Recharge

By Connor McDaniel
Charging is important. Especially in the past 25 or so years, with the rise of smartphones and handheld technology, we are always looking for places to charge batteries. As the energy contained in the battery is transferred to the light, heat, and sound emitted by whatever is being powered, there is less energy stored in the battery. And depending on what the battery is powering and being used for, it can use up the energy quicker. Ever noticed how running certain apps on your phone runs the battery down faster than others?

Maybe you’ve noticed something like this with yourself, too. The obvious comparison is sleep. You get energy by resting all night and the next day your mind and body are ready to take on whatever life throws at you. Rest and recharging yourself are both just as important as charging your phone. And not just physically, sometimes you need a mental break as well. Ever been doing work at school and it feels like you just can’t do anymore? That’s usually because your brain is telling you it is trying to compute too much. (Pro tip from someone who has been there- build in ten minutes for a brain break when doing homework/studying to stretch or get a snack.)

Believe it or not, Jesus often took time for Himself to recharge. One example is in Matthew 14, after Jesus feeds the 5,000. The next big story after this is Jesus walking on water. But the thing that often gets glossed over is why Jesus wasn’t with the disciples. Verse 23 explains that, “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone…” After being surrounded by people and teaching them Jesus saw it was important to take care of Himself so that He could continue to do His best work. In the busy seasons of life we often forget to recharge. So, remember even Jesus took time to rest and pray and recharge Himself.