What’s your default setting?

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My laptop is suffering extended stages of death throes. Any day now, it could crash for its last time.

It has crashed on more than one occasion. Fortunately, when it has done so I’ve been able to access the built-in recovery mode that activates the default settings for the computer, and it has slowly come back to life. I have to reload some software and rebuild my desktop, but instead of a total collapse I have a fresh start to build on.

Living life is sometimes as difficult (or more so!) than keeping an old computer going. In our lives, circumstances change quickly, not always “for the best.” Challenges arise routinely. Failures happen. Trials come, disappointments occur.

What do you do then?

Often we find ourselves reacting rather than responding, which often makes things worse.

The best way to get through life is by establishing our own personal “default settings.” Instead of reacting to life, we can “default” to our foundation of Jesus Christ.

We create such a “default setting” in our own lives by building a relationship with Jesus Christ that is so intimate it eclipses all others (Matthew 22:37-38); by learning, internalizing and “storing” God’s Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11); by being aware of, and sensitive to, the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives (John 16:13, Ephesians 4:30); and by having a conversation with Christ that is constant (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Responding to whatever life throws at you with a genuine demonstration of Christlikeness is the goal of Christian maturity. Doing so requires a change in our default settings from reacting “in the flesh” to “walking in the Spirit.” The Apostle Paul describes what that means in Ephesians 4:23-24, “23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.”

Do you find yourself reacting or responding to the challenges of life? What’s your personal “default setting” currently set on? How can you better learn to “default to Christ” when trials come your way?

Scotty