear the announcer at bingo last week? I know they're good people, but you need to be around people that are moving and dreaming, accomplishing, living a vibrant life. Because getting old starts in our mind. Your spirit never ages. This body does, the house we live in, but the real you, the one God made in His image, is eternal. It's timeless. It's not aging. I don't feel any different today at 39 than I did when I was a teenager. I can't believe I'm this age. I feel just like I did when I was in high school. Now, my body has aged. When I go to jump, playing basketball, my mind says to jump, but my body doesn't do what it used to. I jump like a white man now. I used to be able to jump. But what's always funny to me is in my mind, I can do it. In my mind, I can run just as fast, jump just as high. Your body may age, but your spirit is ageless. The real you that lives on the inside doesn't have to get old. Aging is inevitable, but getting old is optional. Paul said it this way, outwardly, this house that I live in is perishing, but inwardly, I'm being renewed day by day. He was saying things may be aging on the outside, but inwardly, I'm refreshed. I'm renewed. He's talking about your thoughts. If you go around thinking, oh, thoughts, my knees are so stiff and my hearing's going, I can't concentrate anymore. At my age, it's to be expected. The problem with that mindset is you're letting yourself get old. Your attitude determines your age more than your birthday. I've seen 80-year-old people with a 20-year-old attitude. They're fun, sharp, positive, a joy to be around. And I've seen 30-year-old people with an 80-year-old attitude. We're all going to age. You can't stop the clock from ticking, but you don't have to get old. It's in our mind. I love that phrase I heard, don't let the old man in. That old man, that old woman is going to come knocking at your door. You're tired. You can't do what you used to. Look at those wrinkles. Nobody needs you anymore. Some people answer the door, come on in, get a cup of coffee, tell me more. No, keep that door closed. Tell the old man no thanks. Tell the old woman you're not welcome here. You stay young by being renewed in the spirit of your mind. The scripture says Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was perfectly clear and he was as strong as ever. And I know our bodies are aging. There's a natural progression, but why don't we believe for that Moses anointing that we will pass at

an old age, and when we go, we won't be weak, frail, spending years immobile, can't function, but we go still strong, sound mind, clear vision, joy in our heart, walking, moving, being a blessing. Think about my mother. She lived till she was almost 92, and she had polio as a child, and she went through cancer and broken her hip, but she came through all that strong, healthy, energetic. Her body had gotten weaker, but in her mind she was still young and sharp and funny. After she broke her hip in her late 80s, she needed a walker to help her walk. So us kids met, and we decided that Paul and Lisa would tell her that she shouldn't drive anymore because she couldn't get the walker in and out of the car. Well, that was like World War III. She did not like that. She said, Joel, I am not impaired. I am strong. I'm 90 years old. I can do what I want to. I'd tell her, yeah, I don't know what's wrong with Paul and Lisa. They don't have any faith. I took my mother to dinner every Monday night after my Sirius XM radio program, the last five years of her life, and we were walking in the cafeteria one day, and she was 90. This man walked in, a little bent over, a little frail, probably in his early 80s. My mother leaned over and said, Joel, look at that old man. She didn't see herself as old. Don't get old in your mind. Stay active, stay connected, stay curious. As long as you're alive, God has something for you to do. It's not just take up space, watch others. You're secondary. Man, you're past your prime. Every age is your prime. Every age you have a purpose. Two days before my mother passed, she was right here at this altar praying for people. Her I was not dim her strength was not abated. She went to heaven strong healthy still fulfilling her purpose We may not make it to a hundred and twenty like Moses But let's believe we're not going to go frail Washed up. I have nothing to offer Quit believing those lies your body may age, but you don't have to get old Your spirit is alive and fresh and energetic Keep declaring what God promised my youth is being renewed Lord. I thank you like Moses I'll stay strong and healthy. I will shine at every age of my life This is what Caleb did he was one of the twelve men that Moses sent to spy out the promised land and Ten of them came back with a negative report and the people were too big

But Caleb came back with Joshua said we are well able the Giants are big, but our God is bigger He had this report of faith But the negative report spread throughout the camp the people became discouraged turned around never did go into the promised land Caleb was 45 years old at that time We call that the prime of life its strength experience courage This was the perfect age to do something significant But other people's doubt their lack of vision closed the door Well fast forward 40 years now Caleb is 85 years old He should be in retirement Talking about the good old days What could have happened if only those people had believed now he's aged out He's over the hill, but Caleb didn't let the old man in he knew what God started he would finish The Israelites had come into the promised land the new generation Joshua was dividing up the territory Giving different sections for people to conquer Caleb went to him and said Joshua. I want that mountain It was a mountain that had three Giants on it. They were descendants of Goliath. It was the same mountain He had seen four decades earlier Caleb could have picked an easy place Someone that had no opposition or he could have said Joshua. Come on. I'm an old man Let someone else do it just give me what's left over But Caleb still had this fire in his spirit this passion for his purpose He said in Joshua 14 I am as strong today at 85 as I was when Moses first sent me out This was 40 years later When you stay young in your mind and fresh in your attitude, you're gonna accomplish great things Caleb went out at 85 and defeated those Giants took the land Wasn't just a victory for him, but his family inherited that land Generations later they lived in abundance because of his faith That's what happens when you stay young in your spirit when you don't let these old thoughts in I

Think I'm past my prime. Joel. I missed a good opportunity. It wasn't my fault. They closed the door How do you know like with Caleb that it's not coming back again How do you know that what God promised you is not still on the schedule? Get your passion back get your vision back start thinking young thoughts Fresh thoughts. I love how Caleb didn't retire. He refired He said in effect. I don't want a rocking chair. Give me that mountain You haven't aged out of your purpose you are aging into your purpose. This is your best age right now Well Joel this all sounds good, but I think I'm too young When I get more training more experience, then I'll feel valuable then I'll take steps of faith God used a little boy with five loaves and two fish He was willing to give what he had God multiplied the food fed thousands Samuel anointed David King as a teenager Imagine what everybody thought he didn't have experience no military training. He's never proven himself God doesn't judge the way we judge Esther was a teenager when she went before the king and saved the Jewish people Timothy led great churches in his youth. He had all this influence and favor as a young man Some people didn't understand begin to question his leadership Paul said to him Timothy don't let anyone look down on you because you're young Every age is your best age Too often we're discounting ourselves waiting to get older or wishing we were younger I wish I could be 20 again. That was so much fun. I wish I could be in my 40s I had so much opportunity You know what We're going to say 20 years from now that you wish you could be at the age you are right now. Step in to who you are today. In junior high, we look at the high schoolers and think, man, those are the cool kids. Can't wait to get there. High school, we see the college students, think, man, that's going to be fun. That's when I'll excel.

In our 20s, it turns. We look at people in their 40s and think, they're old. We get to 40, look at people in 60, they're old. Get to 60, people in their 80s, they're old. The definition of old keeps changing. The enemy would love for us to always have a reason to feel too old, too young, not the right time, miss my chance, need more experience. Don't believe those lies. You are at the right age right now for the season you're in. You don't have to wait to get in your prime. This is your prime. God has graced you at this age with his wisdom, protection, favor, so you can shine where you are. One time, the apostle Paul was in prison. He'd been arrested for sharing his faith. A group of 40 men made a vow that they wouldn't eat or drink until they had killed Paul. They went to the leading priest and said, you need to bring Paul back to counsel. Seem like you want to ask him more questions, and on the way, we'll ambush him. Well, Paul's nephew, a teenager, happened to overhear this secret plan. He rushed to Paul and told him what he'd heard. Paul told the main officer, take this young man to the commander. He explained about this secret plan, and the commander ordered 200 soldiers to get ready to leave at 9 o'clock that night. They snuck Paul out of the city, 70 horses, 200 officers guarding him. This huge escort, his life was spared. Had that nephew, that teenager, not had this boldness, this courage to say something, Paul would have been killed. God didn't use an angel. He didn't use another disciple or a city leader. He used this teenager.

He set in motion the largest military escort in the New Testament. If it wasn't for Paul's nephew, believing that he was empowered to make a difference even though he was young, we wouldn't have the books of Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians. Those were all written after this event. Don't ever say you're too young, too experienced. Think that your opinion doesn't matter. God uses every age. He said in the book of Joel, I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh. Not just the young, the old, the middle-aged, the boomers, but not the millennials, not Gen Z, they got issues. God's Spirit is poured out on every age. He went on to say, your old men will dream dreams and your young men will see visions. I'm seeing visions, my brother Paul is dreaming dreams, but God was showing us how the young and the old are not competing, not trying to outdo each other, oh, the old's more important, the young's more with it, no, we need each other. We will accomplish more together than we will apart. There was a lady in the Scripture named Hannah, she had been barren for many years and she told God if he would give her a son, she would give him back to him. She finally conceived and had a son named Samuel. He was a little boy, she took him to the temple and kept her promise and he lived there and served the prophet Eli. He was an older man in his senior years. One night Samuel was in bed, about eight years old, and he heard this voice calling his name, Samuel, Samuel, jumped out of bed, ran to Eli's room, said, yes, sir, what do you want? Eli said, I didn't call you, I don't need anything, go back to bed. Went back, laid down, heard the voice again, Samuel, ran back in, here I am, sir, what do you need? Eli was a little confused, thought I told you, I didn't call you, you can go back to bed. Went back a third time, heard it again, came to Eli, this time Eli realized what was happening.

He said, Samuel, next time you hear that voice, just lay there in bed and say this, speak Lord for your servant is listening. Samuel did that and God spoke to him as a boy and told him he was about to do a new thing and to get ready for the changes. This story shows us how different generations are designed to work together. We're not supposed to be independent. All the young people do your thing, middle-aged are over here, seniors, you got this area. To reach your potential, you need different generations. was a young boy. He had passion, energy. He loved God. His heart was pure. But he didn't know how to recognize God's voice. He never heard it. The Scripture says the Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Samuel. He's eight years old. He needs someone in his life that has more wisdom, more experience that can help him discern what's happening. Eli, on the other hand, he's a senior citizen, way up there in years. His life is winding down. He didn't have the strength he used to have. His eyesight was not clear. He could have thought, I'm done. I've had a good run. God's blessed me, but now I've aged out. I have nothing more to offer. No, Eli had something that Samuel didn't have. He had experience, wisdom, discernment. He couldn't run like Samuel. He didn't have the strength, the energy, the looks, but he knew how to hear from God. He was experienced in discerning the voice of the Lord. Without Eli, Samuel would have missed what God was saying. He wouldn't have fulfilled his purpose. Without Samuel, Eli would not have seen his legacy continue. Generations are not competing. We need each other. The young bring passion, energy, innovation. The older bring perspective, experience, and wisdom. But the mistake we can make is we discount people based on their age. Eli's old. He's outdated. He doesn't understand. He has nothing to benefit me. Or Samuel, he's too young, inexperienced, too far out there. Look what he's wearing. His genes have holes in them. When you're older, it's easy to discount the young. It's not how you were raised. They're not doing it the way you did, but God is progressive. He does new things. Same message, but sometimes different methods. If you're older, there was a time when you were young, when you were far out. Your elders were complaining about how you dress, what you listen to. Why do you have to be that way? Eli had the grace to realize Samuel is not going to do it just like I did, but that's okay. He's a different generation. And Samuel had the insight to know I need Eli.

He may be older, but I need his wisdom, his experience, his insight. But we live in a culture that tends to glorify the young and discount the old. We celebrate youth, beauty, trendiness. It seems like it's getting younger and younger. You can hit 35, and man, you're a has-been. That's old school. Friend of mine is 55 years old. He's a newscaster, but he got bumped out. They're looking for somebody younger, more appealing, more attractive. It's easy to write people off because they're older. They can't teach me anything. They're way past their prime. They don't know how to work the iPhone, but gray hair is not a liability. It's an asset. The scripture says gray hair is a crown of glory. They may not know technology or the latest trends, but some of the best advice you'll ever hear will come from senior citizens, from those who are battle-tested, that have fought life through, that have kept the faith and raised their children, accomplished dreams. When we dismiss older people, we're throwing away treasure. We're ignoring some of the most valuable voices in our lives. Make it a point to be good to the seniors in your life. Make them feel loved. Let them know you see their crown of glory. In the Old Testament, when the father was getting up there in years and about to pass, he would call his children in and speak the blessing over them. These words of faith and victory would help set the tone for their lives. Children long for this blessing. They understood the power of those words and the influence that their elders carried. Had they discounted, thought, ah, they're old school. They're washed up. I don't need anything from them. They wouldn't have fulfilled their purpose. Maybe today you're in your senior years. Don't believe those lies that you don't have anything to offer. Your gray hair is a crown of glory. You've run further than us. You have wisdom and experience that we need. You carry treasure. You can push someone into their destiny. It doesn't have to be some great lesson, just your love, your smile, hugging your grandchildren, being kind to that young person. That's bringing vision, hope, and healing. Generations are not supposed to be independent. We need each other. It's not, is this age better or that age? Every age is the best age, whether you're a Samuel, eight years old. A David at 17, a Peter, a James, 40s and 30s, or a Moses at 80, a Caleb at 85, and Abraham at 100, you're at the best age. This is your age to shine. No more waiting, when I get older. No more wishing, if I was younger, you are graced for this age.

God's hand of favor and blessing is on you right now. As the years pass, we can't stop the clock, but don't let the old man in. Don't go around thinking old thoughts about how you're past your prime. Keep that door closed, you are in your prime. If you'll do this, I believe and declare, you're going to see God's favor at every stage of your life. Even though the outward man may be perishing, your inner man is getting stronger. Your youth is being renewed. You will live a long, productive, blessed life, in Jesus' name. And if you receive it, can you say amen? I'd like to give you an opportunity to make Jesus the Lord of your life. Would you pray with me? Just say, Lord Jesus, I repent of my sins, come into my heart, I make you my Lord and Savior. If you prayed that simple prayer, we believe you got born again, and we'd love to send you some free information on your new walk with the Lord. You can text the number on the screen or go to the website. But I hope you'll get into a good Bible-based church and keep God first place.