So you’re going through each day, trucking along, and then BAM! it hits you.  When did God every feel so far away? I feel like everything is going wrong.  I feel empty. We’ve all hit this wall. And it’s not something that just happens once - there are times where we feel spiritually empty. So now what?

Psalm 42:1 states: as the deer longs for the waters, so my soul longs for You

We all have a longing in our souls, a desire for God or something that is a “god” to us: if it’s not quenched, then we run dry.  This hunger and thirst is only quenched by more of God.  It’s just like the song - I want more, I want more of You Jesus - Jesus is the only One and thing that satisfies.

So first let’s look at this: When do you know when you’re running on E?

We aren’t like cars with fuel gages (although that might be convenient!)but there are definitely things that indicate when we are spiritually empty:

          -Feel Discouraged

          -Feel like God is distant

          -Can’t find God/hear His voice

          -You’re bored with reading the Bible because nothing is speaking to you

          -You feel like you have nothing to give (to God or to others)

This happens to all of us.  Sometimes God is emptying us of everything that’s not of Him.  And this isn’t a bad thing! But you can’t stay in a place of running on “e” - we all know what happens, you run completely dry and no longer can move forward.  But God can and does use this time to refine us, point out different things in us, or reveal something about Himself and  is waiting for us to ask and desire more of Him.

Let’s look at Psalm 42:11 - Why, my soul, are you depressed? Why are you so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God - for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.

Imagine yourself with a cup of water.  As you serve in ministry, help others out, encourage them, devote time, you end up pouring yourself out to the point where you are spiritually dry. We can run ourselves dry and forget that we need filled! Of course it is good to share what God has given you and do for others - that’s what we’re supposed to do! But we are also to wait on God and allow Him to fill us up so we can continue to pour into others!  If we remain dry we can’t do that. 

Also, when we are dry and running on E, we are more vulnerable to Satan: temptation, depressed thoughts, etc.

Now Let’s look at refueling - go to the source!

-Go to Jesus, His Word, and seek him - spend time with Him

-Praise God - This fills you up with His Presence

-Place your hope in God (as the scripture says). Hope is expectancy when things are hopeless - expect God to fill you!

-He promises He is more than enough for us and fills us - remind yourself of God’s amazing promises:

John 6:35: I am the bread of life. whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty

Claim that promise! Those are Jesus’ words!

We are human and will go dry. But that’s not because Jesus has stopped filling us.  We are the ones that stop His work - through rejecting what He wants to do or filling ourselves up with things of this world. It’s all about allowing Jesus to fill us so that we aren’t running on E. Be filled today with more of the Lord, and ask Him to refresh you with His presence, and He will do it!

Holy fire, burn away my desire of everything

That is not of You, and is of me

I want more of you and less of me

Empty me, Empty me

Fill, won’t You fill me

With more of You