Have you ever gone to charge your phone, connected the cord and left it, only to come back hours later and find that it hadn’t charged? I know this has happened to me countless times with all of my technology. Far too often I would go to plug in a device and find out that my cord had been unplugged from the power bank or outlet. When this happens, I am deceived into thinking that my phone is gaining power, when in truth it simply sits there. The same thing can happen in our relationship with Jesus.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” In John 15:1 Jesus gives the analogy of Himself being the vine. Just like an outlet the vine gives power and strength to those who are connected to it. Later on in the chapter Jesus says: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4) What we can see here is that the only way for us to live productive lives as Christians is when we are plugged in to Jesus our only source of true spiritual power.

Now I get it, the example of Jesus as the true vine is often over-used. I’ve heard it countless times, but it conveys a message that is scattered throughout the scripture: ‘Jesus alone can give us the strength we need to live in the freedom God intends for us.’ So, what happens when we think we are plugged in, but we aren’t? I believe that just like with our phones, we can think we are receiving power, when we aren’t even connected to the outlet. How does this happen? Through unconfessed sin. Psalm 66:18 says: “If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” Sin keeps us from God, even the tiniest sin that we hold on to can keep us from Him. Isaiah 59:1-2 says: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” There is some terrifying truth behind this. When we are living with sin in our lives, no matter how hard we try to be a “good Christian”, we will not have God’s favor or power working through us.

How often do we attend church, go to Bible study, and serve in ministries in our own power? How often do we think we are plugged in to God when we ourselves have pulled the cord? It can be really easy to get sucked into a religious routine, and when this happens, the devil is ready to pounce. 1 Peter 5:8 says: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” I would like to make the argument that when we are feeling at our “highest” spiritually the devil is most likely to attack. It is at that time that we become less vigilant and begin to relax as the wind directs our sails. It is then, that he sneaks in and tricks us into pulling the cord. We get disconnected from God, but we think that we are receiving power. We follow the routine without the Holy Spirit truly working in us, and this leads to further sin. I know this, because it began to happen to me. I’m writing this because I realized that I was getting caught in the routine. I went from an all-time spiritual high where I felt on fire for Jesus to feeling separated from Him. This happened because while I thought I was charging I had forgotten to check to see if I was plugged in. I began to trust in my own Bible reading more than the One who authored it. I had fallen for the devil’s trap.

Thankfully, there is hope for all of us who have foolishly pulled the cord on our relationship with Jesus. It may have been an accident, but the effects are still the same. James 4:8 & 10 provide us with a plan to reconnect to Jesus. “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.” Humility is the solution. We often become unplugged because we trust in our own strength. We need to trust wholly in God. He loves us and wants what’s best for us. Without Him we are completely powerless, but when we repent, and become reconnected, He can and will do amazing things in our lives.