Regular maintenance is a concept we are all familiar with. Consider your vehicles, which require regular upkeep to keep the engine running smoothly. Similarly, think about your body and the necessity of annual checkups at the doctor. We don’t advocate waiting until something is drastically wrong. Generally, the prudent practice of regular maintenance is something we apply in various aspects of our lives.

Why is this considered wisdom? Everything that requires regular maintenance is something we use continuously, producing and consuming in a cycle. Your car is constantly running, utilizing all its parts and consuming gasoline. These parts need specific care to function smoothly, and as they are used, they wear out or become contaminated. For instance, when you change your oil, it doesn’t come out as clear and pristine as when you first added it. The process of running your car creates and degrades the components it needs to keep functioning. We’ve learned that oil needs to be changed at regular intervals to keep the engine running efficiently and cleanly. You might wonder why I’m discussing car maintenance in a devotion. It’s a modern-day parable, and if you listen with your spiritual ears, you’ll perceive the lesson here. Still, I’ll explain for full clarity.

Your spiritual life is like a car. You are constantly consuming God’s presence, truth, strength, and love. What we receive from the Lord is like the gasoline in our lives, fueling us for daily living. Make no mistake, the car won’t run without gasoline. So, if your spiritual life has stalled, perhaps you need to reconnect to the vine and once again walk and operate in your spiritual life. But there’s more than just the gasoline needed for everyday functioning. There’s also regular maintenance, the deep cleaning that goes beyond the daily routine. These times of deeper examination and transformation don’t just happen once when you’re saved.

These are moments of fasting, deeper study, examination, and spiritual renewal. This goes beyond the daily intake of God’s word and prayer. These are times of self-reflection and examination, necessary for believers because as we grow closer to God, more things are revealed that need transformation within our hearts. Remember, we are like onions, with layers covering particular issues. Once an issue is revealed, there needs to be a response. Just as Christ went away to be refreshed and renewed by God, we do the same. We deprive ourselves of much freedom if we think transformation in Christ only happens at our initial conversion. His work to renew and transform is ongoing, and these deep moments of transformation are like oil changes in our lives. They often come with challenges and trials. Why? Because pressure reveals what’s inside, and some things need to be dealt with that are revealed. I don’t want to belabor the point, but I emphasize the difference between daily maintenance—taking in God’s truth and love for regular living—and those times of spiritual renewal and transformation when Christ takes us to another level, completely renewing us. I’m not saying the gospel has changed and there is a new kind of salvation. I’m simply advocating for a complete spiritual life and experience with the Lord.  Moments renewal, transformation, and cleansing throughout our life with the Lord. Is it enough to stay fueled with the Holy Spirit for daily living? Yes, that’s vital, but if you want your engine to run at its optimum condition, you’ll do the scheduled maintenance to dig deeper and not just skim the surface.

Previously, I’ve written about self-examination and reflection in a believer’s life, which I consider the annual checkups of our spirit. It’s important to understand that as you go through life, you’re constantly changing and experiencing new situations. Each experience affects you and can change you. Self-examination allows you to consider your current focus and state, what God is calling you to lay down now, and if there are areas that need to be fully submitted to God’s sovereignty once again. As you grow and change, there may be new things to surrender to God. I’ve been writing devotions long enough to see that God often speaks to me, but the message gets blurred by life’s situations. He brings these things back to me, and it’s almost like I had never seen them before. Yet I can look back and see that I have, I have written proof.  It’s as if these truths are the oil of his spirit and he’s pouring that fresh and new oil in. It’s the same oil but it’s somehow new and just as life giving as it was when I originally received it. My point is, perhaps not every day, but at regular intervals, you should take time to steal away with the Lord and allow Him to deeply examine your heart. Let Him remind you of truths you might have forgotten, transform and renew because new things that have surfaced in your heart. We need to be open as believers to the continual transformation the Holy Spirit is working in you.

We don’t get a brand-new car, drive it off the lot, and expect it to run forever, even if we regularly add gasoline. We know it requires regular maintenance. We understand that prevention is better than cure, so we go for regular checkups with the doctor to identify potential issues early. We grasp the concept of not only regular fueling but also the importance of deeper maintenance. Why would we think it would be any different in our spiritual life? It’s not.

If you’ve only been adding gasoline to your spirit and neglected routine maintenance, maybe it’s time to look under the hood. Perhaps it’s time to allow God to change the oil in the engine of your heart. This might be what’s been missing. Try it, that’s my challenge to you. I guarantee you’ll find your spiritual life healthier, your alignment with Christ stronger, and you’ll be better prepared for whatever lies ahead because, in every way, spiritually, you’ll be exactly where you need to be. Don’t forget to prioritize the regular maintenance of your spiritual life!

Romans 2:12, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Isaiah 40:31, Psalms 51:10, Acts 3:19, Ephesians 4:22-24