“System Restore…” (by Mel McGuire)

At least once a year I notice my computer starts to run a little slow and will not respond to my commands like it used to. I do a routine scan for viruses and unauthorized software and find no solution. My operating system offers a feature called “System Restore”, which uses a “restore point” to set my computer back in time, to a moment when everything was working smoothly.

I do not know, nor do I need to know how it works. The problem with the computer is usually some evil thing attached to a file or website that infiltrated my system and began gumming up the works. They are usually placed by some “person” who is looking to profit off of my ignorance, charging me a  fee to get rid of the very thing they planted in the first place! System Restore allows me to operate as if I had never been infected!

Of course my walk with Christ occasionally calls for a system restore. When I struggle with my prayer life, or don’t seem to be getting anything out of my time in the word. When I feel no urgency to gather and fellowship with those of like precious faith, or when I don’t miss my constant interaction with the Holy Spirit, I may need a system restore.

I need to recall a restore point when those things flowed freely in my life. Sometimes I can go back just a short time. Other times I have to go way back to a season or point that is literally years ago, to find that place where all systems were working smoothly.

Do you remember when you were just excited to learn anything about God? When you shared your faith with whomever would listen and even some who didn’t? When you were quick to pray, even quicker to forgive, and your speech was peppered with the salt of the word? What happened to us? What did we download, what program did we neglect, what “site” did we visit that attached something to our spiritual software and began slowing our responses and causing us not to act on the prompts, the commands of the Holy Spirit?

If you can recall when it seemed every prayer was answered, when even the random opening of your bible led you to some new revelation, when you were acutely aware of God’s presence and had no desire to do anything that would jeopardize your intimacy with Him, you have found your restore point. What did you do in your free time? Who were you hanging out with? Where did you keep your bible? Chances are you were addicted to the Lord, hooked on the word, and sold out for Jesus!

Well, we can all get back to our own restore point and begin operating just like we did before we allowed ourselves to be infected with the cares of this life, the pursuit of worldly pleasures, and the lusts of the flesh. Just like with our computers, we can then monitor and pay closer attention to what we allow access to our hard drives. Like we change our settings to only allow “trusted sites” and “ask before downloading”, we can restrict who and what has access to our life. It starts with repentance…do a “system restore” and let today be a restore point.

“Spellcheck…” (by Mel McGuire)

I was typing something recently at work and I was in a hurry. As my co-worker observed what I was doing, they pointed out a couple of words I had messed up. I said, without missing a beat, “I will spellcheck it later”. As soon as I said it, the Holy Spirit convicted me. Did I mention I was in a hurry? I kept right on typing because I was more concerned with getting it done, than I was with getting it done right.

When I did the spellcheck, the program picked up all the misspelled words and even a couple of grammatical errors. It missed a few words that were spelled correctly, but not used in their proper context. I realized this when the person who the document was intended for pointed out to me that some things I had written didn’t make sense. I apologized and made the appropriate changes that the spellcheck had missed. Or did it?

I got convicted again and this time, I paid attention as the Lord chastised me for abusing the spellcheck program. He gently reminded me that He (through my co-worker) had pointed out some mistakes as I was making them, and I ignored Him. How many times have we decided to wait to repent? Kind of do a general end of the day sort of repentance for “everything I may have done wrong” instead of acknowledging our sins as they occur (or at least as we become of aware of them)?

Spellcheck is legalistic in that it is not designed to determine intent, only content. A properly spelled word used out of context will pass a spellcheck. We must monitor our message continually to make sure that what we intend to communicate is accurately being communicated. Our lives are a message and they too must be checked as we go to insure our good intentions are not being missed or misrepresented by poor content.

Before spellcheck programs, you had to type slowly and accuracy ruled the day. Mistakes were costly and took time to correct. Too many little mistakes and the entire process had to start over again. There is value and a lesson in that. Slow down and do it right the first time. Make a conscious effort to minimize your mistakes. Do not be deceived into thinking that all technology translates to spiritual life…some things are best done slowly, deliberately, and with purpose. Growing in Christ is one of those things. There is no “app” for it.

Don’t live a Christian life that relies on spellcheck to catch your mistakes. Slow down and pay close attention to the life you are living, the message you are sending. Do it right the first time. Look for mistakes and fix them. Listen for correction and instruction and receive them, implement them and minimize the need for spellcheck in your life.

His grace is abundant and amazing…His mercy endures forever, but we LIVE by faith and obedience is the way we best communicate our love for Him.

“The spelling and grammar check is complete.”