A Prayer to Recharge
By Tammy Darling
Bible Reading
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’” Mark 6:31, NIV
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Because I use my camera so often, I have not one but three batteries for it; I am still continuously recharging them. As created beings, we don’t have three “batteries”—we have only one; therefore, it’s imperative that we recharge ourselves on a regular basis.
I’ve learned the hard way that if I let my camera battery run completely down, it takes a whole lot longer to recharge than if I just consistently recharge it after a couple of uses. I’m no different. But too often I’ve nearly drained myself physically, spiritually, and emotionally… and then had a much harder (and longer) time trying to refresh and recharge.
Even a battery left unused will lose its electrical current, and over time, its charge will drain. To avoid a “dead” battery when we need strength and energy most, we must keep it charged at a level higher than the battery's energy drain.
Experientially, I’ve learned the importance of recharging before I need the “power” to get through my day. Keeping batteries charged isn’t something you do once and then forget about. Our physical and spiritual lives are no different.
Most people would say they don’t have time to refresh and recharge—there’s just too much to do. I’ve said it myself at times. But working nonstop will only leave us drained and even less productive than if we had taken a bit of time to recharge.
If we plug a single light into a battery pack, it will last a decent amount of time. But if we plug in 100 lights, the battery will drain quickly. We tend to have so many lights plugged in that our battery is always on “low”, indicating that we don’t have much of ourselves left to give to others or to what we’re trying to do.
Recharging must be a priority in our lives; there will always be something else that takes its place. It wasn’t until I deliberately scheduled daily “recharge” time into my day that it happened consistently. My goal is to spend at least 30 minutes per day.
Here are four ways we can recharge:
Solitude
It’s not just the busyness of our current society that creates a need to recharge—even Jesus and His disciples needed time to refresh themselves, as we can see in today’s Bible reading.
Find a secluded place where you can pull away from others and spend quiet time alone with the Father. If I am unable to do anything else, I will go outside and take a walk, even if it’s only around our 1.5-acre property.
Have fun
Jesus came to give life abundantly (see John 10:10), so it stands to reason that He also lived life abundantly. In John 2:1-2, Jesus is at a wedding party celebrating a marriage.
Many activities recharge us and foster enthusiasm for life, but we engage in them so little. Give yourself permission to have fun.
Laugh
Countless studies have proven the many benefits of laughter, but thousands of years ago, the Bible already had it figured out. “A cheerful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22, NIV).
Our family regularly watches Christian comedians and light-hearted Christian movies. We love to laugh and always feel great afterwards. But we don’t stop there—we choose to laugh at our limitations, quirks, and uniqueness too! Laughter is a great way to recharge.
Nap
Jesus didn’t just sleep, He napped. “And Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion” (Mark 4:38a, NIV). This was no nighttime slumber; Jesus was taking an evening nap.
In a society that views napping as laziness or, at the very least, a luxury they can’t afford, it may surprise many to realise that Jesus napped—which means we can too. Naps are needed. (Didn’t we tell our toddlers just that? I know I did.) A short afternoon nap refreshes and recharges us, making us more productive, not less. Jesus knew what He was doing; we want to be like Jesus.
There’s no magic formula for recharging. Just find what works for you. I like to use a variety of methods and often combine two or three in a single day. The key is that we do it. God’s Word models ways we can recharge, but it’s up to us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers (James 1:22). Decide today to recharge daily.
Let's Pray
Father God, we are grateful that in Your great wisdom, You call us to come away from the world and rest. Without proper care for ourselves, we become drained and susceptible to the enemy’s attacks. Just as Jesus took time to recharge, we can too, without guilt or shame.
May we choose to do those things that recharge us spiritually, physically, and mentally. Thank You for reminding us to come away with You.
With grateful hearts, Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
GO DEEPER:
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/PeopleImages
Tammy Darling is the author of 1,600 published articles and three books. She writes from her home in rural Pennsylvania.
Related Resource: Praying Through Life’s Battles
What battle are you carrying today?
Maybe it is an unanswered prayer, a painful loss, a strained relationship, a health concern, or a circumstance that feels far beyond your control. When life feels overwhelming, we can become so consumed by our emotions—or so busy trying to fix everything ourselves—that prayer is often one of the first things we neglect.
This week on The Love Offering Podcast, my friend Rachel Wojo joins me to talk about her new 90-day devotional, Praying Through Life’s Battles. Drawing from her experience of loving and losing her daughter, Taylor, Rachel shares how prayer has sustained her through unimaginable grief and reminded her that she never faces life’s battles alone.
If you like what you hear, be sure to follow The Love Offering on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Originally published Tuesday, 08 September 2026.
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