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think otherwise is arrogance and pride. The second practical way of trusting God is to trust in his character and power. The judge of all the earth will do right. The wicked and evil doer may look now like they are flourishing (Psalm 92.7) but in reality they are doomed to destruction for- ever. God will one day punish all evil and right all wrongs because he is a just, right- eous and loving God. As the sovereign, he will do it in his time and his way. Trusting means I accept and rest in this truth when I grapple with the unexplainable. Focus on knowing God and his charac- ter rather than understanding the circumstances. Life Principle Two - Believe God is look- ing out for you Here is God’s promise to his children who choose to dwell with him, who have come home to him: “ No evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent” (Psalm 91.10). You say, “ Wait a minute I have had some bad things befall me.” God is teaching here a per- spective. For those who love and follow God there are no “bad things.” He will use everything he allows (remem- ber he is sovereign) into our life to develop our character. He turns bad into good even when others have evil inten- tions and temporarily hurt us. God will ultimately turn all things to our benefit (Romans 8.28). “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways “ (Psalm 91.11). You have bodyguards like secret serv- ice protection constantly watching over you. Some- times they are even saving us from our own foolish de- cisions. God cares about you and is always looking over you. We may even try to run from him but he will never run from us. Life Principle Three - Accept aging and expect to be fruitful and rele- vant in old age None stays young for- ever. If you don’t die you will get old – accept this reality. We are living longer, healthier and more active lives. Cer- tainly take care of your body, but most of all keep a young mind. Here is another prom- ise from God: “The righteous flourish… they are planted in the house of the Lord;... they still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green” (Psalm 92.12-14). You don’t have to get an old mindset – unteachable, bitter or nega- tive. No one wants to be around this kind of person. With age comes the treasure of a lifetime of expe- rience and learning to pass on to the generations behind you. Stay fresh in your think- ing, be aware of current world events and understand how to connect with the younger generations. Don’t see them as the enemy. Expect God to still have a plan and purpose for this season of life. Ask him to show it to you. Others will seek out someone with this mindset. You will still be rele- vant because you will have a more accurate perspective that only comes with time. We are all young and full of promise at one time in life. Will you achieve that poten- tial, have a life well lived and finish well? Here are three simple life principles that can help you do just that. Dr. John Hawkins, along with his son, John Jr., runs Gateway Counseling Center in Boynton Beach. He can be reached by visiting gateway- counseling.com . BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THE JEWISH PEOPLE SINCE 1894 WWW.CHOSENPEOPLE.COM Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, May they prosper who love you. C HOSEN P EOPLE M INISTRIES Psalm 122:6 Palm Beach County