I'm really bad when it comes to refilling my petrol tank on time…I see that orange light flashing, informing me that I need to refuel - and most often than not, although it completely registers in my mind…I still find myself waiting another 15 miles or so before I actually fill up my petrol tank again. Now if I was doing this occasionally then haaaay it's not really a big deal - I'm sure my motor could cope with my negligence and wouldn't really be affected…but you see I'm doing this on the regs, despite knowing full well that the reserve fuel is there to keep the low pressure pump cool and prevent it from overheating…yet nevertheless I'm ignoring the warning signs and seeing how long I can wing it before I REALLY REALLY need to refuel. So basically, because of my laziness and negligence I'm totally mashing up my fuel pump in the long run - which ultimately will end up costing me dearly, unless I sort it out and start refueling on time! Hmmm…note to self…fix up missy…smiles.

We sometimes do the very same with the presence of God.

We get internal warnings that we're running on empty…whether it's because things have got really busy, or because we're distracted or anxious…maybe because we're tired and demotivated…or simply because we're just being plain old lazy about spending quality time drinking from the well of God's presence…whatever the reason may be, the fact is that we're operating on an empty tank…we're not tanked up with the joy and peace and hope and creativity that can only truly be birthed in God's presence…and so we're running on reserves and often times seeing how long we can wing it…some run on reserves for a day…some do it for a week or a month and some even do it as a lifestyle…

Soooo…instead of practicing the habit of being refueled in God regularly so that we can truly operate at our best…we sometimes allow ourselves to settle for the reserves, rather than the irreplaceable refreshing that can only be found in the fullness of God's presence…somehow convincing ourselves that running on reserves will be sufficient…thinking a weekly worship service or corporate prayer here and there…will keep us afloat…but just like with my motor…even though I might think I've gotten away with it because I managed to get petrol, in the nick of time, before the car broke down - I still don't actually have any idea of what's happening behind the scenes deep inside the core of my car and I probably won't find out til later the actual damage that my lack of discipline and negligence has caused…and so it sometimes is with us…we choose to learn the hard way…sometimes it takes a break down…a disaster…an internal explosion or some sort of soul revealing encounter to show us how desperately dry we have become.

Because you see, running on reserves may for a time seem sufficient…but sufficiency isn't abundance…and we are called to lives of abundancy (John 10:10)…and in no other area is abundance more significant than in regards to the Presence…for out of the presence flows EVERY SINGLE THING pertaining to LIFE (Ezekiel 47).

So let's not compromise…let's not settle for less…let's not drink with a straw from the dregs of the barrel when we have the entire ocean at our disposal…

…Let’s determine in our hearts to take a trip down to the river each day.