There’s a story told about a missionary in Africa whose car wouldn’t crank. So he came up with an ingenious way to start the car by parking on a hill and getting nearby school children to give the car a push.

For two years, the missionary started his car this way. Then, health problems forced a decision to return to the States. When the new missionary arrived, the older man explained the method for cranking the car.

The new missionary raised the hood and spotted the problem, “You just need to tighten this loose battery cable.” The new missionary sat in the driver’s seat, turned the ignition and the car cranked immediately because of a better connection.

What would we do without batteries? They operate our cars (hopefully, more so in the future). Batteries power our portable telephones, hearing aids, TV remote control, pacemakers, and more.

Digital cameras quickly drain the power from batteries, so I use rechargeable ones for my camera. I can plug in these batteries and restore them to full strength by leaving them plugged in overnight.

Batteries come in different shapes and sizes….like people. And, every one of us needs recharging regularly. Our physical strength gets depleted by work and sickness. Worry and stress will zap our energy.

How do people like you and me get “recharged” physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually? Here are some remedies I’ve researched.

Physically, we need to recharge our bodies by eating right and getting enough sleep each night. Mentally and emotionally, do something for the kid in you. There’s medical proof that laughter boosts the immune system by releasing a natural chemical in the brain.

One researcher has found that laughter lowers blood pressure. “Laughing relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, arthritis, and ulcers.” Laughter truly is good medicine – just like the Bible says (Proverbs 17:22).

Let’s look at three ways to recharge spiritually. First, reconnect by rest and quiet time. Jesus took time to come aside and be alone with God. Jesus promises, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). Vance Havner once said, “Jesus knows we must come apart and rest a while, or else we may just plain come apart.”

Second, reconnect with prayer, even when you don’t feel like praying or think you’re too busy. Have you ever heard that seven days without prayer makes one w-e-a-k? Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

Remember this third way to recharge your batteries. Reconnect by Scripture reading. Take time to read your favorite verses – the ones underlined in your Bible. Print a Bible promise on an index card and tape it to your mirror as a reminder of God’s Word.

Despite what the cute battery commercial says, people can’t “keep going and going and going.” Remember that we aren’t much use to anyone when we need our “batteries recharged.”