Running On Empty?

Someone has said we too often run on fumes rather than a full tank. This is especially true of pastors and spiritual leaders. And while it may be especially true of caregivers, all of us are guilty of it. Rather than taking time alone with the Lord to get filled, we are driven by the urgent needs of people and projects.

Even with all the demands on Him, Jesus never ran on empty. Everyday He withdrew into the wilderness—a quiet place—to seek to be filled. “For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness of God to dwell in Him (Col 1:19; 2:9). And, amazingly, that same fullness is ours: “And from his fullness have we all received” (John 1:16).

Unfortunately, most of us are more conscious of our emptiness than His fulness. Is it because we are filling ourselves with empty things, so full of our friends on Facebook, our jobs, our families, even our ministries that we neglect withdrawing to be filled by Jesus? If you are feeling more empty than full, what are you full of? Whatever it is, you know it will never be enough ‘fuel’ to last you through the day. Take a close look at your spiritual diet and ask yourself: “Why spend money on what is not bread, and labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare [and you will be full]” (Is. 55:2).