Running on Empty

Have you ever noticed that your car (truck, van, SUV, 18 wheeler etc.) will tell you which side of the car the gas tank is on? 

There’s a little arrow next to the fuel gauge that points to the side where the gas tank is. Did you know it isn’t always automatically on the right-hand side? So now you don’t have to guess anymore, and then slink back into your car to move it to the correct side when you can’t remember! 

You’re so welcome!

I did not know that until last week. Color me tickled!

Something I also noticed is that when the engine is off, the gas tank reads empty, but when I turn on the engine of the car (truck, van, SUV, 18 wheeler etc.) the tank shows the actual level of gas. 

Now, I am driving an older model (2005), so bear with me if yours doesn’t do this. Just have a look at the pictures below. (And pretend you know what I’m talking about, or it’s going to ruin this whole devotion.)


Let’s suppose for a moment that we have a fuel gauge on our spirit like our car has for gas. When our spiritual engine is off, we don’t know how much gas is in there. We can sit in the car as long as we want, and stare at the fuel gauge, but it isn’t going to tell us anything until we engage the engine. (Are you impressed with that mechanical term?) 

We can even convince ourselves that the tank is full, and because we don’t have the gauge turned on to prove us wrong, we will keep thinking that. And we may even tell other people we have a full tank. Until we run completely out of gas and can’t go anymore. 

The Holy Spirit is like the engine that keeps me running. Engaging him turns on all the things for my vehicle, and ensures that I am actually able to go anywhere. And He tells me when it’s time to refill the tank. When I am getting spiritually low, I’ll get warnings from Him that it’s time to refill.

Surely you’ve experienced pouring yourself out for others, and doing all. the. things. You can go and go and go like the Energizer bunny, but without the Holy Spirit, you won’t know when you’ve run out of spiritual gas, and are just existing on the fumes on yourself. 

Because if I’m honest, sometimes I can’t tell the difference until my car stops dead and I’m stuck. You’d think turning on the engine and checking the fuel gauge would be the automatic first thing to do if you want to drive the car, but I don’t always do that. 

Because I have too much going on and just have to get going? 

 

Because I can’t be bothered to stop for one second? 

Because pride?

The fact of the matter is, I can’t run on empty. That’s just a law of what- science? Mechanics? Common sense? 

I have noticed that when I am running low on spiritual gas, it affects everything else about my ‘car’ (truck, van, SUV, 18 wheeler). 

I have little patience. 

I am easily worried. 

I am annoyed by things that used to delight me. 

I think I’m fine- excellent, in fact. 

The lower my spiritual fuel level, the stronger the fumes of myself. 

Just FYI, other ‘motorists’ will notice when your tank is dangerously low. You’ll be sputtering along, looking like you’re a first-time manual car driver. Like in the cartoons, you may be puffing smoke, making lots of noise, and certainly not cruising along smoothly. 

Even if you have the sunroof open and your ‘driving glasses’ on, you aren’t going to look cool. Everyone else is thinking ‘Go get some gas already!’

God doesn’t want me to take such poor care of my spiritual vehicle. He has provided a way for me to fill up whenever I want to! I just have to engage the Holy Spirit, and dig into the Word. 

It’s amazing what a full tank can do:

Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 51:7-13
(7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Psa 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Psa 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Psa 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
Psa 51:11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.
Psa 51:12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.
Psa 51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Psalm 103:1-56
(1) A Psalm of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
(2) Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
(3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
(4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
(5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.



Psalm 1

(1) A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
(2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
(3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
(4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
(5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
(6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

I need reminded to refuel. I can’t do everything in my own power, and I was not created to do so. I need God’s Word for so many reasons, and I am so grateful to have a copy in my language. May I never take that for granted!