The refueling

It is strange how quickly roles change within a family. I’ve reached the point where my grandchildren are now taking the test for their driver’s licenses. Short trips to the local market are handed over to the eager new drivers, who relish these brief bursts of newfound freedom. It feels like just yesterday that their parents (my children) were testing these exact boundaries. “Wear your seat belts,” “Watch out for the other driver,” and “Let me know you’re safe” remain familiar phrases as the back door slams with excitement.
Freedom: I remember when freedom shone brightly for my 16-year-old sister. Her freedom came with a 1968 Ford Fairlane, which was white with a red leather interior. Although the AM radio had good reception, the added 8-track player offered a choice between the Rolling Stones or a little Creedence Clearwater Revival. My sister and I, close in age and personality, were inseparable. Her freedom was my freedom. As long as we had a pocket full of change for gas, we were cruising the streets of our hometown. At 48 cents a gallon, nickels, dimes, and quarters were all we needed.
Today, the cost of gas is far from the 48 cents a gallon we knew back then. Prices have risen, and every trip to the pump seems to cost more than the last. But despite the rising fuel costs, one thing remains unchanged: the refueling of the soul is still free for the believer. While we pay at the pump, the spiritual renewal offered to those who believe remains a gift – unearned, priceless, and abundant. When was the last time you refueled your soul? There is no cost, just your time and a desire to be with the Heavenly Father.
Luke 5:12-16, a man with leprosy came to the Lord for healing. Jesus had compassion for the man and reached His healing hand toward him. This simple act of compassion restored the man, giving him a new lease on life. Jesus then instructed the “now-cleansed leper” to go to the temple to heal the soul by reconnecting with the Father through worship and sacrifice. By sending the man to the temple, Jesus stressed the significance of staying connected with the Father through praise, obedience, and service.
Jesus frequently sought moments of solitude to connect with the Father, demonstrating that spiritual renewal is crucial (Luke 5:16). Just as the leper needed to honor God after being healed physically, Jesus emphasized the importance of ongoing communion with God as He withdrew to seek the Heavenly Father’s presence. While healing for the body is essential, the healing of the soul is even more significant.
Like Jesus, we need to recharge our spiritual connection with God. After Jesus had fed the multitudes in Matthew 14, He sent the disciples away, allowing Him quiet time with the Father. In Mark 1:35, Jesus and His friends were sleeping in a house. In the early morning darkness, Jesus slipped away, leaving His friends for time with the Father. If Jesus, being fully man and fully God, needed time with the Father, shouldn’t we?
Today, I challenge you to carve out quiet moments on your mountainside. Find time to refuel your soul in the Lord and find freedom that transcends the physical, renewing you from the inside out. Keep your pocket change and find your soul peace in the freedom His grace gives.
Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.