Dear People Who Keep Company With God,
If you are part of the older generation, take heart. Your most fruitful and blessed time is in front of you. Many in my generation and older were touched mightily by God years ago. We are like Joshua and Caleb, who declared that with God’s help they would enter the Promised Land. God has placed promises in your heart. You know there is more. 
For years, we have heard so much about what God will do with the younger generations. I believe we will see a mighty move of God amongst the younger generations, but God has not forgotten us. In fact, I think we are now hearing the Father’s voice speak to the older generation. Like Caleb, we will get our mountain, our inheritance. Like Joshua, we as spiritual fathers and mothers will lead the next generation, into the land of God’s promise.
I think a lot of older men and women are experiencing a spiritual metamorphosis right now. We are transitioning from what the Bible calls young men spiritually to be fathers and mothers (1 John 2:12-14). It is a bit uncomfortable for some of us. It is like we don’t fit as a young man and we have not fully come into being spiritual fathers and mothers. Joshua needed a lot of encouragement to take the place God has called him into and so do we.
Here are some thoughts that may help you step into this new place God has for you.
1. Know your season. We have felt we are in a time of crossing over and that should awaken some thoughts in you about whom God is calling you to become. Do you feel like you are experiencing a spiritual transition? Do you honestly believe God is calling you to be a spiritual father or mother? If you do tell God, you feel that way and see what He says.
2. Don’t compare yourself to others. This may seem a little odd in this conversation, but there are Joshua’s and Caleb’s. Both were fathers, but they had different assignments. There is no one size fits all fathers and mothers. God doesn’t have clones in His family. The devil will derail you if you compare yourself to others (2 Cor. 10:12).
3. Don’t try to be one of the younger generation. They don’t need that. They have enough people in their generational circle. My children do not want me to be their peer they need me to be their father. That doesn’t mean to not be young at heart. We’re that (Eccl. 3:11). But, we could be in danger of becoming childish when we try being something or someone we are not (1 Cor. 13:11).
4. Relate to the younger generation. Don’t get so stuck in your generation’s thinking and values. Make the effort to understand the younger generation, how they communicate, their values, passions and needs. Put yourself in their shoes and see the world from where they are standing. If we are going to influence them, we need to understand their language.
5. Don’t reject the trends, attitudes of the younger generation, lest they reject your influence. I remember as a young person being rejected by the older generation because of my long hair, hippie look. I had a friend who was saved and went to a church and was told he was not welcome with that look. That is extreme, but it happens. We don’t have to agree with everything they do, believe or their look, but listening and not rejecting them will go a long ways in building a trusting relationship.
There is so much more I could say on this, but for the younger generation, a lot of this can apply to how you view and relate to the older generation. Let’s honor each other and give each other a chance and see what God does.
Many Blessings, BW