Being still had become difficult. The days were lived out on a treadmill of purposed activity, intentionally designed to fill empty places caused by loss.
I had become pretty good at staying busy ~ so busy that my prayers were offered on the run. Though the desire for unhurried time with my Savior persisted, I struggled with stillness and slowly began to realize it wouldn’t happen without a measure of discipline.
Weeks had passed since I sat down with my Bible, pen and journal waiting for God’s Spirit to speak His encouragement into my heart. It could wait no longer. I picked up my pen and slowly began to phrase the words that had been dormant in my soul ~ but within a few strokes, the ink faded and soon nothing transferred onto the page. The pen had run dry. “Thank you, Father.” I whispered in prayer. Before me was a parallel of my condition.
The outside looked the same, but the inside was empty. To continue going through the motion of writing would have been futile, for without the internal supply of ink, the pen was an ineffective instrument. It needed filling and that was something my pen couldn’t do for itself. I walked over to my desk and opened the drawer where an ample supply of refills waited to restore my depleted pen. Dropping one in, I returned to the Bible, where God had an ample supply of truth to fill my depleted soul.
Life’s unexpected twists and turns can drain us in almost imperceptible ways and, if we aren’t careful to exercise the privilege of taking our needs before the Lord, we simply run dry. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you’re there now. The 1st Chapter of Ephesians offers words to refill your soul.
“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.” (NIV verses 18-23)
God desires to continually fill His people with the truth of His Word. Believers are both the recipients and instruments of His love and, through the indwelling Spirit of Christ, life flows with renewed hope, strength and power to press on. Spiritual dryness is graciously remedied in the presence of Jesus. Come in humble stillness and let Him fill you.
