TODAY’S INSPIRATION: RUNNING ON EMPTY?

I’m going to be transparent. I drive Lil-dirty (my car) on E most of the time, not necessarily because I cannot buy gas but because I. hate. pumping. gas! Don’t judge me, I have never run out of gas! And that is because Lil Dirty and I are so in-tuned that I know how far she can go on E. Likewise in my Christian walk, I am so in-tuned with God, I know when I can no longer do life on Empty. I know when I need a refill. Sometimes I may need refilling daily! Do you sometimes feel drained and empty? If so trust that you are not the only one. We all have experienced it or we will at some point in life. It’s common to feel this way after a loss, a breakup, a diagnosis or when we are going through a difficult situation. If you are struggling with feelings of emptiness and discouragement, I suggest you encourage someone else. I know, I know you say how can I encourage someone else when I can’t even encourage myself?

Let me tell you about this woman in the Bible who was running on empty. Her circumstance seemed hopeless and she felt discouraged and drained. Her story is found in 1 Kings 17, and it begins with a man named Elijah. He was a prophet who gave some bad news to a king named Ahab. He said to Ahab; “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word” (1 Kings 17:1 NIV). Then God told Elijah to go eastward and hide in the Kerith Ravine east of the Jordan. For several months, Elijah drank from the brook and ate bread and meat delivered by ravens that God miraculously sent to feed him. Sometime later, the brook dried up. We know if God provided meat and bread every day, He could have easily provided water. But God had a different plan. Remember the woman I talked about earlier. She was a Gentile widow who lived in Zarephath and needed a miracle in her life. The Lord sent Elijah to her home for water. But he didn’t find a woman with wealth. He found a poor widow who had given up on life. When Elijah arrived, she was stooping to the ground picking up sticks and placing them in a bundle. “Excuse me,” Elijah called, “could you please bring me a cup of water?” As she turned to fetch the traveler a cup to quench his thirst, he continued. “Oh, and can you bring me a piece of bread?” And the woman answered, “I don’t have any bread, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug,” she said. “I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die” (1 Kings 17:12). She was feeling so empty that she wanted to die. But then God showed up in Elijah. “Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small loaf of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. Do you see how God had her pour into Elijah so He could pour into her? This is what the Lord, the God of Israel said; “The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord gives rain on the land” (verses 13-14). The woman who had nothing, just enough for her and her son, could have refused. But
she did what Elijah told her to do. She emptied her flour bowl and oil jar, took a little cake to Elijah, and returned home. As she goes to wash the dishes, she picks up the jar and the jug. To her surprise the jar is full of flour, and the jug is full to the brim with oil. She was running on empty but because she took what little she had and shared with another, God filled her jugs to the point of overflow!

You may not have much to offer, but God can use what little we have to bless someone. What may seem small to you may be a lifeline to the person going through a tough time. I believe that when we pour into those around us, God will miraculously fill us back up. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38). When we are feeling discouraged and empty, pouring into someone else will take some effort. But when we do, especially in our emptiness, we feel better and God refills us. If you read the rest of the story you will see that the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry. (1 Kings 17:16) That is the God we serve! When we are feeling empty, it helps when we give to someone else, even if it is just a word of encouragement. Words are powerful. They echo in hearts and minds long after they are spoken. Our words can change the course of someone’s day, even someone’s life. There are so many things we can do to encourage others. For example, sending a letter in the mail, phone calls, a simple text saying, “I’m praying for you” or “You are loved.” As we pour into others, we forget about self which allows God to restore, refuel, and reenergize us. How inspiring is that! Be encouraged. Love and Blessings…

Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”
(Luke 6:38 NIV)

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” (Isaiah 40:29)

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.” (2 Corinthians 1:4-5)
“For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.” (Jeremiah 31:25)
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anoints my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalms 23:5)

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40: 3)