One recent morning my cell phone began to act up.
The first trouble concerned accessing a voicemail. It was not immediately critical
because I had already contacted the caller. A short while later I attempted to leave a
voice message on a friend’s phone. When she returned my call, I found that it
had been blank. Soon after that I tried to send a text. I composed a message, but was unable to
successfully send it. By this time I had determined to take the phone to the
cellular store where I purchased and service it. I hoped they would be able to
clear the phone and reboot it to work properly.
The moment the word “reboot” entered my mind, I
realize that the first thing I should do is turn the phone off. After a few
minutes, I turned it back on and everything worked properly. At this point all
the phone had needed was a rest. Since that “reboot” every application has
worked as it should. It simply needed to be turned off, rest and turned back on
to return to normal operating status.
That same evening my computer was not working
properly. It would not allow me to open some previously saved files. Then the
mouse stopped working. I told my husband, who has far more computer knowledge
than I, of the issues. He had no advice for this situation. Remembering the
morning and my phone, I immediately shut down the computer and took the battery
out. After waiting for about one minute, I inserted the battery back into its
place and turned the computer on. Since that time everything has worked as it
should.
I seldom turn off either my cell phone or my
computer. I tend to recharge my cell phone before the battery runs low. Since I
use it for an alarm clock, I do not turn it off at night. Impatience at the set
up time required when starting the computer after it has been shut down, I
generally opt for the ‘sleep’ or ‘hibernate’ modes. These habits cause my
electronics to run for extended periods of time.
Like my phone and computer, running too long without
proper rest can cause people to begin having problems. Our minds and our bodies
require rest physically mentally and spiritually. When things begin to get a
little off, it may be time for a reboot. Our entire lives do not require to be
totally cleared for a new beginning. But we do need a time for rest and
refreshing. “Six days you shall do your work,
but the seventh day you shall rest and keep Sabbath, that your ox and your
donkey may rest, and the son of your bondwoman, and the alien, may be
refreshed.” (Exodus 23:12 AMP)
Even God, whose work was perfect, took a day of rest as an example to
us. Adequate sleep and relaxation enable
us to be far more productive in all we do.
When we become overwhelmed with life, we will not operate at our best.
The enemy of our soul will use these times to gain ground in our lives. We will
simply make wrong decisions due to spiritual, mental or physical exhaustion.
Jesus has given the solution of this problem. “Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and
relieve and refresh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and
learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will
find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet)
for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard,
sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is
light and easy to be borne.” (Matthew
11:28-30 AMP) Come away to His love and
grace by shutting off the distractions of life for a time.
Troublesome times may try to prevent
us from crossing the threshold of rest. We
must make the effort to enter in. “Let be
and be still, and know
(recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations!
I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm
46:10 AMP) This may take special time
alone, shuting off the noise in our minds to contemplate God’s promises and
build up trust. Jesus also understood
this. “And He said to them, [As
for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while—for many
were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to
eat.” (Mark 6:31 AMP) God does not intend for us to be continually
coming and going, even when the work we are doing is ministering for Him. He desires that we spend time with Him so He
can restore what trials of life drain from us.
He also wants to share in our joys.
He longs to refresh our hearts like rain refreshes dry, wilting plants.
If you
find yourself not performing at your best, check out your rest. Are you getting
enough physical and spiritual time away from the busyness of your day? It may
be time to reboot by taking time to clear, rest and reset. It will be well
worth it!
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