Pony Car Parables (5)

Fueled & Firing Up

Shortly after bringing Vinny home, I turned the key….and he wouldn't start. I quickly remembered that older cars don’t usually start right off. It was fun how the memories flooded back as―without thinking―I pumped it twice, turned the key, and vroom... “Just like the old days,” I thought grinning. Then I thought, “Christians are like that…”

We are never at our best trying to fire up on our own. We need the Lord to prime us a little every day. “His mercies are new every morning,” and we should let Him pour some into us at the start. Similarly, like Vinny, it’s a good idea for us to ‘warm up’ in the Lord before we drive. Cars take in fuel, fire, and air; and ‘breathe out’ exhaust; so too we need to ‘breathe out’ in prayer and service; and take in the Word, answers to prayer, and ‘be being filled with the Holy Spirit,’ (Eph 5:8).

Additionally, Vinny runs best on premium fuel. As do we. God knows this too and commands us, “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,” (1 Pet 2:2). He also points out that there is spiritual milk and meat. “...Everyone who lives on milk is inexperienced with the message about righteousness, because he is an infant. But solid food is for the mature...whose senses have been trained to distinguish between good and evil,” (Heb 5:13-14). Without premium fuel, we won’t run right for long. And, sometimes it takes more than a couple of pumps to get started, doesn’t it? Sometimes we need more and more time in the Word and prayer for the Spirit’s spark to hit.

Meanwhile, I keep Vinny in premium octane, prime him with a couple of pumps, and let him warm up a little before we cruise off embarking on our next adventure. As I wait, I reflect on the fuel God has given me, meditate/‘warm up’ on it, and often take the opportunity to check in through prayer. 

Feel like you can’t get started? Maybe put it in park, pump in some good fuel, get some air flow through prayer, mix in some patience; and God’s grace will have you revved up and cruisin’ on your next adventure sooner than you may think.