angelaschmeling

This last spring my husband and I took a trip to Universal Studios. Just the two of us to….as we like to say, to remember that we like each other, not just love each other. We always try to do a getaway each year for this.

Now, when we first met, I was not a fan of roller coasters. In fact, I hated them. However, over the last 20 years of us being together, I have learned to somewhat enjoy them. This last trip, we went on a new roller coaster called the VelociCoaster. It is incredibly intense with massive speeds and spins and at the end you wonder what in the world just happened.

Kinda feels like life sometimes, right? You get the highs and the lows and then spinning out of control, wondering what happened. Life all of a sudden speeds up and you feel like you have lost your mind.

Unlike a rollercoaster ride, that sometimes can leave you with an energetic high at the end, life can leave you feeling drained. Like your battery is running low and needs to be recharged.

Do you feel drained?

Drained people can easily get discouraged, anxious and fearful. They worry and snap at people, even those that are closest to them, without cause.

When in these moments, one question we need to ask ourselves is what is fueling us? What are we feeding on during these turbulent times? What am I doing to recharge myself in those rollercoaster moments to become a better spouse, sibling, parent, friend, coworker?

The Bible says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.”

Does that mean that everything will be all honky dory when you do? Great and perfect and nothing will ever go wrong again? All rainbows and sparkles? Of course not!

BUT if we keep our spiritual batteries charged, it makes that trial, that struggle, that hardship, that rollercoaster ride, just a little easier.

So what can we have fuel us?

1. His Word

Yep, anyone who knows me or has read any of my other posts knew I was going to go there. But seriously, if we focus on God. His love, His encouragement, His word, things can get easier. Focusing on something or rather Someone bigger than us and renewing our mind daily to His word may not make everything magically resolve, but it will make your mindset and attitude towards it better.

For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

Romans 8:6 NKJV

2. Positive Relationships

Nothing can drain us faster than being around people that are life suckers. We need to find people that can encourage us, lift and build us up, and help us recharge our batteries! Does that mean you can only associate with positive Christian people? Of course not! BUT, your main relationships should be with life giving people!

A man who has friends must himself be friendly. But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 18:24

Do not be deceived. Evil company corrupts good habits.

1 Corinthians 15:33

3. Check Your Schedule

Recharge your batteries with a balanced schedule. Falling on my sword here because I am TERRIBLE at this! I have a hard time saying no to people which makes my schedule go crazy and some weeks it is an absolute mess and then add in the kids and husband schedule and I’m lucky I make it anywhere (especially if I forget to put it in my calendar…I don’t!) I am slowly learning that I cannot let my schedule control me. I am not given that much time on Earth and I need to be wise on how I am spending it.

Teach us to number out days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

See that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time

Ephesians 5:15-16

We need to make sure we are taking the time for quiet and still moments with our Heavenly Father. Taking time with friends and family. Don’t be a slave to your schedule.

If you are burning the candle at both ends, you are not as bright as you think you are.

4) Eyes and Ears

What are you watching? What are you listening to? Now before you get all, “I can watch whatever I want or listen to anything and it doesn’t affect me” please hear me out.

Music and movies affect us whether we realize it or not. They can tie us with emotions that we don’t always realize at first. Think about a movie that you love. What’s the emotion that comes with that? Think about a movie you watched and how you felt afterward. How do you feel when your favorite song comes on? You can’t tell me that movies and music don’t affect you at all.

My point is that if we are constantly watching movies that are depressing and not edifying, if we are listening to music that has words that are not life building it’s going to eventually take a toll. It will drain your batteries. If we are constantly watching the news or some political channel (which is consistently negative nowadays) it can and will change our attitude.

Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that’s it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get joy with, I’d be a slave to my whims.

1 Corinthians 6:12 MSG

I am not saying that this is all bad. Don’t hear what I’m not saying. But if that is all you listen to, all you watch, or even a majority, your batteries are not going to be charged and you are still going to feel depleted. If you’re not feeling rejuvenated, check on how you’re being fueled.

Let’s remember to be the best us, the best for others around us, we need to recharge!

Check your battery. How’s it running?