I remember a time I overreacted. I was relaxing while watching a movie with my wife and son. I love those moments, but within a split second, everything went left. I had to run to the store, and I looked at my phone, only to see “Low battery – 15% remaining”. I remembered putting my phone on the charger, so surely this had to have been my wife’s or son’s fault. I began to react rather than respond. This went on for about five minutes because I was speaking from a place of loss or lack. After my wife showed so much grace, I soon realized the charger had been connected to the phone, but it was disconnected from the outlet. Nobody had messed with my phone. I just didn’t connect it to its power source. That’s a lot like what happens in Matthew 22:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
— Matthew 22:36–40 NIV
The Pharisees were overthinking it. They were attempting to build systems and routines around 613 laws, and Jesus said to consider just two. Learn how to love God and love people. Learn how to connect with the power source so you will have enough power to connect with people. If I’m honest, I would love to say this was the only time I had reacted rather than responded, but it’s not. Let’s face it, how often do we as people overthink things? Jesus taught us that God won’t perform purpose with your hands until you allow Him to perform passion in your heart. So this is our prayer. This is our declaration. This is our posture that, before we do anything, we have to acknowledge that God is everything. my phone was disconnected from its power source, it no longer had the power to do what it was designed to do. If we aren’t actively and regularly connecting to God, we won’t have the power to be good husbands, good wives, good sons, good daughters, or even good friends. God designed us for a purpose, but that only happens when we stay connected.