1 Corinthians 16:13 — Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

So how is it? Your faith tank I mean? Easter is in the rear view mirror, Christmas is a long time away … What’s filling your tank? I know that they are magical-seeming high points for a lot of people, spiritual peaks that refresh, invigorate, refilling the faith tank. But what about the “in-between” times, the long stretches when life, for good or ill, has to be lived through? How do you keep your tank full?
There are a few things I do that help fill my tank. The first is sort of the “official” approach. Church on Sunday … or even Saturday if there’s a really good reason why Sunday’s impossible. The “book” verse is, of course, “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25). I’m thinking the writer was smarter than me … I think he was also saying, “being exhorted (built up) by one another”.

The second thing I do is I eat and drink. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when He said, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4). The Bible is food for me, and prayer is living water. Without both of them, my faith tank runs dry.

The last thing I do … maybe you’ll think I’m crazy. I try to empty my tank. Faith is one of those strange things. It’s like love. The more you use it, the more you have. If you don’t believe me, try it. 

So how is it? Your faith tank? If it seems empty, I’m going to guess you haven’t tried any of those things for a while. Do this for me. Scrape the bottom of the barrel. Pray the prayer of the father of the boy with a demon, “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). Then try a few things … Get back to church, read your Bible, pray … and one more thing…

Faith is a funny thing. Jesus was often frustrated with those “of little faith” … but I don’t think it was people whose faith tank was running dry. I think He was calling out those who never believed because He also spoke of the power that comes with just a little faith, “faith as a mustard seed”. So plant a few seeds … your tank will soon refill itself!