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. Impatient with 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 a
phone or 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, shutting 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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