When Hurricane Andrew hit south Florida in 1992, the home of a woman named Norena was severely damaged. She received an insurance settlement, but it wasn’t enough to finish the work necessary to bring her house back to standard. Her contractor stopped working when the money ran out, and the house was left without electricity.

Norena was elderly and of limited means, she had no choice but to accept the situation. For the next 15 years she lived without power. No hot showers, no air-conditioning, no light to read by at night. Finally someone found out about her situation, and informed the city of Miami about her situation. The mayor arranged for a electrician to come to the house; it took only a few hours of work for power to be restored. Norena said, “It’s hard to describe how it feels  to have electricity. It’s overwhelming.”

Many believers live a Christian life that is like a half-constructed home. Power is almost within their grasp, but they continue to live in the dark, day after day, year after year. It doesn’t have to be that way. Jesus made us a promise… “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

If you’re a believer and feel like you’re living in the dark, in a half-finished house, I want you to know that power is within your reach. How do you reach him? Start everyday with a personal word from the Holy Spirit, email not required. All you need is a Bible and willingness to listen.

Now I’ll admit that when I read scripture early in the day, sometimes I’m reading with the intention of finishing and moving on to the next thing. Or sometimes I’m reading with the intention of finding a sermon. Sometimes I forget that I could be listening for the voice of the Holy Spirit — that he is ready to speak to my heart.   But that is like living without electricity. IWe need to have the power hooked up, but we do not need an electrician, it is available to everyone of us. That’s why Jesus sent the Hoy Spirit to dwell within us, and it’s why Paul challenges us to be filled with Spirit everyday. He is our source of power.