“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever.” John 14:16
Do you ever feel like your car runs better with a full tank of gas? I’ve just learned and was kind of excited to know that it is not just me "feeling" the difference in how a car rides on full versus on almost an empty tank. There is evidence and it's indeed true that having a full tank of gas has a significant impact on how your car rides. Who knew?
Now, I know this seems a bit random, cars and all, but go with me for just a moment. Probably not to your surprise, I know very little about cars. All I know to do is drive and in this weather and enduring my own "personal summers" (if you know, you know), the first thing I'm reaching for is the air conditioning control button. Turning on the radio and filling her up; eventually.
I'm old enough to remember the full- service gas stations when you'd pull up and say, "Fill her up." Oh, how I miss those days.
I dread stopping to get gas and usually hold off as long as I can. But I'm a bit pleased with myself and had to give myself a pat on the back. I filled up for this week and couldn't wait to tell my husband as if this was some great conquest! He was thankful but lacking just a little bit of my excitement. Go figure!
In learning just a bit about cars and the benefits of having a full tank of gas I learned that it helps the car to run at a higher efficiency. Gives better suspension and better fuel pressure. Fancy words for a smooth ride, maximized power, and saving money on how much you spend on gas.
A full tank of gas also prevents the weight of the car from shifting during making turns and acceleration. All these things affect the handling of the car causing a much smoother more dynamic drive.
Aha! Glad to know it just wasn’t me "feeling" a bit more horsepower and a more forgiving and softer ride. Of course, this is after I finally fill up which is usually when I can't go any longer.
As you can see I've been guilty of running my car too close to empty at times. Fully knowing that the gas in my car was running out but I would knowingly continue to keep going. At the same time glancing at my gas gauge while passing by multiple gas stations thinking," I’ll fill up later. I have enough to make it.” "I hope I can make it." "God help me to make it." All the while the gas light is signaling me that I'm very low and if I don't stop to fill up soon, I'm going to run out of gas.
I know, it’s a downright shame, right? Believe me, I’ve had to learn the hard way. But isn’t it like this at times in our spiritual life? We run too close to empty and we don’t take the time to stop, ask, seek, and knock, so that the door will be open to receive a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit.
I'm reminded of a saying I read years ago that there are two types of tired. One that requires rest and one that requires peace. I would like to add one that requires filling.
Seeing that for the most part, life is moving fast. The days are flying by and filled with many demands. Not to mention coping and navigating the things that life throws our way. We can easily find ourselves running and running. If not physically, it’s our minds racing, editing, tracing, overthinking, running a seemingly nonstop race and we forfeit taking time to stop, pray, rest, and fill up.
Oftentimes we can see and feel the warning lights coming on in our lives signaling us to stop and be filled with Holy Spirit but like me driving my car, running close to empty glancing at the gas gauge we gander at our lives and somehow think we have enough left to make it, hoping we make it and just like a car that is consistently driven until the gas has almost run out, it does a lot of damage.
The signs show up in our attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors. The warning lights are cautioning us that something is wrong, the signs at first are subtle but gradually rise to full attention. Restlessness, trouble sleeping, impatience, easily agitated, anger, anxiety, discouragement, fatigue (both physical and spiritual), and even physical illness.
Just as when I ignored all the gas stations and kept going many times we don't take heed to the warning signs nor take the time or make the time to stop. And the thing is, we have the blessing of resting in the Lord and asking God to immerse us with His Spirit every single day because we need it every single day.
Because life happens and when it does it's comparable to putting miles on a car and if we don’t stop for maintenance we will wear out and if we are wise, we won't wait until we wear out to fill up.
It's important to note that for believers, the fullness of the Holy Spirit dwells in us. He never leaves and He does not leak but we do. Most often it’s a gradual leak. Like a slow leak in a tire, you don't notice it until you're driving on a bum rim and what's left of your tire. It's over time and oftentimes unaware (until those lights come).
In him, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and in him, when you also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13
We in our flesh leak but in the Spirit we are sealed and we must be intentional to stop and be filled to be empowered for life, service, godliness; for you.
If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. (John 14:18, 20–21, 23)
When we take time to be refreshed in the Holy Spirit, when the pressures of life come (and they are sure to come) our spiritual tank will be steady and hopefully topping off, and we'll be able to ride it out not by might, nor by our own power but by the Spirit of God.
There are times in life when it seems that the problem pedal is pushed to the medal, and you, having been given attention to scripture, heeding to its instructions, given to earnest prayer, seeking God for guidance, grace and fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit, will have garnered an increase in your spiritual weight and the Holy Spirit in you will prevent you from shifting when the turbulent and abrupt turns come. He will lead you and give you good treading.
Holy Spirit will help you to handle, hold on, and cause you to align, accelerate, and ascend for a more powerful, ( I won’t dare say always smooth ride, for the most part, it's a pretty bumpy ride). But when the bumps in the road come, you'll be cushioned. Endowed with power from on high to run more efficiently under pressure, and on a good day go full throttle with a special ease because you’ve taken the time to stop and be filled by the Spirit of the Living God!
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:22
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