WEEK ONE: POWER UP

Several years ago, I was having a conversation with a person who, along with her husband, had just purchased a new Tesla and had decided to take their new car on a cross-country trip. For the first few days, everything was great. The car would tell them how far they could travel on a charge and when it got close to being drained, they would jump off the highway, charge it up, and then continue on their trip. However, after several days they found themselves in a more remote part of the country… and what they hadn’t realized or planned for was that, out there not many places had charging stations. And even if they did, they were much farther apart and harder to get to. Needless to say, they soon found themselves stranded with a dead battery.  Touring around in their brand-new car had sounded like a lot of fun and a great idea, but without a source of power, that plan now did not hold the same appeal that it had in the beginning.

How often are we like that car? We set off in life with energy and a plan, but if we are not consistently replenishing the “batteries” of our lives, we too will find ourselves stranded and looking for a way to recharge. So what is powering your life?

One of the last things that Jesus told his followers is found in Acts 1:8. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  (NLT) Jesus had promised that God would send his Holy Spirit and now it was time for his followers to experience a life that was Spirit-empowered.

You see, the Holy Spirit takes every aspect of your life and empowers it. He gives you thoughts that are beyond your thoughts, understanding that is beyond your understanding, and words that are life-giving. The Holy Spirit gives us insight and foresight. He strengthens our faith and our love for others.

If there are areas in your life where you feel like you don’t have the strength, the power, the wisdom, or the ability to love like Jesus loved, all that you need to live this life for God is found by living in and being empowered by God’s Holy Spirit.

Seek that empowerment daily. Be refreshed and refilled by the Spirit consistently and see what God can do with your life. So I ask again, “What is powering your life?”