February 23, 2020

As I got into my car to run some much needed errands, it beeped at me as I started the engine. Not only beeped, but flashed a message on the screen directly in my line of sight…..LOW FUEL…and as if I couldn’t read, put a cute little amber gas tank on my dash!

Really??? Again??? I could have sworn I just put gas in the tank. Rolling my eyes, I head for the nearest gas station.

I never “mean” to let it get so low on fuel. My dad has preached to me from the day I got my license….”It’s bad on the fuel pump to run it that low on gas.” Yet I still manage to do it….a lot!

Unfortunately, I also often neglect to fill up my spiritual tank as well. Again, I don’t mean to purposely not “refuel”, it just kinda happens. I get busy, distracted, tired. I forget to pray. I don’t want to read my daily devotion. My class won’t know that I didn’t have time to study the Sunday School lesson. No one will miss me at church if I sleep in and skip just this once. I have no idea where I put my bible. You know how it is. We’ve all been there.

Just as my car chugs along on fumes when I forget to gas up, my spirit is dragging when I don’t spend time in His word and with His people. I can tell a huge difference in the days I pray and the days I don’t. When I don’t spend time in His word, I give Satan all kinds of buttons to push and ways to attack me. When I neglect to spend time with His people, I don’t get the support and encouragement I need to get me through the week. I feel, well, kind of out of gas with no motivation. And the worst part is, I did it to myself.

Romans 15:13 states “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” and Psalm 51:10 “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Just as my car won’t refuel itself sitting in the driveway, I’m pretty sure my spiritual tank won’t get refueled and revitalized if I don’t spend time in His word, pray, and mingle with his people.

If we want to get where we need to be, both literally and spiritually, we have to remember to visit the fueling station before we’re running on empty. Life is so much easier when we do!

Blessings, Sandi Martin, CWC Coordinator