Reboot. That has been a very popular term at work lately. All of the computers were breaking down; one step forward, reboot; one step back, reboot. If you know anyone I work with on social media, I’m sure you’ve heard of our discontent. Yet, sometimes, the reboot is all a computer needs.

Reboot. I’m rebooting. It happens every once in a very great while. It starts with a project in one life monitor, another project in another. Pretty soon, something pops up that requires my attention, sometimes they’re just “ads” running in the background that distract me. Another project here, another task there… Before I know it, my life systems are out of control. It’s hard to see where the problems all started with all the windows of my soul popping up nonsensically.

God saw it happening. He sees everything. He watched it happen in slow motion shaking His head as any loving Father would do watching His child come unraveled. So, He does some heavy cleaning and performs a reboot in me. I say reboot, but sometimes it feels more like a hard shut-down and restart.

Has that ever happened to you? You’re going along thinking you have everything under control and doing just fine and then you start to unravel – hard. Your mind races, tears flow uncontrollably, sleep – well, there is no sleep mode. Then something happens inside. You can’t really explain it. Although tired, you feel better, you function better. No more gloomy windows popping up, even the sniffly virus you thought you had is gone. The crap inside seems to be gone. That’s God.

For this is what the high and exalted One says– he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” ~Isaiah 57:15

Friends, we do it to ourselves. Sure, life happens and can smack you in the face pretty hard, but if you’re like me, we don’t take care of ourselves like we should – and we should. So here is some advice to keep your heart, mind and soul systems running well:

1. Start each day with Jesus. Say “Good Morning.” Thank Him for whatever sleep you got that night and ask Him to guide your day.

2. Don’t let clutter start inside. In the IT world, there’s this little program called “C Cleaner.” It means “Crap Cleaner” and when you use it to get rid of those little things bogging down a computer, things run better. Run your “Crap Cleaner” regularly.

3. Honor God with your loads – the things He gives you to take care of, things like your job, paying your bills, cleaning up after yourself, etc. Help others with their burdens, but (and I’m preaching to myself) DON’T take on the responsibility of their loads. What do I mean? Burdens are those things in life we need help with. I am responsible for doing my own laundry. That is a load of mine. But sometimes the basket is really full and two flights of stairs with T-Rex arms can be a burden with an overflowing basket, so I ask for help carrying the basket (the burden) but I’m responsible for the load (yup, pun intended.)

4. Say “no.” Put the tip of your tongue on the back of your top teeth… yup, like that. Now hum through your nose. As you hum through your nose, put your tongue down, keep your mouth open, circle your lips and open the back of your throat to make an “ohhhh” sound. Easy right? Need help? Ask any 2 year old. They have it down pat. You’re not a super hero. You weren’t created to do everything. Stop trying. Saying “no” is not failure. Saying “no” frees you up to do what you’re called to do with excellence.

5. Cry. Crying is good for the body and soul. It’s like a deep tissue massage for your innermost being. I have all this crap that “Crap Cleaner” can’t always reach; crap I thought was long gone. Tears reach deep inside and wash things out. Sometimes you need to cry a little. Sometimes crying is a deep anguish. Whatever kind of crying you need to do, do it! Don’t hold it in.

6. Write down at least 3 good things that happen to you every day. This helps to keep your focus off the negative things and keep the good in the forefront of your mind. I’m great at giving this advice and I suck at doing it – which is ironic because obviously I don’t have a problem writing things down!

7. Talk to God throughout the day. Take a few minutes to just be in His presence. He might be trying to tell you something, bless you, stop you, push you, refresh you – whatever it is, you won’t hear Him if you’re too busy running around like a chicken with its head cut off. He deserves more than that. He deserves your all, but you can only give your all with Him.

8. Help someone. “What?!?! April! Didn’t you see #3?” Open a door for someone. Pick up a dropped item for another. Let someone in front of you during rush hour. Just do something to be light in this dark world, because you know what? They may be going through an I-need-a-reboot-hard-shut-down-Crap-Cleaner kind of a season and that random act of kindness may be the only thing holding them up today.

9. Laugh – I mean belly laugh! Laugh until you cry and then until you pee your pants! If you need a great story to laugh at, I’ve got one!

10. Be humble. Remember this life is not about you. Your journey is not about you. Everything is to the glory of God. The good, the bad, the ugly. Use the good times to celebrate. Use the bad times to help others in the most authentic way possible. The journey is so you can tell your story and of what God has done, is doing and of your faith in what He will do on the road ahead.

Bless and be blessed.