Sometimes I was in a hurry so I’d grab 2-3 gallons and go. Sometimes I would be in Kansas rather than Missouri, where gas costs about a dime more per gallon, so I’d do the same. Anyway, there was recently a 10 day stretch where my car was perpetually running on empty. The Low Fuel light on my dash was practically always on. Finally a couple days ago enough was enough, so I filled up (in Kansas even!) and that was that. A few days later, the tank is still nearly full and I don’t have to think about it anymore.

Then I began to realize that my life was beginning to feel kind of the same way. Going and going and going, and feeling drained. But I’m supposed to be the ‘ministry guy’, right? I’m supposed to understand that God is the fuel I need to live the way I was intended to live. I need down time with Him to be at my best. Knowing that and actually doing that are sometimes two very different things. Finally a couple days ago, enough was enough. I dropped what I was doing and found a quiet place and at first, just sat. After about 5 minutes I began to pray. Then I read Romans chapter 12. Then I read John chapter 7. Then I read a page from my A Year With CS Lewis book. Then I wrote some thoughts down in my notebook and prayed some more. After an hour had gone by, I got up to get to my next appointment. I didn’t feel all that different, but apparently I was no longer running on fumes. At the end of the day I felt fresh. I was nice to my family. Throughout the day, I didn’t hear those commercials on the radio for 5 Hour Energy, and think, “I wonder if that stuff really works.”

It’s so obvious, and a little embarrassing that I have to keep learning this lesson over and over in my life. But time with God and in His Word, big chunks of it, is almost literally the fuel that we need to run at optimal levels. It’s how we were created to live…in communion with Him. Right now as I type this I am praying for me and for you that we would be able to live that out consistently.