So, I thought my cute little sweet potato slices were taking an inordinately long time to bake in the toaster oven.  I was trying to do too many things at once, talking on the phone and making dinner at the same time.  Part way through my phone conversation, the 20 minute timer went off, signaling the need to turn the slices over.  “Curious”, I thought to myself as I kept talking.  The slices still seemed really firm.  Ten minutes later, I figured out why.

The toaster oven was unplugged.  The funny part was that I even used oven mitts to pull the cold tray out.

Silly me.  You need power to make things happen.  Things like a hot dinner.

This morning in my quiet time, by coincidence (although I think I hear God telling me otherwise) I was reading a verse about power.  “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1: 18-19)

There are times in my life when I don’t sense God’s power, never mind the exceeding greatness of it. And I know that’s not God’s fault. Of course the power is there for me, but I think I’ve been unplugged. I let things distract me from spending time with God and His Word.  I think everything is going fine, and then I realize I’m cold.  I wasn’t connected to the source of the power.  And my attempt to manage my own life is pretty useless without it. 

I’ll probably think about that the next time I put something in that old toaster oven.  I’ll check the plug.  And I’ll be reminded that I need to check my own connection, too. 

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…”  Ephesians 3:20

 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

“That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”        1 Corinthians 2:5

“…that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.”  2 Corinthians 4:7

“Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power..” Colossians 1:11