image by Joshua Chehov on Unsplash
Do you ever find that it's the moments when you've run out of time and are already late that your computer seems to sense it? Ok, perhaps this is mild paranoia on my part, but on occasion I think 'they' know I'm in a rush and slow down intentionally to teach me patience. Take yesterday as an example. Already pushed for time and sitting waiting for files to sync with my OneDrive it felt like the laptop clicked into 'slow mode' just at that very moment!
Sitting there tapping my feet and hands in impatience I got to thinking about an article I'd read on 'heart syncing.' Apparently, people 'in sync' with one another, either emotionally in a moment, or through ongoing shared life experience and proximity can - often unconsciously - synchronise physiological functions such as heartbeat and breathing. Who knew?
And on the theme of syncing, this morning a daily spiritual email encouragement dropped into the in-box, and it was entitled...you guessed it....'Synced'! This email from the Global Prophetic Alliance reminded me of the vital importance of allowing God to sync His heart with mine on an ongoing basis. Drawing out an encouragement from Isaiah 58:11, where the writer reminds us
“The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and your make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden; like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail” (ESV)
The email this morning was both a reminder and challenge that we can only live in the reality of promises like these IF we let God sync our hearts with His and allow our hearts to 'beat as one.'
Going back to that 'heart syncing' phenomenon for a moment. It never happens with passing acquaintances or strangers. Only with those who share proximity and life experience and are connected emotionally with one another. If we're truly going to be able to know more of God's heart for us, for His church and for His world, we need to ensure we're connecting with Him regularly. We need to share our life with Him and walk in proximity with Him. Then the heart sync will happen – perhaps even subconsciously – as we're naturally in His presence.
But on occasion – a little like my computer – the upload and download of syncing can run into problems and we need a quick reboot moment. We've all pressed Ctrl-Alt-Delete, or turned the computer on and off again at the plug, at some time or another, and things then seem to 'magically' reset again.
Why not embrace this season of Lent as a reset moment if you need it. If – through life events or pressure - the heart sync between you and God seems to have slowed down or doesn't function as easily as it used to, then pause and press reboot intentionally over the coming 40 days.
Take more time to be mindful of God's presence and proximity. Build in moments of pausing - perhaps fasting – to intentionally upload the dry, dark places or difficult relational issues your heart is struggling with. Then allow God to download his forgiveness, peace, love and guidance afresh to your heart. Allow that heart sync to flow again as you share life together.
And as we do that, this Lent, may we all increasingly be in sync with God's heartbeat for us, His church and His world.
For you
Jules Morgan
UCAN Director