Elderly individuals carry precious gems of wisdom within them. No matter how educated you are, some lessons cannot be learned in classrooms. They are only taught in the “classroom of life” and acquired through experience.

Even with a PhD, I have learned to rely on the wisdom of the elderly from time to time. That’s why you will always hear me say, “The elders have a saying,” because there are valuable things I have learned from the elderly that my formal education did not provide.

I had the privilege of sitting at the feet of my spiritual father, Papa Josiah Akindayomi. Every week, I would visit him to ask questions, and he would impart valuable lessons to me. I also had the privilege of learning from Papa S.G Elton. Every two weeks, I would go to Ilesha to sit at his feet. He taught me many things, even though I disagreed with some initially because I felt they were incorrect. However, as I grew older, I began to realize he was right.

One of the things he taught me was to always remember that I am not God, no matter the level of anointing I operate in. He also taught me that God does what He wants, and all I have to do is bring my burdens before Him in prayer and then go to sleep. That’s why, if you ask my close ones, they will tell you I have no difficulty sleeping. No matter how big the problem, once I have prayed, I will sleep.

Beloved, even if your parents and the elders around you are not as educated or sophisticated as you are, still listen to them. Whatever things you disagree with or find hard to understand, keep them in your memory nonetheless. One day, when you are wiser, you will probably refer to them.

Do not underestimate the time you spend with the elderly, whether they are your parents or not. Ask them to teach you some of the things they know and do. There are natural remedies for illnesses that have died with some elders because the next generation did not learn about them when they had the chance. Some crucial life principles have also been lost in this way.

Learn all you can from the elderly, especially the elderly Christians still around you, before they are called to God.

This text is an excerpt from the book “The Open Heavens 2024: A Daily Guide to Intimate Communion with God 2024” written by Enoch A. Adeboye.

We invite you to read the following article “DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEART 1.”