Fully Charged

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 (NRSV)

John R. Robinson lives in Georgia. A friend's car battery was mysteriously losing its charge. The voltage would decrease while the car was parked overnight. After multiple trips to the mechanic, they found a small parasitic draw caused by a short in the wiring that was slowly draining the battery. They repaired the faulty wire, and the battery now stays filly charged.

Our inner spiritual energy supplied by the Holy Spirit likewise can be diminished by the parasitic draw of distractions and idols. Difficult news, social media, pride, grudges, greed, self-sufficiency, desire for recognition and success may all, like that faulty wire, steal our spiritual energy. This can lead us away from our relationship with God, from following Jesus, and from serving others. But prayer, praise, and worship, Bible study, and fellowship with Christian friends restore our spiritual energy.

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the strength you give us. Help us resist the distractions and idols that sap our connection to you and to others, in Jesus' name. Amen.