My Restart Button

That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day. These troubles and sufferings of ours are, after all, quite small and won't last long. Yet this short time of distress will result in God's richest blessing upon us forever and ever! So we do not look at what we can see right now, the troubles all around us, but we look forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen. The troubles will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (TLB)

Keith Honeyman, from Western Cape, South Africa, is an 81-year-old architectural designer. When he went blind in one eye at age 70, Keith found manual drafting almost impossible. His son introduced Keith to computer-aided drafting, which was a new way of working for Keith but allowed him to continue his work. As he was learning to use the software, he often pushed wrong buttons and encountered problems. The remedy was almost always the same: restart the computer.

Keith has had serious problems - financial struggles, business or career setbacks, health issues, bereavements, illness, worry, and shame. But in such times the Holy Spirit reminds him: "Have peace, pray, and restart." And the greatest restart of his life was at age 16 when Keith knelt before the cross, confessed his sins, and asked Jesus to restart his life in his covenant.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to restart our lives through the simple words that you taught us, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one" (Matt.6:9-13, NIV). In Jesus' name, amen.