“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13
Powered by fumes and prayers, my car stuttered and shuddered its way onto the gas station lot and lurched up to the gas pump. Focused on finding my way, I had ignored my dashboard indicators completely oblivious to the needle that had passed “Empty” and now sat on “Too Late-Start Walking!”
Wish I could say this was a once-in-my-lifetime experience…sadly, it was not. There have been many times that I coasted to a gas pump on “Empty” and several times, I didn’t make it.
Wish I could blame it on faulty gas gauges…can’t do that either. It was 100% my fault. It was my utter lack of attention to something that is fundamentally critical to my car’s ability to function and my own mobility. Not smart. I hate it when that happens!
Friend, I must ask. “Do you find yourself at times, spiritually running on empty?”
Speaking for myself, I can say most definitely that there have been times when I was so focused on my spiritual destination and what I needed to do to get there that I allowed my spiritual gas tank to run dry.
Let’s break that statement down:
– To begin with, there are a lot of “I’s” and “my’s” in that sentence – almost always a sure sign of trouble.
– My focus was on “my spiritual destination” – not on God’s intentions for me in that moment.
– My priorities were based on “what I needed to do” – not on God’s priorities for me.
– My spiritual gas tank was empty because I had neglected it; in my out-of-focus focus, I had left out the ONE who should have my utmost attention.
Scripture gives us a beautiful comparison of two sisters with differing priorities.
Martha had invited Jesus into her home – an invitation that likely included Jesus’ twelve disciples. Luke writes, she “welcomed” Jesus. She was happy and excited to have Jesus in her home, she loved Him and wanted to serve Him well. But her focus quickly shifted from Jesus to the task of preparing the food and caring for her guests. Joyful service turned to resentment when Martha saw her sister, Mary, sitting at Jesus feet listening to Him talk.
Martha was running on “Empty” as she tried to guilt and manipulate Jesus into shaming Mary into helping her serve. Jesus kindly, but firmly, put Martha in her place. “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” Jesus told Martha that although she was stressed out over many things, she had missed the most important thing. Martha’s focus on the busyness of hosting and serving her guests had drained her spiritual tank and blurred her focus. She was operating on Empty.
Sister, we say and do foolish things when we are running on empty.
– Martha’s efforts had depleted her spirit and left her empty.
– Martha’s joy had been replaced by irritation and frustration.
– Her sincere desire to serve had been replaced by feelings of resentment.
Then Jesus spoke words that convicted Martha deeply and likely changed her perspective forever, “Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Jesus was saying that Mary had made the best choice – she had chosen Him. (Luke 10:38-42)
“The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.” Psalm 16:5
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
“The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep Your words.” Psalm 119:57
Right now is a beautiful time of the year: a time to celebrate the birth of our Savior; it’s a time for family, love, fellowship, and generosity. It’s also a time to run ourselves ragged – decorating, shopping, wrapping, cooking, baking, cleaning, hosting, serving, volunteering, attending an endless list of events and family get-togethers. If we are not careful, we will find ourselves running on EMPTY.
Not just Energy Empty…Spiritually Empty.
How do you keep your spiritual tank filled?
– Remember the focus is on God’s Love and His Ultimate Gift to Mankind (Don’t focus on yourself)
– Follow God in the moment (Don’t over plan and obsess on the details)
– Make God’s priorities yours (Don’t neglect your daily devotions and prayer time, keep first things first)
– Choose Jesus, He is your best choice – your perfect portion
The amazing thing is this, when you choose God as your focus, you will be filled, and you will stay full.
“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory HE may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of GOD.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
AMEN AND AMEN!