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Well, I went and did it again…I fell off the wagon…had a relapse…went back to my old ways. I would probably be more discouraged with myself if it wasn’t for the fact that you probably did it too.

We all fall prey to the busyness of life that pushes us out of sync with God’s rhythm of grace, and leaves us in the perilous place of burning wick instead of oil. I can’t always tell when it’s happening to me, but I can always tell when the deed is done. And my family can tell too. When the oil can of my life is dry, and I’m burning wick–attempting to live life on the power of my strength alone–I quickly lose my balance, perspective, and joy. I’m edgier, less talkative, more prone to discouragement, and categorically less fun.

Wicks can’t survive long without oil–to attempt to burn without oil is a fast track to burnout. And when the oil runs dry, it’s not time to suck it up and push through–it’s time to replenish the oil supply. Have you identified the pace and activity levels that push you toward burnout? Have you identified the steps that help you insure against it? Taking time to replenish the oil of our soul is a non-negotiable practice for our long-term health and vitality.

King David said, “You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.” Our spiritual and emotional sanity depend on that being our testimony as well.