Monday, August 24, 2009

Having a Flat?


(Prescription for a really FLAT tire!)

FLAT!

Empty!

Has that ever described how you felt? Like you'd just had the air let out of your plans? Or your life? Or just felt like you have fizzled out like a balloon that was losing air? I have! In fact, that's the way I feel today. Although I have things I have to do every day this week, I feel like I'm flat. Empty. Like I'm going nowhere. Spinning my wheels. Making no progress. My bones ache. My eyes are weak. I feel sad. Sometimes it can be something big that deflates me. Sometimes it can be just the tiniest little thing!

What's the answer to my flatness? My emptiness? Maybe I can look at something that happened a few days ago and figure it out. My husband headed out to get his old 4x4 pickup and trailer so he could load his tractor and take it to the "Old Place" to disk up some ground and plant some greens. First thing he noticed a flat on one of his tires. Flat. Empty of air. Not a real unusual thing to happen out here. There's all kinds of things to pick up in a tire on these gravel roads. Sometimes it's a huge nail. Sometimes just a small little tack or rock that causes the flat. Did he just sit down and look at it the flat tire or throw his hands up in despair? No! He took action! He went and got his air compressor, plugged it in , and put air in the flat tire. No more flatness. No more emptiness. Fixed. Mission accomplished. Now he could get on with his plans.


One of the best preventatives for a flat tire is to check the air pressure from time to time. If it's a little low, put more air in. That's what I should do in my spiritual life! I should do a "self-check" from time to time to see how "inflated" I am and if I'm getting too low, spend some extra time with the Lord instead of letting myself get to the place where I am just plain wore out and FLAT!


So, what's the answer to my flat, empty feelings? I need to be inflated. I need to get "plugged in" to a Greater Source of Power than myself.

I need some time alone with God. I need some time to rest in Him. To tell Him my needs. To read His Word. To listen to Him speak to me through His inspired words. I need a fresh wind blowing through my heart and mind that will fill me up and get me going again.


"And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be FILLED with all the FULNESS of God." Ephesians 3: 19


Marilyn

8 comments:

Leah Adams said...

Great analogy, Marilyn. We all get those flat feelings from time to time and that is when we most need to get flat before God. On our faces, humbling ourselves.

Have a great day. Hope everyone is doing well.

Leah

Lisa said...

I'm preparing a Bible Study on Acts 16 and am reminded that in addition to the Word, sometimes you just need to start praising and see what God will do.

Walls will come down, chains will be broken, hearts can be changed - all by taking our eyes off of ourselves and putting them on the Savior.

May God give you fresh wind and fresh fire today through His Spirit!

Blessings ~ Lisa

Yolanda said...

Marilyn,

You can't see this on the other side, but the tears are falling. I've been hit with a nail, my Friend, and I've cried lots of tears in the last three days, but I want you to know that I've not allowed myself to be unplugged. God spoke loud and clear to me yesterday. I'm thankful for you and I love YOU so very much Miss Marilyn.

Deborah said...

Thanks, Marilyn. I needed that reminder. Too often when a 'nail' has taken the air out of my tires, I just leave them flat and just try to keep on driving!

Beth Herring said...

Marilyn - I always enjoy your post so much! What a great analogy this was. We have to keep ourselves inflated with the Word to keep from going flat.

You are an inspiration.

Sarah said...

Filling up with you today! Lord, fill up my spirit in you that I may go wherever you lead.

Blessings to you from Costa Rica,
Sarah Dawn

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

Very good advice, Marilyn. I've been spending tons of time with God over the past couple of week; still and yet, I'm exhausted and could use a departure from my busyness. Which means I need a thorough examination of my other activities that are sapping my strength!

Thanks for checking in. Love you dear heart; don't be too hard on yourself. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other and pressing into the rest of Jesus Christ. He is faithful to tend to your needs.

peace~elaine

Lori said...

This is my first time visiting your blog (thank you for commenting on my so I could find it!). Thoroughly enjoyed this post. Been feeling quite FLAT for a little while now...thank you for the reminder. I definitely needed this.
God bless you and have a wonderful day!!!