“I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”  - John 15:5

 So, I’m on vacation two weeks ago -  driving down the road - I needed gas.  The “low fuel” warning lit up - the words 30 miles until empty were spelled out in bright yellow letters. Mary said, “Better get gas.”

Yes, I saw it. … and yes, I ignored it.  No problem I said they just tell you that - they actually don’t mean 30 miles… we drove on. Mary said, “Are we pushing it?” I grunted something… we drove on.

For a moment, my mind wandered to another time… only it was my soul on empty.  I noticed the “low fuel” light. I felt God’s nudge to fill up in His presence. But I ignored it. It wasn't until I was tired - frazzled that I realized how vital that fuel really is.   Recently I learned of a woman in a similar position. She said when she noticed the “low fuel” lights in her soul, she began to pray, God, show me a time I can be with You. Not long after, she started waking at 2 a.m. No alarm clock. No screaming baby to blame. She just woke up, and she took it as God’s offer to meet with Him.

When I felt those same spiritual “low fuel” signs, instead of asking God to show me a time, I argued with Him about how I didn’t have enough time. When He nudged me to wake a little earlier and spend time with Him, I brushed it off saying, there’s no way God would want me to do this. He knows I need sleep.  He knows all that I have to do and stopping to refuel feels like a waste of time. But John 15:5 tells me differently “Without Me you can do nothing.”

We don’t know what each day holds, but God does. He knows what we need and what’s ahead. If only we’ll pay attention when the light alerts us. That day on the highway as we finally pulled into a gas station…I felt very different than when we arrived. I felt relief and confidence to continue moving down the road. I have also found this to be true spiritually through those draining days of life. After physical sickness, emotional exhaustion and a spiritual drought, I finally dropped to my knees and admitted my need for a fuel only found in Jesus. I gulped down His presence - all the while wondering why I waited so long to pull over. If you’re nearing empty, don’t wait! “Without Him you can do nothing.”