Electricity.
It has been weaved into the most intimate parts of our lives. Think about it. We take it to bed with us and even shower with it! (think shower radios). It’s through electronics that we study, get up-to-the-minute news, apply for jobs, learn new hairstyles, cook, and connect with friends. When these devices are unplugged, they’re useless – just a hunk of metal or plastic that takes up space.
What if I told you that we as human beings operate the same way as our electronics? Except in our case, we don’t get our energy from ComEd, we get it from God.
What Life is Like When We're Unplugged
Similar to how we can’t use our cell phones when the battery is depleted, God can’t use us when we're depleted. Don’t get me wrong, I totally understand how easy it is to get caught up in the busyness that life now requires. However, it’s within this busyness that we run ourselves into the ground or stay stuck in a problem we can’t resolve. Some of us stay in this place for YEARS. How do we get here? Why do we get here? It’s because we’ve disconnected ourselves from God.
I’ve experienced this in my finances. I know what it is to have more month than money where bills were paid late or there was little left over for savings. In addition, there’s always the looming, dark monster – student loans. I would worry myself about this to a point where I’m unproductive, unfocused, and drained. Then one day I just got tired. I finally got on my knees and asked the Lord for help. I also starting reading about what the Bible says about money and devoted my devotionals to seeing finances God’s way. The more I pressed in, the more I learned and grew. Then the pressure started to ease up! God opened doors for me and connected me with people that would lead me to become a better steward of my finances. In regards to my student loans, he lead to me refinance with a company that offered a lower rate and didn’t try to intimidate me like the previous lender. He even gave me a job that paid more money!
Now that I am on the other side of this, I can see that plugging back into God and aligning my finances with His word rejuvenated me. That space in my life is no longer dark and dead.
What Being Plugged in Does for Us
Getting plugged into the Lord transforms the deadest, darkest places in our lives. Just as you need a charged or plugged in laptop to do your work, you need Him for energy and guidance to perform your work well. He helps us to shed dead weight (including unwanted pounds if that’s what you were asking of Him), get clarity, make decisions, and overcome obstacles. If you stay plugged into Him you can expect to be energized and pressure-free –without the risk of radiation.
Here are a few Bible verses that speak to me the most about connecting with God:
Isaiah 40:31 - "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on the wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
2 Timothy 1:7 - "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Getting Plugged in
So, how do we plug in? It’s simple and only requires your willing heart:
Pray – This is your direct connection to the Lord through Jesus Christ. The more you spend time with Him in prayer, the more you feel His presence and see His hand on your life. You’ll notice that you’ll have the strength, power, and energy to tackle things that normally drain you.
Read the Word – How else will you know about the power of connectedness with God if you don’t know what he says about it? It’s in the Bible that we learn about God’s character, expectations, and (most importantly) His love for us. Reading the Bible consistently helps us to avoid wasting time busying ourselves with unfruitful endeavors. As Joshua 1:8 says, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Surround Yourself with Spiritual People – Energy is contagious! When we’re depleted spiritually, we can get recharged by the spiritual company we keep. Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Friends that are filled up with the Lord are able to radiate that energy towards us when we spend time with them. They can also redirect us when we’re going in a dark direction.
Have you been unplugged from God lately? You’re never too far gone or too late to reconnect. Remember that the energy required for you to live life to the fullest starts with Him. Otherwise, you’re just a dead thing taking up space.
Until next time!