A common occurrence in our house is phones dying. We have charging cords everywhere, in the kitchen, bedrooms, living room and even the car! Sadly, the older the phones get, the quicker they lose their power and die. We all know when we get the first warning at 20%, that we need to find a charger as soon as possible.
Where do you find your power? Your strength to make it through another day? It seems like it would be an easy fix to just plug in to a power source when we feel drained and overwhelmed and then be all set to go again. There are many “power sources” that we try to use to fill us back up when we are drained. We may try working out, taking a nap, reading, chatting with a friend at a coffee shop, going for a walk, having a glass of wine, or enjoying time with friends. All of these are fine things and can help to revive us for a while. But they are all temporal fillings. They will not sustain us over the long haul or bring us consistent peace.
Tomorrow is the greatest celebration of the year! A day to focus, remember and worship our Lord, Jesus Christ who Rose from the dead for You and for Me! The power of His resurrection is the power that we have to tap into daily/hourly to keep going in this life.
Today our reading is Isaiah 40. The Israelites had experienced the power of God. They were delivered from slavery. God gave them a cloud to follow by day and a fire by night. They experienced food (manna) falling from the sky every morning. And, they had their enemies delivered right into their hands.
Even after experiencing all this power from God, the Israelites moved away from their source of power. Praying became less of a daily habit. Keeping the 10 commandments became optional. Parents stopped talking about God with their children. Judges became unjust. And as a nation, their faith slowly fell away. They separated themselves further and further from their Creator, and because of this they became exhausted.
Do you relate to this? Has praying become a ritual that happens only before meals or only at Church? When was the last time you sat down to read the Bible for an extended period of time? Do you talk to your children about faith and what it looks like in your personal life? Have you become exhausted like the Israelites and let your faith take a back seat or fall to the side? There are many times I fail at these things.
The truth is, we were made to be in deep connection with God (our power source). We are called to pray without ceasing.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 & 18
If we have fallen away from our power source, that is when we find our batteries dying and life becomes exhausting.
But, thank You Jesus for your power! Your power on the cross. You died that we may have life, and have it abundantly. The moment we turn to you, pray to You, read Your Word, and tell others about You, we will find our energy return.
Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. The will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:28-31
He Is Risen! Plug into the one and only TRUE power Source, Jesus Christ our Risen Lord!