Do Not Disconnect

I had to restore my iPod today.
A few days ago, I imported a series of lectures that I wanted to listen to in the car.
I had been listening to them on my computer whenever I was in the kitchen.
Listening to them in my car would be so much easier.

Today, when I plugged in my iPod to sync the series and some music, there was a delay.
The wonderful pinwheel that appears just kept spinning and spinning.
Something wasn’t’ right.
Then the warning: Your iPod is corrupted and needs to be restored.

As a child, I loved pinwheels that were on a plastic stick.
I could make them spin by blowing on the center.
I enjoyed watching the spiral of color as it spun around.
I am not a fan of pinwheels on my computer.

Was there a problem with the files of the lecture series?
That was the last thing I added to iTunes.
I have restored my iPod once before; I remember it being so disconcerting.
All my music, everything I had in my library, was removed.
Empty.

My iPod was restored to its original settings.
It took quite a while for everything in my iTunes library to go back on my iPod.
The directive: Syncing. Do not disconnect.

Our mind needs to be restored to its original setting.
In this fallen world, that is an arduous task.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing, and perfect will.
(Romans 12:1,2)

Be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Go back to the original setting.
Syncing. Do not disconnect.

But what do we plug into in order to renew our mind?

I am the vine and you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

We must stay connected to the Vine, which is Jesus.
We must be in His Word, restoring our worldly files with Kingdom files.
Syncing. Do not disconnect.
Apart from Him, we can do nothing.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man’s spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us…For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
(1 Corinthians 2:10-12,16)

We have the mind of Christ.
This is our original setting.
We must learn to think Christ’s thoughts after Him.

In order to do that, we have to be plugged in to the right Power source.

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. (John 14:26)

The Holy Spirit restores us to the original setting.
The Holy Spirit, teaches and convicts; and consistently points us to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit reminds us that we have the mind of Christ.

We get so weighed down here.
Our files get corrupted.
The pinwheel of our heart turns and turns.
Something is not right.

Stop.
Repent.
Turn to God.
Plug into the Spirit’s Power Source.
Sync. Do not disconnect.

It is disconcerting to be empty.
Without the Holy Spirit, that is what we are.
Files are gone.
There is nothing there.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8,9)

Plug in.
Restore.