About two months ago, my husband and I  upgraded our Wi-Fi router and with the upgrade came a host of challenges. 

First, we had to change the Wi-Fi access for every appliance and piece of technology in our home. This included random things like the water heater and oven. But then a strange thing started happening. Our pool and spa started spontaneously coming on, not at the usual times or with the typical force, but on an unusual schedule. They came on at 7:00 AM and off at 7:10 AM, back on at 7:30 AM and off at 7:40 AM, on at 8 AM, then 8:30 AM. I think you are getting the picture. But only on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The other days of the week, the spa randomly sprung to life. And then there was the one time we think it ran through the night. 

So my husband and I, in our vast knowledge of pool technology—not really, decided to take things into our own hands. First, we went to the phone app and verified the app and pool “stuff” were talking (evidence of our knowledge of tech terminology). They were connected. So on to the next step. We read through the manuals, did a Google search, and revisited the manuals. We concluded that all we needed to do was go to the pool’s control panel and adjust the programmed schedules. So off to the control panel we went. We found the menu and followed the instructions on how to check the schedules, but our infinite pool knowledge did not reveal any apparent issue. It was time to admit we needed HELP!

A very tall young man in shorts and a heavy coat knocked at the door. He introduced himself as Michael and shared that he had been doing this work for several years. We explained the problem, showed him the pictures and videos of the spa erupting, and waited for him to offer the solution to our dilemma. Instead, he asked to see our phone app and the pool’s control panel. After about 20 minutes of scrolling through the panel’s menu and comparing it to the app, he announced, “You had a ghost in your program. I was able to delete the schedule and everything is working fine now.”

Now I bet you’re thinking if you and your husband hadn’t played around with the app or the system controls there wouldn’t be a ghost, but that’s not what Michael said. He offered, “The ghost has been hiding out for a while. Yah, it happens all the time. Old programming that somehow get’s activated, maybe the change in the Wi-Fi router, and takes over the pool. You’re good now.”

Ghost programming, a very interesting concept and as I thought about it may be the answer to some of my glitches. Perhaps some old schedules and programs run around in my brain that I’m not quite aware of. They influence how I see the world and can cause me to spontaneously erupt. And then I remembered Michael’s simple solution, delete the ghost. But for me and perhaps you, it’s not that easy. The memories from pasts are hard to identify and harder yet to acknowledge they still impact us. We are stubborn creatures, comfortable in our routines and very willing to ignore the impact of years of programming.

I wonder if you have any ghosts. Are there things in your past experiences that surface, that catch you off-guard and impact the way you function, the way you show up to family and friends, effect your ability to be fully present? I wonder if there’s any reprogramming that needs to take place in your heart or your mind.

God’s word says,

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

—Ephesians 4:22-24 (NIV)

So I’m proud to report that our pool is functioning fine. Michael’s final words to us as he was walking out the door were, “Don’t touch the app and whatever you do don’t change the control panel! I live really close and I’m more than willing to drop by. Call me if you have questions!” 

I’m gonna remember those words. He’s the expert. 

I’m a little embarrassed to share the number of hours, OK days, maybe a week or two, that my husband and I worked on trying to resolve our ghost issue. Sometimes it’s best to leave it to the experts. Sometimes it’s best to leave our past in God’s capable hands and allow him to reprogram our minds and hearts to focus on him. If you are having a programming issue, I hope you can find the courage to leave it in the hands of the Supreme Technician. 

God loves you, his BeLOVED, you can trust him.

Be blessed,