You would know him if I told you his name. He was a great man of God looking back on his life.
Years ago, he said to me, “I feel as though big chunks of my life have been stolen from me.”
Mind you, this man had done legendary things for God. The pain in his heart was palpable. He went on, “America is a mess, and I have little time left. How I wish I were a younger man!”
What I did next still shocks me. I blurted out, “But you are a younger man!”
I had no idea what I was saying. But that outburst gave me the most motivating truth of my life.
Can we get back the years that the enemy has stolen?
God taught me how to take back the years the Devil had stolen.
As a result, I learned to stay on fire, burning with energy greater than that of men half my age.
Right now, many people are looking back on their lives and feeling that years have been stolen from them. They recount scenes of besetting sins, betrayal, calamity, sickness, and just plain mistakes that stole years of their lives.
Can we get back the years that the enemy has stolen?
Caleb is our model for getting back the years that were stolen.
First, read these verses and then see the formula.
Joshua 14:10-11, “And now, behold, the Lord has kept me alive, as He said, these forty-five years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now, here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet, I am as strong this day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then, so now is my strength for war, both for going out (to war) and for coming (back) in.”
Order Amanda Grace’s New Book, “Brace For Impact” on Amazon.com!
1. Declare that God is your strength.
Caleb said, “God has kept me alive.” Your years and your human strength do not have the final say.
Let God burn out fatigue, regret, and false limitations. Isaiah 40:31, “But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
And go to war in prayer! Seize God’s promise to restore life. Romans 8: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
2. Find a fresh vision.
Caleb asked for a mountain filled with giants when he was 85. Do not merely settle for restored energy—what you are after is a total revolution in your mind and body. Prepare to be sent on a mission that defies your age. Fresh vision obliterates depression. Don’t let doubters rob your vision.
For example, a friend suggested that I retire at my age. I asked him, “Why? Did the Devil quit?”
Not only that, but your body will respond. Strength and energy will spike. King David was bedridden. 1 Kings 1:1, “Now King David was old, advanced in years; and they put covers on him, but he could not get warm.”
In fact, they even put a beautiful young woman in there with him! But nothing moved him.
But then the news came that the Kingdom was threatened. Instead of Solomon becoming king, the fool Adonijah declared himself king. That thought was so horrifying and enraging that David rose up out of his bed a renewed warrior—and yes, a younger man. He made Solomon king!
The war is still on. It is not your doctor, your family, or your therapist who knows how much fight is left in you—it’s the God of war who knows.
A wise man once said, “The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd, you are no longer a sheep; you become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom.”
Nothing will extend your life like the passion to leave an inheritance and a godly nation. And while you are at it, demand added time for unfinished business. Psalm 90:15, “Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble.” This verse, attributed to Moses, is a clear call for extra years.
Now we come to the most important life-extender!
3. Leave something for your children and grandchildren.
Nothing will extend your life like the passion to leave an inheritance and a godly nation.
David said, “Now also, when I am old and gray headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come” (Ps. 71:18).
I believe that great men and women have been kept alive by their passion to impart a legacy to the next generation. So long as they stubbornly mentored, imparted, and wrote great works of wisdom, it kept them alive.
The bottom line is, you are not done—not by a long shot. Pray, plan, and pursue God, expecting to receive unique gifts that will help us all to overcome the evil of our time! Take back the years that Satan has stolen from you.
Mario Murillo rose from poverty in the Mission District of San Francisco. After being revolutionized by Christ, he felt a call to the University of California at Berkeley. His international ministry was launched after a four-day conference in San Jose, California, extended for six months with a total attendance of nearly 250,000 people. Since then, Mario’s voice has been heard by millions around the world, bringing a message that zeroes in on the hurts of society. He presents Christ clearly and intelligently, and openly declares the power of Jesus to totally transform a life. His simple declaration: Come and see. Christ has the power to end addiction, racism, violence and disease.
