A dead battery isn't any good to anyone. Whether it's a car battery, one that goes in flashlight, or in a cell phone once they're dead they are totally useless. If a dead battery is left alone - they corrode, rust over and begin to completely decay.
A car with a dead battery won't go anywhere. Most of the time, you can't even make the car horn "honk." A cell phone with a dead battery can't be used to make a call or to text. We can't communicate with anyone by using a dead cell phone. Old dead corroded batteries left in a flashlight will leave us in darkness.
OK, this is confession time for me. Over the past few weeks I pretty much drained my spiritual battery to the point that it was almost dead. I let my prayer life slip away from me. I wasn't spending time in the scriptures as much as I should. I haven't posted anything since the first of January. I even forgot about our monthly ladies' devotional time and that is something I very rarely miss!
Oh sure, I had plenty of excuses. I was adjusting to a new role at work. I transitioned to a different team, so not only did my job duties change, but I was working with a new set of people too. It wasn't a bad change. I'm actually happy with it. I work with a great group of people and they've been amazingly supportive as I learn. But any change requires an adjustment period.
Sometimes the busyness of life is draining physically and mentally. Sometimes we get discouraged and distracted. We go through our days without thinking to pray or telling ourselves we're too tired to open our Bibles. We allow petty feelings to drag us down -- maybe a personality conflict at work -- or a disagreement with a friend -- or hurt feelings from our past rise up to haunt us.
We might not even realize the toll all this takes on our spiritual life ... maybe we're still going through the motions of doing all the right things ... but our heart isn't in it. It can happen very gradually. Maybe we enjoy the gossip at work, maybe we skip a worship service or two and then WHAM our spiritual life is at an all-time low and we wonder how it happened. I know ... me too!
A couple of days ago, I reached that point. That Wham point. I realized my battery was dangerously low. Really. And it made me sad. Oh, I had little warning signals along the way. For a while, I tried to ignore them - that is until my mom told me very lovingly that I needed to tell the devil to "take a seat." That was her way of saying that I was giving him way too much attention.
Fortunately, along with Mom - I have some very good friends who have patiently and lovingly helped me start to recharge. One reminded me to focus on God and not myself or my feelings. My prayer group got together for a wonderful prayer session and I was invited to participate in a good work. My batteries are indeed recharged.
God loves us all. He wants us to be in heaven with Him. But we can't lose our focus. We can't allow our zeal for Christ to die. It takes diligence to keep a battery from going dead. They have to be charged once in a while.
Just like a dead car or cell phone battery is useless, so is a Christian whose spiritual energy has gone dead. The cars won't go. We can't use them to bring others to church with us or to take a meal to someone who is sick. The cell phone can't be used to invite someone to the ladies' devotional or call to check on a friend who is going through a tough time.
And the flashlight? Well, like I said it just leaves us in darkness. So the Christian whose light has gone out leaves his or her corner of the world in darkness. Don't we want to be light instead? Don't we want to shine for Him?
It is easy to get pulled away. The world is full of trials and the devil tries hard to derail us. But we have to stay charged up at all times. The best way to do that is to commit - seriously commit - to spending time with God.
Let Him talk to you. Study the scriptures. Take time to talk to Him. Pray. And fellowship with other Christians as often as you can. Attend worship. Stay in touch through the week with other Christian friends who will hold you accountable. I've asked a couple of friends to do that for me. Encourage one another along the way.
Another great way to keep your batteries charged is to do something good for someone every day. Show God's love to others. Be kind. Smile at the grocery store cashier. Say thank you to the waitress who brings your meal. Thank a co-worker for their help. Tell your family how much you appreciate their support. Put others first. I guarantee you it will put smile on your face and spring in your step!
The best thing about this is that God will restore us. As we turn back to Him with a humble and penitent heart. He will be there to forgive us ... to restore us ... to renew our strength and our refresh our spirits. If we only seek Him with all our hearts and obey Him in loving faith, HE will be there.
Psalm 51:12 "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit."
Job 22: 21-23a: "Submit to God and be at peace with Him; in this way prosperity will come to you. Accept instruction from His mouth and lay up His words in your heart. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored:"
If you've lost your way - if your batteries are dead - turn back to God. Seek to be re-charged. He will refresh you. He will restore your soul.
Christ above all things,
Robin
