My project was almost finished, and then my screen went blank. I had worked for hours and in one second, everything vanished. But to where? Hello, Cloud, did you take my project?
After I stared at the blank screen and fought back tears, I decided to reboot. If all else fails, turn everything off and start again. I prayed over my computer as it was rebooting and then heard that familiar series of notes—a welcomed tune—and there it was: my precious document. It had been restored and was ready to be finished. I went from feeling like all the blood had been drained from my body to complete elation. You might have heard me singing the Hallelujah Chorus from over here in South Tulsa.
I thanked God for this reboot and then thought about the New Year. I wanted to kick things off with a great start—a 2023 reboot!
It’s so easy to get overwhelmed with the noise of life, which can cause us to feel disconnected from God. Social media does its part, but it’s also up to us to pay attention to what we need. As I pondered my reboot, I realized our relationship with God is a bit like a network connection to a computer. There is a scripture in the Psalms that says, He restores my soul, He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. (23:3) When we are experiencing a temporary disconnect from God, rebooting the system restores our souls and puts us back on the right path. The noise of life causes us to lose the joy and peace, but Mom would always say, “Lisa, if you feel far from God, He’s not the one who moved!” She was always right; I was the one that allowed the disconnect.
If I can no longer tune in and link with God because of the disconnect, I’m unable to access His wisdom promptly so I can respond when trials come. What a joy it is to know there is restoration in the reboot!
Here are a few ways you can reboot your connection with God:
- Discover where the disconnect is. Where are the loose connections? Many times, as I pray, God shows me the weak link and where I have veered from the center. As I read my devotional and scripture each morning, it’s amazing how clear things become. The noise recedes into the background and, once again, I hear the still, small voice of God leading me.
- Forgive. These past few years have shown me the importance of walking in forgiveness. Unforgiveness will lead to disconnect. If you feel too hurt to forgive, remind yourself that your extremity is God’s opportunity. When you feel you are all out of forgiveness, He can take over and love when you can’t, and that’s when the burden of carrying the hurt lifts. The noise also quietens, so give yourself the gift of forgiveness.
- Stay connected. I love my prayer walks and prayer closet time and I protect those moments every day. They are crucial for connection. I listen to scriptures, pray, sing, and connect with God in a way that reboots my soul. If I miss that time, everything feels off.
- Rest. Maybe you have too many folders open on your computer. Or you’re overloaded with too much data and work. My son always teases me about all my open folders and says it’s amazing my computer can function. Too many projects going at once means we’ve pushed aside the rest we need. Did you know that rest can be a weapon? The enemy hates it because he wants us to stay stressed and occupied, but rest is where we listen, breathe, hear, and recharge. I’m a doer, so it’s hard for me to rest, but I’ve learned that I need those times to reboot. Rest is where God’s still, small voice becomes clear and we can find those loose connections.
I’m looking forward to a 2023 reboot! God wants to connect and show you the wonderful things He has in store for you in the coming year. Every wire is vital, every 
connection is important–God, community, friends, and even strangers who cross my path. But I can’t tune into the needs if I am disconnected. I’m praying for clarity and healing for you in each of your connections this year. Take a little time to shut down the system, reconnect, and feel restored. We all need it.
Happy rebooting!