I’m not sure why this happened to me. I had prayed it wouldn’t.
Honestly, I’m still not sure how we got here . . . but . . .

I have a son who loves Pokemon.

If you’ve ever had a child ask you to play Pokemon – and then explain the completely inaccessible-to-an-adult rules to you – you understand my pain. I don’t actually think there are rules. My theory is that every child makes up their own guidelines and then proudly proclaims them with a confidence only found in 7-10 year olds.

This is a bit of a nerdy post, but it’s worth it if you can stick with me . . .

The point is this: Ryder told me he wanted to show me his “most valuable card”. I expected him to show me some monster with an ice tail or dragon with fire scales . . . instead he showed me this card:

“ENERGY RESET: Put as many energy attached to your Pokemon as you like into your hand.”

Now, I don’t know much about Pokemon, but I do know this: Pokemon gain power by being played alongside energy cards.

How insightful of this little guy to see that even his strongest player is nothing without energy. In fact, an energy reset . . .

Please tell me that I am not alone in this: I want to be one of the best players. I want to be strong and significant and helpful and useful. It’s not a competition in my head with anyone but myself, but it still exists.

How often do we focus on being the best, without being the fullest?

An empty you does no good in the battles that lay before you. A tired you has no legs to stand on in the face of the difficulty ahead.

Consider this your ENERGY RESET: Put as much energy attached to your Spirit as you like into your hand. 

Fill up. As much as you like. All of it.

Don’t believe the lie that you can win the battles ahead on your own merit, intellect, strength, gifting, or even calling. We are finite beings, who need to be refilled – refueled, but we have access to an infinite God who delights in pouring himself out into us.

Quiet moments filling your life with the Spirit of the living God will make you the best version of you.

People filled with the Holy Spirit loving and leading and serving and sharing their stories is the best strategy God has to heal this world.

I’m in for that.
Every bit of me.
Full and overflowing.

Do you need an Energy Reset today?

P.S. It’s possible that some older kid just tricked Ryder into thinking this card was valuable to trade him for a rad monster . . . but I like to think I have an 8-year-old who is wise beyond his years. It’s more fun . . .