Running on Fumes

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me His own. — Philippians 3:12 ESV

I was driving my fourteen-year-old son, Joey, to a birthday party when I heard five quick beeps coming from my steering column. I glanced down to see what was going on: out of gas.

There was a message flashing on my dashboard: “Range to empty: 0 miles.” I asked my son to use Waze to determine the closest gas station. The options: 2.4 miles ahead of me, or 1.2 miles behind me.

I had a decision to make. Should I turn around and head to the closer gas station, or should I keep going forward, hoping that my momentum would carry me 2.4 miles?

My son chose for me. “Just keep going straight, Mom, you’re already rolling pretty fast.”

Looking straight ahead, I coasted along the rolling hills, watching the tenths of miles tick away. One mile in, the gas actually ran out (I must have been running on fumes up until that moment). In another half mile, I had slowed to half the speed limit.

By the time the gas station came into view, I was coasting along at about five miles per hour. Somehow I managed to steer my car up to the gas tank.

I took a deep breath and said a prayer of thanks that we had made it, grateful for my son’s wisdom to just keep my eyes straight ahead and my car rolling. Because while I hadn’t had the gas to make it to the station, I’d had the momentum to keep going forward.

Lord, remind me to keep my eyes on You, letting You pull me along even when I’m completely unable to move forward on my own. Amen.

~Erin MacPherson

Digging Deeper: Luke 9:62; Philippians 3:13

Excerpted with permission from Daily Guideposts, copyright Guideposts.

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Your Turn

Some days we just don’t have the “gas” to continue. This season may feel like that to you. Maybe you’ve been rolling on fumes for a long time. It’s through those times that we desperately need the Holy Spirit’s strength and might. God is with us even when we’re out of gas! Come share your thoughts with us. We want to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily