Wanted: Travelling Gas Station

Isaiah 54:11 O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony and lay your foundations with sapphires. (ESV)

The yellow light on my dashboard glares accusingly at me.  "You never fill me up until I'm running on fumes," I imagine my engine mouthing off.  My engine is right.

I didn't learn my lesson when I ran out of gas on the interstate in college.  I didn't learn my lesson when I was a single mom and kept praying my way into the station. I still haven't reformed by behavior entirely but at least now I do pull into a station as soon as the dummy light appears.  Why do I wait until I'm running on fumes to pull into the gas station?  The excuse I use is inconvenience.  I think I don't have time to pull off the road and find a station.  Someone needs to invent a travelling one that fills up your tank on the go.  Just sayin'...

Today's passage is Psalm 23.  I allow the familiar words to wash over me.  The Lord is my shepherd.  I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside quiet waters.  He restores my soul.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil...

Before my mother-in-law's surgery in Spring 2009 my husband whispered these words into her ear.  I've sat in many funerals and witnessed these words bring hope and healing to the grieving.  This passage is one we turn to when we need God most.

In this passage God portrays Himself as our shepherd.  While we cling to this passage in times of crisis, a shepherd is with his sheep in every season.  He guides the flock to water.  He watches over them at night.  He fends off predators and danger.

God is ever present waiting to fill my tank.  Why then do I sometimes only stop in for a nibble of grass when I'm nearly empty.  The shepherd's presence is so soothing to a sheep, I ought to stop in at regular intervals to "top off the tank".

Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he admonished us to pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).  He knew we needed constant contact with the Shepherd to keep our dashboard lights from going off at the most inopportune moment.

Jesus, You are the foundation.  I run on empty and get tossed about when I stray from the side of my Shepherd.  Your filling station is never out of my way.  You travel with me.  I shall not want.

16 comments:

  1. Great reminder! I've learned that as a woman in ministry I can never feed others until I've spent time feasting on God's very presence through his word, prayer and worship. Taking time to refuel is something I've finally learned to build into my day, I never regret it!

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  2. I love this analogy and I have to laugh... I do the same thing. My former car had a blinking light that I would always wait for after the initial light turned on.

    Love,
    Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations

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  3. Shannon, I love your blog. It is inspiring, encouraging and uplifting. I found you via voiceBoks. You can find me at www.mynuggetsoftruth.blogspot.com
    I thought you might enjoy this particular post: http://mynuggetsoftruth.blogspot.com/2011/06/room.html
    ~Erin

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  4. Beck, Traci and Erin,

    Thanks for your great comments and insights! Have a fantastic night!

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  5. Thank you For Visiting My Site. www.CouponAnna.com Anna

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  6. It is so like Him to forget our past offences and keep teaching and filling up our tanks. He never says, "you think you would have learned your lesson by now."
    Found you on Voice Box

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  7. Psalm 23. I find myself always repeating some verses in it in different situations. Visiting and following from vB.

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  8. Anna, Enjoying connected with you on VB!

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  9. Shanda and Nekky, this is an amazing passage and I love the way an "old" familiar passage can shed new life into your current life, don't you? Thanks for the visit!

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  10. Hi Shannon, I like your blog, you are doing a great work here.
    Thanks for your wonderful comments, And I would love to have you one of my follower as well.
    Bushra Syed VB
    www.allaboutbabyzee.blogspot.com
    www.syedtore.blogspot.com

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  11. Thanks for the uplifting thoughts. So true!

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  12. Wow what an awesome analogy and so true. Amen! I like to be continually overflowing and running over =)

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  13. Psalms 23, one of my all time favorite passages! Beautiful post and so relevant, as he is there at all times. Thank you for the reminder!

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  14. Oh dear. I am guilty of the same gas station offenses. I use the same excuse as you. It is inconvenient. Imagine how inconvenient running out of gas on the highway between exits while alone would be. Yeah. I think I'm going to start filling up when the tank's a quarter down!

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  15. This is just brilliant! I love the analogy!

    I'm stopping by from voiceBoks members to remember and following you on GFC!

    Have a wonderful week -- this blog post was great reading!

    Smiles,
    Jenn
    www.misadventuresinmotherhood.com

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  16. A great psalm to finish a long day for me! Thanks! I do love to run my car until the yellow light screams "it's time to stop and get more". Luckily I haven't run out of gas anywhere.

    Thanks for connecting with me on voiceBoks!
    Gladys
    http://sweetvintagelady.com

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