Stop “Low Power Mode” Christianity
Most smart phones have a feature that recommends enabling Low Power Mode once a certain battery percentage has been met (usually at 20%, and then again at 10%).
Low Power Mode usually restricts push notifications, internet speeds, and other background operations necessary to work properly. So, we miss out on certain features when we fail to stay connected to a power source for prolonged periods of time.
Unfortunately, many of us experience the Christian life in Low Power Mode. We don’t realize everything we are missing out from having a powerful-Holy Spirit filled-prayerful life. This Low Power Mode Christianity results in us being (1) unsure of our standing with God, (2) unaware of our spiritual condition, (3) unstable in difficult circumstances, and more.
Let’s examine ourselves:
Could it be that the reason why we are anxious, the reason why we fail to consistently share our faith, the reason why our marriages are failing, why our children aren’t growing up as faithful followers of Jesus, why we pray with doubt, why we are complacent with sin, is because we choose to live lives that are minimally connected to God?
From the Bible
A close look at Ephesians 3:14-21 would lead us to realize that if we want to experience the power of God, then we must stay connected to Him always.
To give some context, Paul discussed plenty in Ephesians, but one of the key themes in this letter is to help this church understand the benefits of being connected to God.
In fact, in verse 14, Paul takes a moment to explain to these believers why he is praying for them, and in here we see the contents of his prayer. This prayer reveals the advantage of a connected life, the life of a person who has surrendered to Jesus, and who understands the difference between Low Power Mode Christianity, and Fully Powered Christianity.
I’d like to show you two things we can learn from these verses.
1. Believers can experience the Power of God in their lives
“14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man” Ephesians 3:14-16
The reason why believers can experience the power of God in their lives, is because everything derives from God. He is the creator of the Universe. He has no limit in His power. He is the source. Sometimes we try to substitute the real power, with artificial power: relationships, careers, social media, tv shows, etc.
I wonder why we suffer with low self-esteem, I wonder why we are more susceptible to anxiety and depression than any other previous generation. Could it be that we’ve exchanged being connected with God, and instead we’ve become connected to an artificial battery that will inevitably leave us empty?
In Paul’s prayer we see that God is the one who can grant us the strength to persevere, to be confident, to be bold, because everything comes from Him, and the riches of His glory are limitless. As he said, “To be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.”
A person who is filled with God’s Spirit can go through anything. Can experience heartbreak, sadness, bullying, broken homes, mean teachers, mean co-workers, evil bosses; such person can tackle everything because his or her inner self will be powered not by artificial batteries, but by the Holy Spirit, this person will not be on Low Power Mode, this person will be fully charged and ready to tackle anything, with joy and gladness.
Therefore, we must Pursue a continual connection to God
How do we do this? Through prayer, reading Scripture, and memorizing His word, asking God daily to fill us with His Spirit. Not forgetting to gather to worship the Lord corporately. Truly, this is a life in Pursuit of God. Much like when we are aware that our phone is about to run out of battery, and we desperately seek out a power outlet. We must remember that we cannot exist more than a second away from God’s power.
It’s interesting, that one of the selling points in new phones is their battery life, as in, how long it will take before you have to go back to the source. We can’t live our lives this way…we must Pursue a continual connection to God. We cannot experience Him enough, we need him now and always. As we work, as we study, as we engage in the most mundane of tasks, all we do is in a posture of humility and absolute surrender. We pursue God, like a power outlet, and yet we don’t do it for the benefits, we do it because He is worthy.
Refrain from going to the artificial stuff first, Netflix can wait, Roblox can wait, that social media binge won’t do anything good, pursue a continual connection to God.
2. The benefits of staying connected to God surpass any benefit provided by anything else other than God.
“17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. ” Ephesians 3:17-19
How many times has worry, hatred, envy, lust, etc., dwelled in our hearts? We know these things are the result of a disconnected life, because we are using them as artificial power sources.
Yet in our right approach to pursue a Fully Powered Life, that is a life of Holiness, we will experience the joy of Christ dwelling inside of our hearts through faith.
In fact, according to Paul when we are empowered we will find four things:
- We will be rooted and Grounded in love.
- Be able to comprehend to incomparable levels.
- Know the love of Christ (which surpasses knowledge)
- We will be filled up to the fullness of God.
To ping back the phone analogy, we won’t be missing any features that would be wrought by Low Power Mode.
Instead, we will be empowered, as Paul reminds us in His prayer, with God’s Power for His glory…
“20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, 21 to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21
We will experience God’s power, because we are connected, and we will be able to live a Fully Powered Life.
May we today opt out of a Low Power Mode Christianity, and choose to pursue a continued connection with God.
Read other blogs here.
Book an appointment or phone-call here.
Books I recommend on this subject (this is not a paid advertisement)
