Through an unfortunate set of circumstances, a young husband knew he would not be present for the birth of his child. So he asked his brother to take his wife to the hospital when she went into labor. In return for the favor, he told his brother he could have the honor of naming his first-born. Several days later, his brother called with the news that his daughter was born and he named her Denise. “But wait! They’re twins and you have a son also!” “Oh man, that’s great! What did you name my son?” “Denephew!”
You’re grimacing! Yea, that’s a very old joke.
I asked a friend who is more technological savvy than I am (that would be almost every first grader on the planet) how he defined “default” and put it in terms I can understand. He said, “It’s the setting a computer always reverts back to if it doesn’t know what to do. In other words, if it doesn’t have anything new to go to, it goes back to what was already there.” That makes sense.
I looked the word up on the internet also. “In computer technology, a default is a predesigned value or setting that is used by a computer program when a value or setting is not specified by the program user.” I like my friend’s definition better.
My question to you is this: What’s your default setting when life hurts and when you don’t want to think about it or face it? Is it a glass of wine, shopping, a big bowl of ice cream and a bag of chips, work and more work, a hobby, pills, sleep, a TV movie marathon, going to a bar or club, clicking onto internet porn, or your pseudo friends? Hear me: these are superficial and temporary and lead to more heartache and problems.
“But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6 KJV). “I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV). By the way, have you read Psalm 121 lately? If not, you need to read it today.
It takes effort and determination on our part, but we can change our inner default setting permanently. So the next time the world comes crashing in on every nerve, say a prayer and pick up the Bible and read. Repeat as often as necessary for the rest of your life. Prayer and the Word. Prayer and the Word. Soon it becomes automatic and natural, and our hearts and lives are transformed by the love and power of the Living God.
“So we say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid” (Hebrews 13:6 NIV).