Spiritual Gas Tank

When I first started driving my dad would never fail to remind me of a few things before I would leave to go somewhere. Always look behind your car before you back out, check your blind spots, always drive defensively, etc. Most of these things I don't hear anymore, but one thing has stayed: "never let your car get below half a tank of gas." At twenty two years of age I still get a "talking to" if he gets in my car and I'm running low. What I didn't know was one day I would be able to apply this simple life lesson from my dad to my spiritual life. 

While in Training in Guatemala, we spent hours and hours everyday in the Word, praying, and discussing the work of Jesus in our lives. It was routine. It was simple. Everything we did and everywhere we went revolved around growing us spiritually. I learned the power of prayer, the sovereignty of God, and the undeniable truth that Jesus must be the center of my life. When I left to go home for a week I was on a spiritual high and ready to take on the world!  

I'm now three weeks into Field Time and things are tough. Over the past few days I have found myself irritable, frustrated, annoyed, upset, angry, and a myriad of other unpleasant emotions. I have a bad attitude and I have no patience for those around me. If you read my last post, I am in no way adorning the Gospel. This morning I happened to wake up at 5:30 (God's doing I'm sure) so I had extra time to pray. What he showed me was profound and a turning point for me here.

God showed me my "spiritual gas tank" is running low. In Training, I had pastors coming from all over the world to sit down and teach me the Word of God for a week. I didn't have to put forth too much personal effort into feeding myself. I was like a teenager with a driving permit whose parents filled up the tank for them, but now I have my license and it's my turn to pump my own gas. Running on fumes is not an option. That is not how God made me to work. I need to fill myself on a daily basis with his truths and promises so he can use me for his kingdom. He can't do that if I am empty on the side of the road upset, angry, and impatient.