Update and Restart

In today’s society, it appears that our technology is everything.  There is little we do without our phones, computers, and tablets.  Children born cannot even comprehend life without phones or tablets. In fact, many of us reflect and wonder what we did before technology, or how we made it.. The devices that started as a means for basic communication or increasing work productivity, have morphed into something that we use for any and everything. When the devices suddenly stop working many of us panic. After all, how will we know what time it is? What about those appointments that we have scheduled and are on our digital calendar? What will we use to entertain the kids? How do I get to my destination? What if I want to read a Bible verse? What if….? Yes, the list is endless. In our panic, we know that troubleshooting is needed in order to get the device working again.  

When this happens, generally one of the first things we do is check out how many tabs or apps we have open.  We go and begin to close the tabs and apps, because they are slowing the device down.  Typically, on a computer, we see the number of tabs we have open.  What I find amazing is how many apps I have running in the background.  They are things I have open that are causing my battery to drain and slowing the device down.  The device cannot do what it is designed to do, because I have it doing too many other things.  And while these things may be good, it is taking away from the original purpose of the device.

Now, once we have exhausted all options of closing tabs and apps down, the typical next step is simply turn off the device and turn it back on. Sometimes, we simply go to the shut down command and turn it off.  We see options such as: shut down, restart, or my “favorite” windows option: update and restart or update and shut down. I notice that this option normally happens when I am in a rush and do not want to wait. However, the update is needed, and the device knows and will not move on until the update happens.  Other times, the device will not even go into shut down mode, and we have to do a hard reset.  Then there is the dreaded time that so much has happened, that the device needs to be reset to factory settings.  The device has to be wiped and started over again.

How often do we find ourselves moving and doing so much that we forget what our intended purpose was? How often are we moving and doing to the point we become tired and depleted? How often do we find life has been like a device with so many tabs and things open in the background, it is slowing us down.  There are updates that need to happen in order for us to function properly.  

 I cannot speak for anyone but myself here, but lately, I find that I need to be updated and restarted.  Now, just like the computer, before I “update” I need to close down any open “tabs” and “programs”  I have running.  These “tabs” could be the distractions of family, work, friends, church, or even self.  They could be things we have overcommitted to. Whatever it may be, we need to close it down, and shut off the noise, so we can update and restart.

When I close off the “tabs” of noise and distractions, I am then ready to shut down so the update and restart can happen. As the “tabs” are closed I am able to go deeper in my prayer, mediation, and time with Him.  And, just like the phone needs to be charging for most updates, I too must be plugged into the Lord and His Word. This is when He does His work and gives me what I need.  With the tabs closed, there are no distractions or competition, and I can hear and receive what He is saying.  As I shut down, I am getting the spiritual “downloads”  and “updates” that I need to come, in order to proceed. 

 Perhaps you find yourself in a rut, or a place that you feel you are not growing, or hearing from God, take inventory of your life.  Maybe you have had so many “tabs” open, that you are slowing down, or not doing what you were designed and created to do.  If you find yourself in this place, close out the tabs you have open, plug in, and reset your spiritual system.  When you shut down, plug in, and reset, the Lord will speak, and download all you need to proceed. Let’s make a commitment to update, reset, and get back to who God designed us to be.

#updatesneeded #restart #purpose