There is a wonderful and inviting power in the concept of a reset. The other day at work I began reflecting on how sometimes we all need a reset, whether spiritually, mentally, or physically.

It is no secret that the company I work for has gotten down drive-thru logistics down to both an art an a science. Each day we serve many guests through a mostly efficient and speedy process. Customers have noticed that when they sit in a Chick-fil-A line, they get their food in just a few minutes, even though the line may seem like it is ten miles long. (A customer recently said, “You guys should be running the vaccine rollout because it would be more efficient than the government!”) As an employee of this great company, I appreciate the trust guests place in CFA team members each day. Even though we strive to go the second mile with each guest we serve, sometimes we too need a reset. Whether it is a series of orders that are stored out of order, additions and changes to orders at the window, or just an feeling of being overwhelmed, at least once each shift we have to press reset. We will catch up and pause order taking even for a moment so that we can get back to doing what we do best. Those few seconds or moments of reset are powerful. When we press reset in the drive-thru line we are enabled to be better as individuals and a team. Pressing reset enables us to focus on the task at hand and catch our breath.

When I was a kid, I didn’t play many video games, mostly because I was horrible at games. My younger siblings can testify that I have never been good at games, whether on the PlayStation1 or 2 console, or board/card games. I am more of a reader than a gamer and always have been. One game I remember playing on PS2 (yes, that was the last console I owned!) was Medal of Honor. MoH is a war game and the version I had was set during World War II. My brothers, especially Allen, could easily defeat the levels whereas it took me forever to finish one part of a single mission. I had to press reset a lot when I played games!

Whether it is in a video game or in real life, we all need to press reset sometimes. We need a moment to practice deep breathing, change our environment, get a drink of water, and whisper a prayer.

I recently won an Apple Watch in a randomized drawing at work. I am learning to appreciate the amazing technology in this watch. Sometimes my watch reminds me to drink water and other times it sends push notifications telling me to breathe. (It usually does this when my heart rate goes up!) While the Breathe push notifications can be annoying at times, I leave them on because sometimes my smartwatch is smarter than me. I need regular moments to take a deep breath, refresh my mind, and through the strength God’s Spirit supplies I need to renew my trust in God’s goodness and sovereignty. Those reminders to stop and reset are helpful.

God’s word is the story of His plan to make everything new. The Good News is that through Jesus, the brokenness of the world gets a massive reset. One day in the eschatological future, the Messiah’s kingdom will be established and the need for a reset, wrought on by the effects of sin, will be eliminated. The Christian pastor named John spoke of this coming reset or act of making everything new again in Revelation 21:5.

[Rev 21:5 NKJV] 5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

God is moving history in a particular direction. He is making all things new again through His Son Jesus. That hope provides us with a strong foundation on even our most difficult days.

So, wherever you are and whatever you do, don’t ignore the need for regular resets in your day and week. We all get overwhelmed at times and just need a restart. God offers you a spiritual restart whenever you need it. Call on Him in prayer and ask the Spirit to reset your mind on the things above. (Colossians 3:2)

The power of restart is that it is available. Do you need a restart today? Look for moments to restart your mind, body, and spirit. Incorporate prayer and meditation in your daily routine. These acts alone provide a great reset, which impacts our total personhood. Don’t shame yourself for needing a restart. We all need a restart occasionally and cannot help but marvel about the power of reset. Each time you come back to the task you are a little better after the reset because you’ve learned or experienced more than you did before the reset.