Sometimes my car gets a little too close to the “empty” mark on my gas gauge. I’ve felt like I was playing a game of “chicken” to see if me or my car would win in the end. How many can relate?
It’s not a smart idea by any means to run our cars down to empty. It’s also not beneficial to let ourselves get depleted and try running on empty. Our gas tank needs filled to fully operate and drive us where we need to go. Our hearts, minds and souls also need “filled” to help them run efficiently and effectively.
Running on empty only leads us to feel dry and discontent. Instead, we must fill ourselves with life-giving truth and the peace and joy that only comes from the Lord.
Feeling Empty
Unlike seeing our gas tanks get physically lower and lower, we can’t actually see how full our personal tanks are. However, we start to notice the emptiness in how we talk with others, how we choose to fill our time and the emotional deficiency that creeps up.
Every time I start paying more attention to the world and not enough on God, the mental fatigue and emptiness begin to rise inside me. The problem is I’m not focusing on what, or rather, Who is MOST important.
When too much of our stock is invested in the world and there’s not enough invested in God, we begin to come up empty-handed and feel ragged. The Lord should be our top priority, even in our most busy or difficult seasons.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
Matthew 6:33a
Fill Up
Our vehicles won’t run when the tank is completely empty, and we won’t function properly when we’re empty either. We need to be filled not just occasionally, not just when we start to feel the empty creep in, but each and every day.
Filling up means we’re reading and studying God’s Word, praying, worshipping, and keeping the Lord at the top of every task list, responsibility or even interactions with others. Putting Him first allows us to more clearly see and do the right things.
The more we fill ourselves up with the right things, the less room or capacity we have for the wrong things. When we have God’s wisdom and perspective, we feel content and trust in His faithfulness no matter what.
And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19
Comparison and worldly things deplete our tanks instead of filling them, so it’s important that we spend little to no time focusing on them. Instead, we can remember who we are in Him, trust He is who He says He is, and fully depend on Him in every aspect of our lives.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Check Your Gauge
Just like with my gas tank, I tend to let my own tank get too close to that empty mark before stopping to fill it up. It often takes too much stress and anxiety welling up inside me to get me to take notice of my urgent need for more God. That is one really bad habit I’d like to break and I invite you to do the same.
When the depleting and endless exhaustion (mental, physical and any/all forms) seeps in, we can immediately turn to our Father. We can fall into His loving and kind arms and ask Him to rejuvenate our hearts and minds. He really is the only One who can.
Instead of waiting for our tanks to get empty, let’s instead keep our faith and trust in the Lord full at all times. This ensures that we continually run and operate adequately. No matter what we face, when we’re filled with God’s truth and hope, we can trudge through with joy and security.
Running on empty isn’t a good option, and as believers, really shouldn’t be an option at all. We have access to God’s abundant and never-ending “life-fuel.” He has what we need to feel energized, content and full. It’s up to us to make regular pit-stops and keep our wheels moving properly forward. Let’s all turn to our good Father who gives to us richly and keeps us running on max capacity.
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:19