As I traveled on Interstate 20 East, I realized that my car was slowing down and there was not much I could do about it. I was close to an exit ramp, so I managed to maneuver the car onto the shoulder as the engine came to a halt. I had run out of gasoline. You see, some years ago, one of our cars had a non-working gas gauge. We had to estimate the next fill up based on how much gas was put in and on this day, my estimation was incorrect.
Similarly, many of us are operating our spiritual vehicles on empty tanks. Our spiritual gauges are dead and we are having to muster up strength to navigate through the details of our lives. Our fuel can be quickly used up by our spouse, children, work, school, financial concerns, stress and other things.
I am no car expert, but I know that when an automobile runs out of fuel while in operation, there can be other repercussions. My research (smile) shows that the car not only stalls, but the power for steering the wheel is lost, the brake pedal is heavier, and the fuel injectors can fail. Likewise, when we run out of gas in the spiritual sense, there are many repercussions. We tend to feel overwhelmed and frustrated and our spiritual engine slowly dies. We lose our connection with God and as a result we have little to offer ourselves, let alone others.
The beginning of a new year is a great time to reflect on your spiritual walk. In Psalm 139: 23-24, David cries out to God: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
As you consider David’s prayer, search your own heart and assess your own spiritual tank. Is your spiritual tank empty, full or somewhere in between?
Lord as I search my heart and assess my spiritual journey, open my eyes to see my “low fuel areas.” Open my heart to desire more of You.
In the next post, we will discuss the process of refueling and recharging ourselves spiritually.
