Keep The Oil Burning: A Matthew 25 Devotional for When You Feel Spiritually Drained

The story of the five foolish virgins has been weighing on me. It seems to me that we are all just one step away from being like one of those five foolish ones, even if we have a solid relationship with the Lord. The daily grind of life can take so much of our energy. It’s so easy to put off spending time with God and just get caught up in the demands that life has in front of us.

Just this week I was feeling kind of sad and lackluster. I was complaining to God that even the things that he had set before me in ministry and the gifts and skills he gave me to accomplish that were not enough to make me happy. Then I just gave me a little nudge and said .. “ I am the only thing that can sustain you. Only I have the life you are looking for.”

The oil in my lamp had not gone out completely, but it had certainly dimmed.

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What the Lord Showed Me

So, I pressed into this a bit more and asked him to explain the story of the 10 virgins to me. The Lord explained to me that the oil in the lamps is a metaphor for the oil—the Holy Spirit—inside of us. And according to this parable, it is possible to let that oil run out. But the good news is that it;s super easy to turn up that flame and even ignite it again if you have to. If you are feeling overwhelmed or mildly depressed and run down, your oil lamp may need a refill.

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Keeping the Oil Burning

God made it clear to me that the secret to keeping the oil burning—staying full of His presence—is spending time with Him. Not just prayer in the sense of asking for things (which is good), but spending real time with Him and letting Him fill you with His presence, let Him fill you with His oil.

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Scripture

If you need a reminder of the parable you can read it HERE.

Reflection

It is not too late to rebuild that connection with God, and it is never too late to begin it. Just take a minute right now. Stop what you’re doing and ask God to refresh you. Ask him to refill your oil lamp. If you have an extra minute, put on some of your favorite soothing or worship music. Even just 10 minutes can make a huge difference in your day. Let him fill you so that you have something to give. If you are someone who is constantly giving, this is your time to receive. It’s okay to think about you right now. You need this time with God. It’s not selfish. It’s vital.

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