The Second Step to a Successful Reboot

When we’re about to make a major reboot, we can take great comfort in knowing that God goes before us causing us to feel dissatisfied, uncomfortable, or maybe too comfortable. But when God is ready for you to move into a new direction, you will know! Moses’ recall to “Active Duty” is the perfect example of a call to reboot,

“Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (Reuel) his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God. The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing flame of fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was on fire, yet it was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn away [from the flock] and see this great sight—why the bush is not burned up.” (Exodus 3:1-3)

Moses killed an Egyptian and made a train wreck of his career that transported him from the palace to the pasture. At 80 years of age, he’d probably spent 40 years kicking himself for doing this and feeling at a dead end. How many of us feel the same way—like we’ve ruined our relationships, reputations, finances, or health and feel there’s no way to recover?

In looking at Moses, we learn the second key step to a successful reboot is to recognize that when God begins to orchestrate a direction change we must in faith move toward Him. Moses called out “Lord, Lord” because he knew only God could do this. He turned toward God and did not ignore or run away from the call.

When he approached the burning bush, God told him to remove his shoes because he was on holy ground. Moses obeyed. And when we sense God calling us to a reboot we need to “take our shoes off” recognizing this is a holy, “set apart for God” moment and worship God, dig into our Bible, and spend time praying for specific direction.

Another useful realization is that God had a direction for Moses’s reboot and empowered him to complete it. God equipped him with a tool for his mission—his staff. Notice that God did not tell him to find something unfamiliar like a tuba. God used what Moses knew how to use. And He may do the same with you. Is there a skill, talent, or interest in your toolbox that you have ignored or minimalized? Maybe God is waiting to help you use it in a new way, providing new direction?

Here are four key principles to apply as you begin to act:

1. Turn toward God. Answer His call, and dedicate time to prayerfully pursuing a new calling, direction, or mission.

2. Don’t make excuses. Don’t do as Moses demonstrated. His first step when faced with God was to tell Him he wasn’t a good speaker. Don’t make excuses for what you “think” you can’t do. If you do, you will miss what you can do with God’s help. You will find yourself stuck and miss God’s grand adventure prepared for you.

I could have made excuses that I couldn’t write a weekly real estate column for the paper, but I’m now in my 18th month and have grown so much both personally and professionally. And we’ve turned forty-four of my best columns into a book available on our website, “Helpful Homeowner Hacks,” and it’s changing lives.

3. Notice what is in your hand.
My reboot is replacing a lifetime career in real estate with writing, something I’ve been developing on the side for 10 years without realizing it would ever be my reboot future. That’s why as Linda now has a full-time job and I am pursuing my writing, our roles with YRL are reversed. I now create the content while Linda edits. We are still as committed to helping you live Your Refreshed Life, but this change is bringing new energy, ideas, and vitality to our ministry.

4. Take the first step. As an ancient Chinese proverb states, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step.” Your first step does not need to be perfect…just forward. It’s a basic principle of kinetic energy that an object in motion will continue moving and get easier as momentum builds. We celebrate when our child takes its first step because we know it will take a second and then become a walker. Take your first step and expect your second!

So, as you are hearing a call from God to make a new direction, what is God whispering in your ear? What steps can you begin today to make a fresh start, a new direction?

How can we pray for you or encourage you? We’d love to hear from you so please drop us a line or call us at (410)708-9957.