The Filling Station
Photo Credit: PDP, via Pixabay
I never notice the fuel gauge.
Once a week, a little yellow light comes on my dashboard, and I am totally shocked and taken by surprise every time. My supply is dwindling, and I pull up to the pump running on fumes.
My tank is empty.
Sadly, I often fail to re-fuel my spirit as well. I am on the road of life pushing forward in spasmodic spurts when I should just pull over and fill ‘er up.
If I stop at God’s service station, I am fueled for the journey. He checks under my hood and adds the very best oil to my engine and tops off my tank with His joy.
A cranky disposition is like the little light on my dashboard. My soul is alerting me that it’s time to reconnect to the power source.
After a little pit stop, I’ll be zooming on down the road again singing a happy tune.
…the joy of the Lord is your strength
Q4U: Does your tank run on empty? How do you remember to re-fuel your faith?
I am sharing “The Filling Station” and joining like-minded sisters at (in)courage, Coffee for Your Heart, Words of Life Wednesdays, Tell His Story, A Little R and R, Testimony Tuesday, Rich-Faith Rising, The Soli Deo Sisterhood, Sharing His Beauty, Playdates with God, and Unforced Rhythms.
I remember the first year my husband and I were married – we were college students, and I had to borrow his sister’s car for a few weeks – and it felt like the gas tank was like the widow’s meal jar – it never emptied – until one day I ran out of gas! LOL I had to learn to read that pretty tricky tank gauge – just like I have to read my spirit-tank gauge! Thanks Lyli for the visual reminder to keep my tank full!
I have run out of gas a couple of times. One time I was in a Mc Donald’s drive through. The 2nd time, my mom was with me and helped push the car (that one was pretty convicting).
A great reminder for this end of the week! Always need to remember the priorities .. without filling up spiritually, I’ll have nothing to give. Thank you for this!
Maintenance. I need spiritual maintenance.
I like your analogy, and I need to pay for attention to my dashboard, too! Great job with this post! Happy Friday!
I am thankful that He has an endless supply. 🙂
What do we do as we are standing there at the pump? Usually I am just impatiently trying to hurry the tank to fill faster. What if I used those few minutes to specifically pray for God’s refilling of my spiritual tank? I would not only be reclaiming a few “lost” minutes of my life, but it would be a regular reset of my walk and testimony.
Thanks for the insight, Lyli! You are a blessing!!!
Cool idea, Carole. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
I know I’ll forget so I’ve made “refilling my gas tank” a habit so that when I’m distracted, there’s a hole in my life that bothers me until I fill it. Each morning, I spend some time reading Scripture and praying. I’ve set an alarm to remind me to pray midday and in the late afternoon. Then, there are prayers at bedtime. From my childhood, I have always “hung out” with God as my dearest Friend and, by now, I (pretty much) automatically turn to Him many times throughout the day. There are times when I need extra fuel too and then, I’m cranky and out of sorts. I’ve also learned, when I can’t control my feelings, it’s time to take a break with God.
Love the analogy! Thanks.
I love it that you set alarms, Drusilla. That’s an awesome idea.
Makes me think of our “love tanks” – spouses keeping the other’s full! For me, re-fueling my faith means some good worship music, some powerful, out loud praying around the house, spending time with God-filled people. Fills me up every time! Stopping by from Incouragers Only Community Groups.
Great tips, Susan! I like to have worship music on in the house, and I light a great scented candle, too. For some reason, these 2 things help create a peaceful atmosphere in my heart and home.
What a great reminder! I agree. That cranky disposition means it’s time for a little soul searching and time with Him. Thanks for the reminder and the beautiful picture.
Oh, I am glad you liked the picture! I was trying to find a gas station picture, but then I found this one, and it captured the idea perfectly.
You know Lyli, I do believe I’ve been running on empty up until about 6 weeks ago! I was so far away from God, yet somehow I didn’t even realize it. Crazy, right!? The whole PB debacle is what really woke me up for some reason. I’ve been refueling constantly ever since, going to church again, doing these awesome Facebook bible studies with you ( the whole soap thing has been A. Maz. Ing!)! So yeah! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! ❤️
Micey, it’s amazing what God uses to wake us up, right?
I do love our Good Morning Girls study — it’s amazing how just looking at one verse a day can transform your entire attitude.
Hugs 🙂
Hi Lyli, We’re neighbors this week at Kelli’s. It’s nice to meet you. I’m blessed to have a man who often keeps track of the gas in my car and fills the tank for me. I think we can count on people to fill our spiritual tank, too. A reason why I love your analogy . . . God Himself checks under the hood and fills us with exactly what we need. My prayer lately has been to constantly live in His presence so my tank is always full.
Yes, it’s so important to be in community. Thanks for sharing that Deb.
Really like this analogy and I often run on empty, too often. My reminder is similar to yours — I get more than just a wee bit cranky and short. And my husband is generally the poor soul who is the subject of my crankiness and shortness. I generally stop and say a quiet prayer or just repeat the word “peace” to myself. I’m always glad to get my tank filled back up! Visiting from Unforced Rhythms. Blessings!
I love your one-word prayer, Sherrey! I am going to steal that one. 🙂
We actually filled up at a “full service” gas station the other day, the first one I’d seen in decades! It was nice having someone else put in the gas and wash our windshield, etc. I know I miss out when I don’t stop for those full-service fill-ups more often with God. He longs to keep us filled to overflowing. Thanks for this reminder, Lyli.
I haven’t seen a full service gas station since I was a kid. They just don’t exist down here any more.
And I sure have been cranky today…
I regret it every time I rush my morning and then get to work and have a terrible day.
Yep, it often runs on empty! I’m getting better at recognizing it though, so hopefully I’ll be pulling over sooner rather than later from now on. Thanks for linking up for Testimony Tuesday!
Thanks for hosting, Holly! We are works in progress — hopefully, we will get better with practice. 🙂
I needed this post today!
Yay! So glad it encouraged you. 🙂
Talk of gas makes me sad as it’s almost $5 a gallon here. But I do get the analogy and it is so apt! He is the fuel – anything less does leave me feeling as though I’m running on fumes.
I hear ya, sister.
What a perfect metaphor! Running on empty and acting surprised. Why don’t we remember we need to be constantly refilled. I’m grateful for your words today. Thanks for linking with Unforced Rhythms.
It is a daily thing. Right?
Lord, help me to stay connected!
oh, girl. Yes! Just this evening I imagined myself in a desert, but instead of saying “must…get…water” I was saying “must…have…time…with…Jesus.”
Yes!!!
I never notice the fuel gage in my car till the light is flashing either,Lyli. I am more alarmed when I fail to notice my spirit. I love your verse and it is a great reminder. He is the source and we must be full of him.
Blessings,
Dawn
I’m hoping I will do better in this area — stopping to refuel and not running on empty.