Caution Low Battery

Driving home from church today we stopped at the drive thru window at our local pharmacy to pick up a prescription. Suddenly a warning flashed across the instrument panel of the car, the battery light came on, and the air conditioner turned off. The battery was low so the car automatically prevented the use of anything that would cause the battery to be drained, or anything that would cause undue stress on it. I thought to myself what a smart car.

 Oftentimes when our physical wellbeing or health is at risk our bodies will give us a warning. We may experience an elevation in our body temperature or have a fever if our body is trying to fight off an infection. Our blood pressure may increase if we are under stress, or overweight. We may become weak or shaky if our blood sugar is low.

It’s obvious when our financial wellbeing is impacted. The balance in our bank account decreases which often impacts our physical and emotional wellbeing.

What about your emotional wellbeing? What causes a drain on you emotionally? Do you have relationships that are draining? Are there people in your life that continuously draw from you without allowing you to replenish. Are you constantly giving and not receiving anything in return? There may be people in your life that only reach out to you when they need something. They may not request anything tangible, but giving the intangible, or giving yourself may be just as costly. You may hear from them once every blue moon, or they may call you weekly. When they call they talk and talk and talk. Sometimes they ask for advice and sometimes they tell you everything that has occurred in their lives since the last time you have spoken. When they end the conversation and it’s usually them that does because they do not allow you to get a word in you feel as though you need to rest.

What’s going on with you spiritually? Do you spend quality time in the presence of God or do you call Him when you need Him like the person in the previous paragraph that’s only looking for what they can get out of a relationship. We read in the Joshua 1:8 this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success

What’s draining your battery?

What’s depleting you physically? Are you trying to squeeze 48 hours into 24? Take time to rest. Look at your schedule if you don’t have one make one.  What’s on your schedule that you can eliminate or reduce the amount of time allotted? Account for all of your time and always include time to rest.

How about your finances? Can you account for all of your income? Are you spending wisely? Do you have a savings plan and a budget? After tithing always pay yourself first. If you experience a decrease income change your spending habits. Eliminate unnecessary spending. Is it cheaper to cook or eat out? Believe it or not sometimes it’s less expensive to eat out if you are only feeding one person. A side salad and chicken nuggets may cost $2 for lunch providing protein and leafy greens verses buying salad fixings and either meat from the deli or fresh meat to cook from the grocery store that may spoil or go to waste if not cooked or eaten. Fresh is always best but we must also be budget conscious.

Do you have emotional relationships that strengthen you or are they one-sided? Surround yourself with people that have your best interests at heart. You may have to distance yourself from some people while reaching out to others that can assist you in your journey. Glean from those around you and offer your knowledge to others without putting yourself in a position that drains you.

We read Joshua 1:8 that we should meditate on the word of God. Are you meditating on God’s word? What happens when you meditate on something? It becomes second nature, a habit. You do it without thinking. When you meditate on the word of God His ways become your ways and in doing so you make your way prosperous because you are following His formula for success.

Take inventory of your life. Recharge your battery. I purchased a new battery for my car but we only have one life. Make the best of yours. Eliminate what is draining you.