Pushing the Reset Button Again and Again

by Lydia Floren

Reminders are funny things.

When I first stick that sticky note on my mirror, or the bracelet on my arm, it grabs my attention every time I see it, and does its job – it reminds me.  But just like anything, once a reminder has been there a few days, it becomes part of the landscape – I don’t even seem to notice it.

That “R” drawn on my hand indicating a “reset button” has been different.  Because it fades over time, I have to keep drawing it on my hand, and when I do, I remember why I am doing it.  Because my mind wanders (I know this surprises you) I have thought of several other things that “R” can stand for, each reminding me to reset in some way:

• Renew: my outlook on life, and be renewed by God’s grace.
• Receive: God’s presence, His grace, His acceptance, His gifts, His provision, His fruit, His friendship. His guidance, wisdom, strength, appreciation, delight, love.
• Refocus: on Jesus, on what is important in life, on my God-given priorities and goals.
• Receive: God’s all-embracing love every day.
• Re-experience: God’s forgiveness, His gift of freedom from condemnation.
• Remember: my identity, value, belonging, calling.
• Release: from guilt, condemnation, the past, my destructive thought patterns and actions.
• Rejoice: in God’s love for me, in His trustworthiness, His care, His wisdom, His communication, His direction.
• Resume: walking with Him.
• Restart, rest, refresh, reengage, regroup, reassess, re-plan, revise – you get the idea.

Receive is a big one today.

Thank you, Father, for the ability to receive:

• Your delight with me, your tender care, your wisdom, your perspective, your insights, your acceptance, your grace.
• Your spirit-gifts: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
• Your love: patient, kind, humble, forgiving and forgetting of wrongs, strong, faith-filled and faithful, uncondemning, hopeful, enduring, never-failing.
• Your presence: within me, restoring my soul.
• Your embrace: including me, giving me a place and a purpose, helping me to discover, enjoy and share the many gifts you have given me.
• Your calling.

Thank you for the ability to be able to receive Your calling for me to love others in the same way I love myself. Thank you for the privilege of giving, sharing, loving those around me, and the amazing sense of fulfillment and blessing that results from that, much of the time. Thank you that even when I feel nothing, or sense no positive feedback, I know deep in my soul that you are at work–that loving others with your love is powerful.

What do you need to remind yourself of today?