Get Charged Up

Our society has grown accustomed to plugging in, charging up, and moving on.  IPhone, IPad, IPod, I-this, I-that…all these gadgets must be charged.  Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just plug in and recharge our batteries like a cell phone?  Simply go to church each Sunday and get a spiritual recharge that would last until the following Sunday or even longer.

Unfortunately though that’s exactly what we often find ourselves doing.  Church becomes our weekly charge.  We go, listen to the music, possibly even join in, hear a few words from the preacher, and go on our way. Then before the week is over our charge begins to run low, our faith begins to fade, and our walk begins to stagger.   We often forget that that’s not how we were created.  We need more if we are to get charged up and stay strong.

How often do you charge your cell phone?  For most of us the answer is daily or maybe even several times a day.  Church meetings just aren’t enough whether you go monthly, every Sunday, or every time the doors are open.  Getting a full charge requires more than this.  Fellowship with other Christians is important, but we also need to be plugging in to God’s word and seeking His will through prayer each day if we truly want to get spiritually recharged.  He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  Psalms 91:1 NIV   There is no better way to get charged up than the sweet presence of God!

On especially long days, I carry a phone charger with me just to get an extra boost if necessary.  I don’t want to lose power before making it safely back home.  During those long trials of life that drag down our faith, we may also need an extra boost.  We may need a little extra something to remind us of the power and presence of God.   A special bible study or spending more time in prayer may give us that extra boost needed to stay charged. It may be just the thing to get us out of the valley and back on the mountain top.   As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.  Psalms 42:1 NIV

My last cell phone was worn out and had seen better days, so I literally carried a charger everywhere and kept it plugged in most of the day.  When life has knocked us down and we are physically, emotionally, and spiritually worn out, it may be time for a constant charge.  This kind of charge comes from the power of praying friends and family.  Sometimes the power of constant prayer is literally what keeps us going.  For where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.  Matthew 18:20 NIV   Don’t hesitate to ask others to plug in on your behalf.

So…why don’t we get charged up at church?  It’s because we aren’t plugged in long enough, but also because we need to charge more frequently.  Like our electronics, we function best with regular charging.  When you plug in your cell phone, take a moment to check your own charge.  Maybe it’s time to plug in!

photo credit:  http://freerangestock.com/details.php?gid=&sgid=&pid=33235