My mother taught me to never let my gas tank get too low. She said you never know when there is an emergency and you have to go somewhere quick. I never forgot that and I seldom let mine get below half. The other day I looked down and noticed that the gas light was on in my car! I had not given it a thought. I usually fill up with gas once a week unless we go out of town. I guess I was just too busy with life to notice! I was so thankful that I had seen it before I ran out of gas.
Isn't that how our spiritual tank is? We are so busy with life and next thing we know we are in trouble because we are on empty? We go to church and get filled up on Sunday and think we can make it until the next Sunday. Depending on how life is going I can not always make it two days! Satan delights in stealing our fuel. The worst thing we can do is wait until the following Sunday to worship. We need to constantly drink to stay filled.
It is our responsibility to keep our tank full. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, lost, anxious, inadequate, on edge, etc you are on low and need to fill up! Sometimes when we our schedules are too busy it depletes our tanks quicker.
I believe God wants us to keep our tanks filled and that means FULL! Look at all of the verses that he uses the word full or filled when referring to the Holy Spirit. Psalm 107: 9, "...for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." Psalm 119: 64, "The earth is filled with your love, Lord; teach me your decrees." Luke 1: 41, "When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit."
In order to keep our tanks on full we need to fill up in between our corporate worship. God knew we would be too busy and told us to go to a quiet place and get some rest. Mark 6: 31, "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." There are times when it is hard to get away or get rest but even ten minutes of quiet time outside can help. No radio in the car....just silence.
I also believe it is important to enjoy life and laugh. Proverbs 17: 22, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones " I look forward to being with people who make me laugh and enjoy life. God wants us to enjoy life. Even He sat back and looked at all He had made and said it is good. That is what I do on the island in the summer! I look around and say, it is good! And that is therapy for me!
Psalm 103: 5, "...who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s." When we let God satisfy us we are renewed. To be renewed means we can restart that engine and go some more!
When we allow Him, God fills, satisfies, meets our needs and gives us plenty. Romans 15: 13, "I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit." NLT
We must take note as to what is emptying our tank so quickly. Our busyness, our over commitments, our children's schedules, etc. What drains your tank?
The White Elephant "stuff" drained my tank this week but the day I thought would be the hardest turned out to be the best! God is good, all the time :)
Good Morning Jill! Once again, thank you so much for sharing. What a gift you have. I plan on sharing this one with my Wednesday morning Prayer Breakfast ladies.