On my last post, I wrote from my home that was running on half-power. After nearly four weeks of cold showers, layers of clothing, and wires running the floor of our 50 degree home (and that was before the temperature dropped recently!), you are probably wondering if we made it out on the other side.

Here is our story:

On a Wednesday morning, an electrician’s assistant came and looked at our panel and quickly found the culprit of our problems. It was a small piece that had gotten corroded over the years, only to be made worse by the January storms. The assistant said this was a common issue found all around the Bay Area, especially for homes closer to the water. He felt confident a good sanding down was all it needed since the parts were obsolete. And thankfully, he was right.

After a couple of hours, he returned the newly polished piece in its place, and then the electrician came to give the rest of the panel a good cleaning. They assured us that it should last us a good 10-15 years.

We held our breath as we turned on every switch in our home. Everything was working. Everything.

Isn’t that just like the Father? To give us a good sanding down AND a deep cleaning?

If the panel is our hearts, and our house is our soul - our hearts also need a good cleaning for our souls to run on full power. 

How many times have we uttered Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me,” and then take it back the minute the Lord convicts us?

The person we cut off on the freeway.
The sarcastic comment we made under our breath.
The friend we refused to reconcile with.
The money we promised to pay back.

This Psalm was written by David who knew well the Lord’s forgiving nature. And he knew the best way to receive it was to confess his guilt to the only One who could wash it off - Create in me a pure heart.

David also knew that without this washing, his heart was getting heavy with the corrosion of his sin. When we’re corroded, we short-circuit what power we do have - Renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Half power means running on our own strength - strength that is limited. Strength that cannot compete with the Creator of the heavens and earth. Strength that is not strong enough to forgive oneself by dying on a cross and rising again.

Full power is only found in a heart made pure by the living God. 

The deep cleaning is hard, but it’s worth it. Sanding corrosion down is painful. There’s less wires to trip around, and it’s really nice to have light when the night settles in.

As we step into the Lenten season, may I encourage you to consider the things that are keeping you from running on full power? To not settle for a heavy heart and a soul running only on half power, when you were made to thrive, not survive?

I can’t say I look any younger after all the cold showers, but what I can tell you is that running on full power is freeing. May we all choose today to run on full power with a pure heart and a renewed spirit. Are you in?