You have a spiritual tank. The thing that keeps this tank full is connecting with God. And that is different for many people. Some people connect with God by being in nature. My buddy swears he feels closer to Jesus when he rides his motorcycle. But there are a couple of ways we ALL connect to God, which are talking to God and reading his Word. Now, I realize that sounds churchy, but think about how amazing this really is. Not only can we simply talk to God, the Creator of the universe, but we have his very tangible love letter to us called the Bible. It’s a shame to let it simply sit on the shelf or on the coffee table, because the insides are so rich.
Now, how people pray and read the Bible can be very different. For some, it’s journaling, or praying in the car, or being outside and talking to God. Whatever that way is for you, find it and do it. Make it a habit. For me, I type to pray. I’m so ADHD it helps me to stay focused. I have a journal on my computer, so I read a passage or a devotion, then type my prayers. That really works for me. I have found that I have to do it almost every day if I want to feel connected with God. You may be different. Thinking of journaling or typing your prayers may seem like your worst nightmare. I understand that, but find what works for you, then make it a habit. It makes all the difference in the world.
I used to be one of those guys who would hurry through my time with God to get to my day, but I have found that nothing makes me more productive than spending time with God. And even more importantly, nothing can make me more loving toward my wife. Don’t skimp on the things and the times that draw you to God. Now here’s a side note: I used to think that the emotional tank and the spiritual tank were the same thing. I’m a bit of an introvert, so I tend to be drained when I am around a lot of people for long periods of time. And as a dad of three, that is often. So there are times when I just don’t want to be around people.
I used to wonder how my relationship with God could be good if I didn’t want to be around people. It was so freeing for me when I realized my spiritual tank with God could be full even when my emotional tank with others was low. This doesn’t make me a bad person; it just means I need to make sure I’m around people who fill my emotional tank. Or, at times, I choose to be by myself. And most importantly, I need to make sure that I’m making time to be with God. Because once again, spending time with Him creates things in you and me that draw others to us—things like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Learning what fills our spiritual tanks is a great way to love God first and love others more.
