You overslept because you stayed up too late…the dog got out of the fence and you chased it through the neighborhood…you finally got in the shower, got dressed, had an argument about finances with your spouse as you rush out the door and finally you are sitting in the quiet solitude of your car. Then BAM! You are not going anywhere! You are on EMPTY!

Today, we could change a few of the details but the story is the same. Running on empty. Life without purpose. Life is no longer fun. It’s a life of exhaustion & anxiety. Of waking up thinking what else could go wrong. It’s living in a state of reaction, and you are worn out.

“What’s a mother to do?” (slogan from a 1980’s Life cereal commercial). This question applies to men, women & children, “What are we to do?”

We must recognize we have a broken & dysfunctional chooser. We are making bad choices and expecting good results. Simply put…what we are choosing to put in our tank still leaves us empty. Good News, if you have breath, you can fix & recalibrate your chooser.

First, change your focus. Only God has the power & authority to fill your tank with what you need. That means accepting the fact that if you deny Him the Lordship of your life, you will continue getting what you are getting. It was such a time for Nicodemus when he came searching for the answer from Jesus. Listen to how Jesus responded. “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (John 3:3). Self-help books & conferences will not work until this choice is made. God set out this Principle in the first 3 Ten Commandments. Jesus made it easy for us to understand in Matthew 22:37, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.” I’ll say it in Robert 1:1, “Stop trying to please yourself and please Him”!

To put Jesus on the throne of your life begins with “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9)

Next, activate Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Note, this does not mean every day is going to be peachy-keen. Paul gave us this example of how he faced the impossible situations in his life in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” No matter how much power & influence, man will fail you. Only God has Holy Power. King Jehoshaphat knew this when he faced the nation of Israel being wiped out. He stood before God and his people and prayed, “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Now it’s time to intentionally fill your tank. He tells us in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God” … Be still! People tell me, “Robert I just don’t have time in the morning to pray and study my Bible.” Think about this. Did you have time to brush your teeth, go to the bathroom, take a shower, get dressed and grab a bite to eat before rushing out the door with your hair on fire? Everything we do is important in our life. It’s our chooser! When we choose to give Him the leftovers of our heart, mind, and day, we are reaping what we have been sowing.

He promised us, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10 Only He has the power to fill your tank!

If you are tired of living on empty…it’s time to fix your chooser. Choose to “Please Jesus First!” Stop – Look & Listen…The train is coming!