Asterisks Miles

Tuesday greetings,

My car is a little finicky. The electronic mile gauge will read 37 miles until empty, and then suddenly it will display what I have affectionately come to call "Asterisks Miles."

That means I can run out of gas at any moment.  When those three asterisks show up I know I need to head to a gas station pronto.

But playing chicken with the gas can be exciting, right? "I bet I can make it to the grocery store and back, so take that, Asterisks Miles!"  One time I erupted in nervous laughter because the car suddenly sputtered in the middle of a South Florida down pour, and I thought I would be stranded.  Another day Asterisks Miles showed up in the middle of an unexpected traffic jam, and I nearly panicked at the thought of navigating the Palmetto Expressway on foot, in flip flops wearing sailboat pajama bottoms because I was only going to meet Jorge with some paper he needed.

Of course, I could just do the responsible thing, not take any chances, and fill up while I have at least 37 miles to go - I could fill up long before the tank is empty.  The car does provide a fair warning, after all. 

This obvious truth applies spiritually as well.  We know when we are low on faith, hope, love, peace, wisdom, health, trust...when one tiny discomfiture will send us over the edge, leaving us stuck and stranded in a pit of fear or exhaustion.  Yet we neglect to fill up on the Lord's goodness.  We ignore all the signals and fail to communicate with the One who desires to bless us until "our cup runneth over" (Psalm 23:5).  We all desperately need to have our life filled by the One Who "is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). 

It starts with prayer.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, Today we seek You because we need a fill up.  We desire an overflow of Your goodness right now.  We need more faith, hope, love, peace, health, and trust right now. Help us make the right decisions. Some of our cups are only half full or near empty.  Pour Your blessings into them right now so they overflow and splash everything and everyone around them.  In Jesus' name, Amen!