The main question I've heard repeated while waiting in lines for gas, groceries, or God is "Do you have power?"

Since Hurricane Ike hit, most of us in the Houston area have been without electricity.  As of this writing, two weeks after the storm hit, around 20% of the Houston area is in the heat during the day and the dark during the night.  We were without the juice for ten days at my house.  It felt like a long camping trip without going anywhere and seeing anything beautiful.  It felt like one birthday party after another, without the cake and the presents and the fun.  I've lit more candles in the last two weeks than a Catholic does in twenty years.  Mark this down in the category of things I never thought I'd say to my wife--"Hon, we're out of candles, can you pick some more up at the store?  I'm really fond of Cinnamon & Vanilla."

All joking aside, it has been difficult for the Greater Houston area.  While the vast majority of the city has been patient & neighborly, I've also seen tempers flare at the four-way stoplights, the gas station, and the grocery store (who knew those little old ladies could be so pushy with a cart full of Ensure?)  But there I go with the jokes again. 

And it all prompts the question, "Do you have power in your life?"

In 2nd Timothy 3:5, Paul warns young Tim about believers who have a form of godliness but no power.  They've got it together on the outside--they make a passing grade with their church attendance, give a little to charity, and participate in the PTA--but they have no inner power when it comes to loving and forgiving others, dealing with money, gossip, and self-control.  

So, do you have the "form" of godliness, or do you really have God's power in your life?  

And if you don't have the Holy Spirit juicing your passions, how do you restore the power?

Same way we've been restoring the power in Houston:

1.  Haul the trash away--confess sin.  After the hurricane, our yards were littered with debris.  I bagged almost 30 large bags of leaves and small branches and trash from my yard.  I hauled out downed fence as well.  Haul your personal junk, your sin, to the curb and watch God take it away to the garbage dump.  He did that 2000 years ago, by the way, at a garbage dump called Calvary, the place where Jesus the Garbage Man took your personal garbage off your hands and put it upon his own.  See John 3:16 & 1 John 1:9 for details.

2.  Prune back--reestablish your priorities.  The linemen from states all around the country have come to help Houston, and many have been saying they've never seen such damage to the electrical infrastructure, due to the trees growing so close to the power lines.  Some of us need to do some personal cutting back, too, pruning everything out of our hearts that isn't part of God's plan for us.  There are so many good things to say "Yes" to in life, but say "Yes" to the best thing--your walk with Christ--and you won't mind so much if you have to say "No" to some other things.  It may be your schedule or your finances or your hobbies--but nothing should ever come before your relationship with God.

3.  Reconnect--It's a wonderful thing when the juice comes back on.  One minute you're sitting at your table, praying for another breeze, then you hear a pop down the street, then the lights come back on.  My nine-year-old daughter literally yelled out the window, "Hallelujah!  We've got the power!"  

Reconnecting with God can be done every day through the disicplines of His Word and prayer.  Touch your fallen line to His Transformer by reading the Word and spending some time conversing with God.  After all, prayer is simply conversation between two friends (to be sure, one of them is a Holy, Holy, Holy Friend).  You'll crackle to life and begin to light up your world.  

So, do you have power?