Have you ever run out of gas? It’s the worst! It’s only happened to me once … and once was enough!
I was driving my dad’s car to the movies with some friends. As we drove on an overpass from a freeway to a city street, all of the lights suddenly lit up across the car’s dashboard and I felt the car lose power.
“What’s going on?!” I yelled. As I tried scanning all the lights and gripped the steering wheel hard, my eyes moved to the fuel tank.
Empty.
Providentially, we crested the peak of the overpass just before the gas ran out. The car glided to a stop at the bottom of the overpass. My friends were behind me in other vehicles. A gas station was 1/4 of a mile away, so we got out and pushed my car into a fueling spot and were only a few minutes late to our movie.
I’ve never run out gas since then and I probably check the fuel gauge too often. I don’t ever want to be stuck like that again.
But as good as I’ve gotten at watching my car’s fuel gauge, I’m not nearly as good at watching the gauges on my heart, soul, and body. I burned out several years ago and my emotions and soul have gotten down to fumes on multiple occasions.
It’s a lot easier to see how much fuel our cars have than our heart, soul, or bodies. At the end of the holiday season, a lot of us feel like we’re running on empty. We’ve gotten caught up in busyness, over-commitments, travel, and time with family. This pace has pushed us into living hurried lives and we don’t really know how we’re doing other than “busy” and “tired.”
I’ve often found the week between Christmas and New Year’s to be a great time to refresh and reflect. My office is mostly quiet, the calendar is thinner, and expectations are low. While there may never be a good time to take a break to refresh and reflect, we have to choose to make time to attend to ourselves and determine what the next right thing is for us.
Throughout the Scriptures, we see example after example of men and women who pull away to reflect and refresh.
In the book of Luke, we read this about Jesus: “the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.”
In 1 Kings 18, Elijah the prophet witnesses God overcome the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. But in the very next chapter, Elijah finds himself ready to give up. In 1 Kings 19:4-8, he sleeps, eats, sleeps, and eats again. At one point, we read an angel tell Elijah, “Get up and eat some more, or the journey ahead will be too much for you.”
Too many of us live as if we’re like our cell phones, with long-lasting internal batteries and portable external batteries capable of quickly recharging. But we’re not devices, we’re embodied souls. We don’t recharge as fast as our phones and we cannot be constantly “on” and connected to the noisy world.
We recently celebrated Christmas. Jesus came, on purpose, with an invitation. In John 10:10, He says, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” We can only find that life when we come to Jesus.
Too many of us though, are waiting to clean ourselves up, get our act together, or do pre-work before we turn to Jesus. But He invites us to come as we are to find what we need most in Him. In Matthew 11:28-30, Jesus tells us, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
What can we do to embrace Jesus’ invitation and experience His purpose?
Establish a Yearly Review with Jesus
I would strongly encourage you to intentionally create some space in your calendar this week and get quiet. Once you’ve eliminated any distractions and spent time sitting in silence, consider taking these four steps:
1. Celebrate God’s faithfulness to you this year.
We often get discouraged because we forget how much God has accomplished and how much progress we’ve made. During this time, open up your journal or Notes app and begin listing the ways God has been faithful to you this year. Describe the victories you’ve experienced because of God’s grace.
2. Reflect on your present state.
Recently, our church staff began asking each other a powerful question - “how’s your soul?” Instead of asking “how’s it going” (which has become our new version of “hello”), we’re caring for each other long enough to pause and ask “how are you REALLY doing?” Take a moment and ask your soul, “how are you REALLY doing?” After paying attention to everyone else during the holiday season, pay attention to your present state and determine what you need.
3. Receive the gifts of Jesus.
Read or re-read passages like John 10:10, Matthew 11:28-30, Isaiah 40:26-31, and Ephesians 2:1-10. With your palms open on your knees, close your eyes and intentionally receive the gifts Jesus is offering you. Instead of looking to your next vacation, a shopping trip, a glass of wine, or a spa day to refresh you, look to Jesus to meet the deepest needs of your heart, soul, mind, and body.
4. Determine what’s next.
The late great author and expert on spiritual formation, Dallas Willard, often said, “Following Jesus is simply doing the next right thing.” In light of God’s faithfulness to you this past year, your present state, and what Jesus is offering you, what’s your next step? Before the end of the day (if possible) or the end of this week, take that step and trust Jesus to guide the steps after that.
I’m praying for you as you create some space for reflection and refreshment with Jesus.
May you acknowledge the truth of how you’re really doing, in courage and vulnerability.
May you look to Jesus first to meet your deepest needs.
May you rest in the unconditional love Jesus has shown for you.
May you boldly take your next step following your Leader and Lord.
May you trust that He has already seen your future and will guide you in it.
May this year be your best year yet.
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Scott Savage is a pastor and a writer who believes he has the best last name ever. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona. Scott is married to Dani and they are the parents of three “little savages.” He is the creator of the Free to Forgive course and you can read more of his writing at scottsavagelive.com.
