I don’t know if you have noticed it but more and more we are becoming dependent upon technology in our daily lives and in society. As a pastor I find that I rely heavily on technology today. Honestly I wonder how pastors survived without the internet and lap top computers in the past. Like many people, I own a mobile phone, a laptop computer, and a GPS for my car. My wife has her own mobile, a lap top computer and her very own iPad.
While it took me some time to learn all the gadgets that just keep getting more and more complicated, I must admit that these are great tools that I have learned to depend on from day to day. So, it should not come as any surprise that all these electronics gadgets, that are supposed to make our lives easier, are dependent on power – on electricity.
Quite often when I am travelling around the country or surfing wireless I run my electronic “devices” on battery power, and generally due to the enhanced battery lives, it’s not a problem. Yet, if you are like me, then you have probably been in situations when you have needed to make a mobile call or send off one more email or take notes during an important lecture when suddenly the battery just dies. It’s so frustrating and happens when you least expect it!
Most of the time it is my own fault! I understand that I ought to make sure my battery is fully charged, but due to the stress of everyday life I just don’t seem to get around to it. You would think that I should have learned by now that I need to keep these tools charged, especially when I know I will be doing important things during the day. Often, anticipating the need is the real problem and is exactly where I run into trouble.
Just think about it that this very simple life experience that most of us have been exposed to at some time has a profound spiritual parallel. I believe that deep down inside most of us understand that we are totally dependent on God to empower us to live life as faithful followers of Jesus. We even know (most of the time) that we have to stay plugged into the power source in order to be able to face the day-to-day challenges in our lives. Yet as we go about our daily lives we very often fail to anticipate our spiritual need.
We disconnect ourselves from the power source far too often and attempt to live life in our own strength. And just when we most need God’s renewing power in our lives, we find that our spiritual batteries are dead. If you are like me I usually feel guilty for not anticipating the need and trusting God from the very beginning.
Luckily, God’s power to recharge our lives is not far away. We don’t have to shut everything down, pack everything up and wait for next week’s church service to re-charge our batteries. The beauty of a living vibrant relationship with God is that we can access God’s power wherever we are through prayer. We can find strength in His Word. We can also find support and empowerment by belonging to a fellowship of believers like a small group.
In closing, the apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Thessalonians 1:11 of the importance of anticipating the need: “And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds”.
Today, if you find your spiritual batteries are running low, don’t wait. Wherever you are, plug in to Gods love and mercy!
For Thought:
1. How are your spiritual batteries? Are you in need of recharging?
2. What situations are you facing in your life where you can invite God to fill you with His power?