Running Out of Fuel

“Fuel Low” sign is on. Seeing this in my car dashboard, the thought on my mind is – how did I manage to do this again?! Whether is letting my car run until the gas tank is nearly empty, or use my laptop even with 5% battery left, I have a tendency of using everything until it reaches its limits. My disposition to give or use everything I got, without re-fueling or re-charging, is something that I’m working to change by the grace of God. The same grace that fuels me to do good works is the same grace I need to be filled again. A purpose-driven life is worth living only when we depend on the One who empowers us with His grace.

 

In our day to day, it might be easy to do certain things on our own strength, but in the long run, we will reach the “fuel low” point because our ability would only take us so far. Surely, we will find ourselves depleted with the inability to go on in life.

 

But, what if we can live life continually being fueled with heavenly power? Just as I should be stopping to fill up the gas tank before running out gas and seeing it stall, we should daily slow down to ask the Holy Spirit to refill us anew with more of Him. Ephesians 5:18 encourages us to be continually filled with the Spirit. It is in that place of being full of Him that we have receive His grace, and power “to walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10).  Living day by day in His Grace is only possible through the Holy Spirit. Bob Hoekstra puts it well, “It is impossible to walk in the grace of God without the work of the Spirit of God. Whenever the Spirit of God is at work in us, it is the grace of God that is being provided.”

 

We find comfort in that while we’re weak, ran down, or struggling, we can trust that His grace is all we need. Even the apostle Paul, a mighty man of God, found himself pleading with the Lord. In return, Jesus says to him, and us all, “My grace is always more than enough for you, (continuously sufficient in you) and My power finds its full expression through your weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). In the Greek, this word ‘grace’ is defined as “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life”, which leads to the idea that grace is divine influence or power upon us. That is great news! We can have this power to live this life!

 

If this is so, how can we receive such empowering grace? Thinking back the times I had to pray my car would make it to the gas station, I realize it would be pretty improbable that my gas tank would get filled in the middle of the road just like that. My car must get to the gas station, the source! In the same way, we must intently run to Jesus to ask him to refresh us by faith – trusting that He is able to provide abundantly. Secondly, unless I humble myself and realize, my car would not run on empty, in the same way, we must humble ourselves and recognize our dependence on Him. You cannot gas up a car while it’s running (dangerous!), and so it is with us and God. He wants us to stop, quiet down, wait on Him to fill us up.

 

I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit has given us the power, and grace to be able to change those areas in my life that are weak, so I can continue on with His purpose.

 

Whatever you are facing today, whatever insurmountable, in the midst of your responsibilities, even in your inadequacies and failures, feel free to stop your “car” and allow the Holy Spirit to continually fill you with His transforming power and grace. Let him drive your “car” with His grace, so you can run this race of life with endurance.

 

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. – 2 Peter 1:2-3 (NLT)