Have you ever driven a car with that annoying “check engine” light staring you in the face? What do you do about it? You know it’s there for a reason … right?
You could ignore it and hope it goes off or that maybe it’s nothing serious. Or you could go on google and find the way to reset it without fixing the problem. I don’t recommend either of these options.
Or you could take the car to a mechanic.
Gauges on a car are important. They can warn us, remind us, instruct us and, yes, annoy us. But we should pay attention to them.
Did you know we have gauges too? Whether we pay attention to them or not, our body and mind have ways of telling us when we are running on empty.
When our physical gauge gets low, it is usually obvious. We start dragging ourselves from place to place and we can’t function the way we want to. We are just tired. That’s usually an easy fix. Get some rest or start eating better.
But did you know we also have a gauge that lets us know when we are running on empty spiritually?
One of our recent graduates of the New Beginnings Program posted on Facebook the other day a picture of his open Bible with a notepad, a pen and a highlighter. His comment was, “I’ve been neglecting my time with the Lord, and I can feel it.”
He paid attention to his gauge. And he didn’t just feel it, he did something about it.
At our two shelters, we spend a lot of time teaching from God’s word because we believe it is our source of spiritual strength and vitality. In 2 Timothy 3:16, it says it is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
When David recognized his spiritual gauge was running low, he said, “My soul is weary with sorrow; Lord, strengthen me according to Your Word.”
A lot of things can deplete us spiritually. Temptations and trials are inevitable in this world, but we have a God who runs after us with life-giving love and strength. His mercy is fresh every morning. It is up to us to receive it. To do those things that replenish us and sustain us spiritually like reading the Bible, worshipping, serving and fellowshipping with other believers.
Pay attention to your gauge. It’s there for a reason.
