The fuel light comes on in the car. The bars go down on the cell phone. A low-battery message appears on the computer. All of these things are signs that the power to provide service is running low. What are your warning signs? How do you know when you need to spiritually recharged?
      Do you feel that you are just doing your duty instead of serving out of love? Are you doing less and less? If so you may be running out of spiritual energy?
     If you find yourself in this situation, there is a solution. Go back to full power by plugging in to the source. God is our source of power to live the Christian life. If you are running out of fuel, go back to the basics of your relationship with Jesus. Get in the Word, spend time in prayer and allow him to refuel you.
     The Bible talks a lot about bread, referring to it as a necessary substance of life. Jesus says that he is our spiritual bread. He is what we need to live. Just as bread gives nourishment and energy to our physical body, our relationship with Jesus is essential to our spiritual energy. He knows us and knows how to meet our needs. The psalmist says, “When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way.” (Psalm 142:3) (NIV)
     Sometimes we try to keep going and keep serving when we are out of power. This usually results in one of two outcomes. The first possible outcome is that we become ineffective because we are doing the same things that we have always done, but we are doing them in our own power. The second outcome is that we burn out and come to a complete stop. We give up that position at church. We stop taking part in those community projects. We may even pull away from our family and friends.
     When you plug a device into a recharger, you reconnect it to the power source that had always been there. The power didn’t change. The connection did. Our power source never changes. We just become disconnected.
     Do you have any blinking lights or low battery lights flashing? If so, plug in. The power source is right where you left it, waiting for you to come back.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) (NIV)