Spiritual Black Screen

Have you ever lost your computer to a “Black Screen?” I have had three black screen experiences…and that is NOT GOOD! I struggled with mixed emotions. I was sick to my stomach, I was devastated, I was sad, and I was very panicked.

Can you imagine what you would feel If you were in an emergency; hit “on” to your device, and the screen is BLACK? What emotion would come over you?

I had to quickly tell myself, “BE STILL, don’t panic, and pray!” Each experience caused me to do a “troubleshooting” process. What were the circumstances that occurred before each event? Was there anything that was similar between the experiences?

Daily experiences often cause me to have what I call, “God Moments.” I immediately thought about our personal spiritual lives as I thought about the loss of power and black screens to my computers. I realized we need reserves and need to stay charged up in our Christian walk. We need to have faith and simultaneously check our connection to the source and resolve any issues that might hinder our best performance. I summarized what I learned from my black screen experiences that I could apply to our spiritual life.

First, fill the tank (in some manner…plug in to the source).

“God is our refuge and strength, a tested help in times of trouble” (Psalms 46:1). Too often our first go-to is our own strength to get through our crises. We pull on our intellectual wisdom and past experience. However, our strength is not sufficient because the Bible declares God’s words, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”(Isaiah 55:8-9).

We need to fill our tank with the WORD of God. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). We need to praise and worship God because, “The joy of the Lord is your strength. You must not be dejected and sad!” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Make sure you have asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He is the only source of power on which we can depend. Jesus died and rose from the grave to restore us to right relationship with God. Jesus promised that he would send Holy Spirit to be our comforter, teacher, and power source to guide us as “an advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth” (John 14:16-17a). “We get our new life from the Spirit. So we should follow the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25).

Continue to pray and peek (check the battery, is it critical and in the red or is the battery now green?)

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). Prayer is our continued connection to God. Our prayer life should be like the set of a bird’s wings; one side prayer and the other side praise.

Counting your blessings every day is peeking at the goodness of God and the progress of His filling and providing for you. We need to remember the accomplishments of our God. What have we seen God provide for us? Do we count God’s marvelous works as unable to meet our needs for today? “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

Continue praying and keep filling from the source. Be at rest (peace) and give time without continued peeking. Go about doing the next right thing and trust God will make all things right.

We need to realize that we are leaky vessels and do not hold a never-ending charge of God’s presence. Being a Christian is a daily relationship talking to God (God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit). As we input the Word of God daily, pray and praise daily, we will gain a peace that passes all understanding and keeps our hearts and minds stayed upon Him (Philippians 4:17).

Stress and worry drains the tank of energy. The Peace of God fills the tank. Holy Spirit and His nudgings of Truth through the word, prayer, and praise also helps to seal some of those cracks in our tank and improves the longevity of the fillings. But, we must NEVER forget, God walked with Adam every day in the cool of the day. God wants to do the same with us, and therefore, we can assume, God is a daily moment by moment filling God that doesn’t want us to store up for a lifetime at one filling.

Remember the first glimpse of screen light turns up our FAITH.

There are times we have been chugging along and we forget the wonders of God’s interventions and blessings in our lives. We can miss the small actions that are the beginning of the refueling of our lives because we are still focused on all the negative and lack we are experiencing.

In my own experience, I have found God doesn’t give the full end of the story’s picture. He gives small glimpses of encouragement that keeps me going, knowing that God knows where I am and what I’m experiencing. I can know that He has never failed me, and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Our walk with God is by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). But, glimpses along the path sure do go a long way to keep us putting one foot in front of another. I heard recently, “If I can see your Face (God), I can finish the race” (Author Anonymous). God said through Jeremiah the prophet, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (29:11). We need to daily keep seeking for the glimpse of God’s power in our lives.

Trust God to be your source and stay plugged in at all costs.

It was amazing that as I have worked on this article, I’ve had to put into practice my words. I think that is a God Moment to confirm to me that I cannot write to others what I am not living. I woke up this morning with a feeling of dread. A feeling that I could compare to a “Black Screen” moment. I did not have a desire to get out of bed, I didn’t want to go to work, I wanted to hide in my house for the day. Many years ago, this was a daily experience and I had to push my way with Christ through those dark days to where I am today.

I quickly realized I was in a spiritual battle to trust God to be my power source. I needed to recharge and power up at all costs. I sat longer and was quiet before I started my morning routine. During my quiet time I was crying out to God expressing my weakness. I finally had enough energy to open my Bible and complete my normal morning devotionals. As I plugged in to my daily routine, I could sense the fog of my mind and body lifting. By the time I left for work, I was able to pray and praise God with my normal energy and taking in the sounds and sights that continue to remind me of God’s GREAT love and compassion. I could have been defeated for the day if I had not recognized that my power source was needing to be plugged in at all costs.

I cannot afford to function on a low spiritual battery. People in my sphere of influence may need me to be the spark of energy they need in their lives for that day. I pray that you will find God as your power source and that you establish a routine that keeps you charged up and running on full each and every day.