The Fuel of Life

As mothers and wives we are going in many different directions every day.  We have a list of things that need to get done.  When you add other responsibilities on top like a job, a ministry, or a volunteer project, we can find ourselves tinkering out.

If I looked under the hood of your soul today, what would I see: a well oiled running engine or would smoke come bellowing out as soon as the hood was lifted up?

Just as food and water is the fuel our physical body needs to keep running, there is a fuel that our souls need as well.  This “fuel” is what drives us.  It gets us from here to there in life.  It’s our energy or purpose.

There are many places we can get this “fuel”.  We can create it ourselves.  Some of us have been blessed with a high-energy, multi-functioning ability, and an unyielding drive.  We can derive fuel from others.  Their approval or involvement can spur us on.  Finally, we can use our circumstances.  When outside forces line up just as we think they should, we feel motivated to keep moving forward.  But the problem with all those sources of fuel is they are for short trips.  And we know we have further to go.

There is only one true source of fuel that never runs out and it’s of the highest quality.  This fuel comes from God himself.  We don’t have to rely on the fickleness of public opinion, our ever-changing mood, or our circumstances.  However, we do need to get a fill up!

Many times we go to the “gas station” to fill up but leave still on empty.  We get distracted on why we’re really there.  Jesus told Martha in Luke 10:41-42 “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed.”  That “one thing” was sitting at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  Mary wasn’t talking.  She was listening.  When we listen we give God a chance to tell us His will for our lives.  He says, “don’t give up” (Galations 6:9), “be strong and courageous for I am with you” (Joshua 1:9) and “I love you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).  He refocuses our eyes on him.  He becomes our fuel.

However, there are times when we are empty, running on fumes, and don’t even know it.  We ignore the signs of exhaustion, mission drift (being off course from our main purpose), and confusion in God’s will for us.  It’s when we are running on fumes that we have the greatest chance of giving up.   Life doesn’t seem to be coming together and we don’t know what’s wrong.  Whenever we begin to feel this way, we need to recognize it and ask God to refresh us again (Acts 3:19).  We read God’s Word and remember His promise to us.  We tell the God stories of our lives to build our faith, refocus us on our purpose, and remind us His amazing power.  God has begun a good work in you and he wants to carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).

Do you need a fill up today?

Blessings,

Lisa