The time is fast approaching for me to get both a new laptop and a new cell phone. I have been delaying this pain dreading the learning curves involved with both as well as the associated expenses. Nevertheless, age and obsolescence are catching up with each of these devices as well as with their owner.
One of the things I’ve learned to do with my technological gadgets is to periodically check to see which apps are open and running. Somehow, these programs start and operate in the background sucking memory and battery power without the owner’s knowledge. Restarting a device is often the best strategy to eliminate these unwanted phantom distractions that reduce capacity and cripple capability.
Unconfessed sin creates similar problems for us. Deeds we did that were outside of God’s will suck away our life and vitality. Even though we may have consciously forgotten and moved on, they continue to “run” in our subconscious souls and drain our vigor, productivity, and peace.
In some cases it may be an action that no one else was aware of while at other times it was a bigger issue of doing or saying something that caused much pain and heartache to another. Whatever the situation, when we fail to confess these before God and take steps to heal relationships, these sins reduce our ability to love ourselves and others. They also cloud our connection with God and hinder our productivity for Him.
At other times we may simply be trying to do too much. God’s will for us never includes more than we can accomplish in the time and strength He has allotted us so whenever we become overwhelmed, it’s usually because we’ve taken on something outside of His will. As these constant demands run in the back of our minds like phantom apps, they drain energy from other work God has assigned that we either fail to accomplish or perform at reduced quality.
Since good is the enemy of best, we should strive to discover God’s perfect will for our lives and pursue it while leaving other time-draining and energy-sucking activities behind. It may disappoint others, but our ultimate goal is to please God, not people.
Owners of technological devices must regularly clear background programs to prevent draining and damaging situations and we must do the same in our lives. It is spiritually healthy to regularly check our souls for any unconfessed sin and then process any we find. Admitting it to God and then asking for both His forgiveness and His help in turning from it are vital. If we have hurt someone, we should apologize and try to mend the relationship with as much as lies within us.
Since we daily battle sin and temptation, we would be wise to conduct these soul-checks constantly throughout the course of each day but certainly before heading to bed every night. Consciously examining our words, thoughts and actions while they are still fresh in our minds can reveal anything that needs to be addressed. Thankfully God keeps late hours and will still be up to offer His forgiveness, restoration, and recalibration regardless of the time on our clocks.
Jesus told His followers that we must turn from all known sin and find complete forgiveness in Him. But He also told us that after we have received His forgiveness, we are to pass it on to those who hurt or offend us. Keeping short accounts with God and others enables us to live healthy spiritual lives and experience maximum peace and joy. It prevents situations that might keep us from living at optimum levels and even suffocate the very life out of us.
As we reboot our computers and phones, may they remind us to address any issues in our own lives that might be clouding our relationship with God and limiting our capacity to glorify Him.
Blessings, George