Recharge

As we proceed through forty days together in a time of devotion for the Lenten Season, we need to recognize three steps to assure spiritual change and growth. Yesterday we talked about the first step – our need to resolve to take specific steps. Today, we want to look at the second step. If you wish to grow spiritually during the next forty days, you must recharge your spiritual battery. To recharge, we must connect with the correct charger. Next, we must understand what drains our battery. Finally, we need to recharge before our battery is completely drained.

There was an interesting article regarding Teslas in the Chicagoland area. The brutally cold temperatures and accumulated snow this winter led to flight cancellations, school closings, and libraries converted to warming centers. The weather also created another problem: long lines at electrical vehicle charging stations.

The bone-chilling cold causes chargers to take more time than usual. A charge the should take about 45 minutes instead was pushing 3 hours to charge. Add to that waiting lines as long as five hours and electrical car owners were spending all day attempting to charge their cars.

Problems for the Recharge

The problem was not unique to Tesla owners. Lithium-ion batteries are notably prone to problems during cold conditions, especially when temperatures drop below freezing. Several other challenges face the car owners: drained batteries make it difficult to open the doors, the battery’s internal chemistry slows, making it more difficult for the car to operate at full capacity and it decreases the car’s driving range. A car rated for 250 miles might only be getting about 135.

In addition, operating the heater, defroster, lights, and wipers all consume extra power which drains the battery faster. Driving in ice and snow increases the car’s resistance, requiring more energy to move the car.

Owner’s manuals suggest “preconditioning” the car in cold weather to prepare the battery to be charged. Several measures, like defrosting the vehicle and adjusting the cabin’s climate can warm the battery and get it ready for charging.

In addition, manuals suggest that an owner not let the battery level go below 20% and should not charge it above 80%.

Recharging a car battery – especially in the cold weather – takes a lot of effort.

The article got me thinking about recharging our spiritual batteries and opened the door to several comparisons.

Certain Circumstances Demand More Frequent Recharging

The cold weather created all kinds of problems for both the batteries and the charging. The process was slower; it did not last as long; more people needed charging; along with a host of other issues. But, remember, even in the best of circumstances, the batteries eventually needed to be recharged.

Even in the best of circumstances, eventually spiritual batteries need to be recharged. Craig Groeschel, pastor of the megachurch, life.church, recently revealed that shortly after COVID, he hit a spiritual wall that he could not break through alone. Craig became more and more frustrated with the circumstances because he had always been able to rest and recover and recharge before, but nothing was working for him at this point. His therapist, Dr. Wayne Chappelle, helped Craig recognize what was happening, and forumate a plan – which included support people – to work through the circumstances.

Chappelle believe that who we are today is different than who we were a year ago and is different than who we will be next year. Circumstances are always in constant change. What worked for us last year may not work this year and probably won’t work next year. We have to have a plan in place to recognize which circumstances cause us the feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. Once recognized we can “prep” our minds to be recharged.

Most Batteries Need Preconditioning for Optimum Charging

The car batteries needed prepping during the difficult cold circumstances before charging would be effective. The car needed to be defrosted and warmed a bit. The voltage needed to be lower. The batteries should be charged when there was still about 20% power within it. They should not be overcharged.

In order for my spiritual battery to be recharged, my mind has to be at rest. Have you ever had so much worry on your mind that you could not get it out of your head? In order for charging to work for me, I have to be at peace with my circumstances. Sometimes the location helps me do that. Believe it or not, the ocean creates that space for me. Watching a baseball game does the same thing.

When I begin to get to that resting place, I try to do two things. Christian music begins to soothe my soul. The old hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness” is the perfect song for me to establish the mood. Anyone singing it – and any arrangement – provides the setting. One of my favorite renditions of the song is by the group 4Him.

Two performing artists also help set the stage for me. Any of Amy Grant’s more religious numbers are helpful for me. If the season is Christmas, I can just put on one of her many albums. During other times, I love the song. “Better than a Hallelujah, Sometimes.”

The charging for me either comes from the Psalms or the Gospels. I need to spend time in the Word – and particularly in those books. Reading of the power of the emotions of David or others straightens my thinking. Looking to the life of Christ straightens my heart.

Sometimes the Charging Process Requires Patience

During the cold weather, charging took longer, needed to be done more often, and sometimes there were long lines at the charging stations. The charging process required patience. The same is true with spiritual recharging.

During times of crisis, recharging may take longer. It may take you longer to prepare for the process. Listening to one sermon or reading a Sciprture one afternoon may not be sufficient for the charge. The process may take a while. Craig Groeschel revealed that his recharging process took about 17 months.

Are there warning signs for a low spiritual battery? Are there lights that flicker on your dashboard? For me, the signs are being overly critical about things, a quicker temper, and a lack of desire to write about my faith.

Personal Recharge

So, can I get you to participate in today’s devotional process? In the comment box below, can you tell me how you recharge? I shared with you Christian music does it for me, along with the Psalms and the Gospels. What helps you recharge your spiritual battery?