ABUNDANT LIVING KEY #4: ENERGIZE

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I once heard someone say, "You can't steer a car that isn't moving."  So true.  Today we'll use Key #4 to find out how to ENERGIZE our vehicles as we journey on with Jesus.
*Note for those in participating in the contest:  Add the "E" from Energize to the previous key letters and see what you get!

Bible verse for the week:  "For in Him we live and move and exist . . ."  Acts 17:28a
Instead of gasoline (which has gotten way too expensive), we'll fill our tanks with . . .
                                                                   . . . the 3 Productive P's:  Power, Praise and Prayer.  
The first "P" is Power.  First of all, let's pour some power into our tanks by plugging into the source of power, the almighty God.  When I unplug my television set, the picture doesn't appear.  I plug it in, and voila!  The show begins!
Likewise, we won't produce positive results for eternity (remember the pulp from Key #2?) if our spirits are not "plugged in" to God.  We plug in. . . leave the cord attached. . . as we connect to God's Spirit through submission to His will, Bible reading and conversation with Him.  And watch out for sin.  Sin is a great "cord-yanker!"  
The second "P" is Praise.  Praising God comforts and encourages me because it turns my focus away from my problems and difficulties to remembering who God is. . . the awesome Creator.  "For nothing will be impossible with God."  Luke 1:37
A phrase in Psalm 116:17 stumped me for a long time.  It refers to the "sacrifice of praise (or thanksgiving)."  How, I wondered, can praising God be a sacrifice?  Then it occurred to me that when I find myself in tough circumstances. . . even painful circumstances. . . and I choose to "sacrifice" my feelings of despair and cancel my pity party to simply praise God for who He is, I give Him a great gift.  Whenever I let my anxiety go and sincerely praise and thank God, He gives me a gift in return, the "peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension. . . " Philippians 4:7a
The third "P" is Prayer.  Through talking with God and trusting Him, we unleash His power. . . the power that can move mountains and bring strong men to their knees, the same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead, according to Ephesians 1:18-20.
So let's fill up our tanks with the 3 Productive P's and get those vehicles running!