Let's start off with a few questions I would like you to ask yourselves:

1)     Do you ever feel spiritually drained?

2)     How do we recharge our spiritual battery?

3)     Why is daily charging important?

Before I took the position of music worship director, my wife, Ann and I were starting to search for a church home. This action helped to recharge our spiritual batteries. We discovered that without consistent devotion we were would not make it to the next Sunday's service without a tow truck.  

Ephesians 5:14 says, "Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

We had our faith but little action. We were sleeping in faith, not living and acting in faith. At that point, having Christ shine on us would have been similar to sitting in a dark room for 10 minutes, then flipping the light on! Ouch! This is why our batteries were losing charge faster than the generic ones you get with a new remote. Something had to shift for not only Ann and I, but for our children as well. It is our responsibility to raise them up in a Godly manner; starting by example.

James 1:22-25 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.  But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it - not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it - they will be blessed in what they do."

This scripture is why we should "plug in" every day. I have been talking with the praise team about this very thing. It isn't enough to show up to rehearsal and Sunday's service, but to live every single day in worship, adoration and praise. What I am finding is that with daily time spent listening to Christian music and studying related scripture gives me a more consistent charge throughout the week. With this approach, the praise team can come energized to share with you how God is working in our lives each Sunday.

Recharging your spiritual battery requires daily commitment and sometimes being uncomfortable. Here are a few suggestions;

1)     Strengthening our relationships

a.  Becoming more Intimate with the Lord

             i.     This can give you freedom from anxiety in the presence of
                     vulnerability.

b.  Congregation, etc.

             i.     Every person has the need for a friend or a sounding board.

Proverbs 27:17 says, as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

2)     Restore our physical Health. (Diet, exercise and sleep)

a.  Take time for yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

b.  Find an "accountability partner".

3)     Get your head together! Refocus on what matters! 

Closing thoughts

If a battery is left unattended, its electrical current will drain, and over time it will lose its charge. We need to continually charge our spiritual batteries, so that the input of energy is higher than the output of energy. If you are in an environment that you can't totally control, where your spiritual battery is being constantly drained, then it is important to intentionally take action to recharge. Otherwise, there will come a time when the power of faith or revelation is needed only to find your battery is dead. Take action to continually charge your batteries through prayers, personal study, small groups, fellowship and worship.

Here is a closing scripture to carry with you the rest of the week.

Romans 8:5-13 says, Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.  Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation-but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.

God bless and may you stay forevermore charged!