Running on Empty

by Michelle Welch

“I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands.”
Psalm 119:59-60 (NLT)

Each spring and fall, hummingbirds pass through Texas on their way south for the winter. We are the last stop before they fly over the Gulf of Mexico so they are storing up energy for the trip. They come in groups usually and stay for a couple of days before moving on. Iridescent shades of red, green, purple, black and white move in and out of the shadows around the house. Arguments over feeding stations break out, their angry buzzing chatter scaring even the dogs. The cat thinks they are some sort of mutant mosquito and makes a run for cover every time they are near.

If the feeders are empty (which they frequently are when I am out of town as the occupants of our house can barely feed themselves without a phone and a pizza menu) the hummers buzz about your head, making a little chirring sound to remind you of your feeding duties. They perch in the tree, tiny dots of color amid the sea of green leaves, watching intently as I clean and fill their little buffets.

I was reminded of them when reading today’s scripture. Just as God created inside them an internal need to fill their energy tanks before their long journey, He has placed inside us an eternal longing for His presence. When we read and ponder His words and laws, using them to prepare for our earthly travels, we fill up our spiritual energy tanks. We tend to worry about preparing for everything except God. We fill our money tank, our material possession tank, our entertainment tank, or our worldly tank. We are shocked when we turn to those things for comfort and find only emptiness where stuff once was. God has given us His Holy Spirit to whisper in our ear, reminding us that He will never let His cup be empty. We can always fill up on His Word, using it to energize and direct us in life’s journey. Now if we could just figure out a way to burn calories the way that little hummingbird does.

Dearest Father God, I am slow to respond to You sometimes. I need to remember that You have asked me to make haste in becoming more like You. I need to hurry up and change my life so that I reflect Your Word in all that I say and do. Let me remember that I have no guarantee of tomorrow so I must make today the most important day of all. Let me find those who are lost, help those who are seeking You, and show mercy to the brokenhearted. I thank You for using all Your creations to nudge my soul to action. You created us all for Your Glory. In the precious Name of Your Son, Christ Jesus, Amen.

Breath of Life Women’s Ministries

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