Transformed Menنموونە

A God-Centered Operating System

In trying to refurbish an old computer, I, the amateur techie, had to restore it to “factory settings” and reinstall a fresh operating system.

Simple, right? That’s what I thought until I discovered the operating system wouldn’t download or install.

The computer was now a brick. Whether it’s the computer processor in your phone, Smart TV, or vehicle, without an operating system, it’s useless.

The “heart” in Scripture is like our operating system, the control center of our lives. It’s the source of thoughts, desires, and affections. What you love most ultimately influences what you do. That’s why Proverbs warns us to guard our hearts above all else: Whatever takes root there will shape the rest of our lives (Proverbs 4:23).

Jesus calls us to love God with all our hearts (Mark 12:30). Loving Him with our hearts means aligning our deepest affections with His. It involves shifting from self-centered desires to God-centered devotion.

Spiritual formation of the heart is about asking, “What do I truly love most?”

Jesus focuses on the core of a man’s being—our passions and desires. It’s more than just actions or activities. Spiritual formation goes beyond outward adjustments; it’s about genuine heart transformation. Our passions and desires, the things that drive us at our deepest level, are where real change must happen if we want to be like Jesus.

But as men, our hearts are easily divided. Success, money, pleasure—all these can compete for our affections. We’re tempted to invest our passions in things that will not last. Dallas Willard explained, “Spiritual formation is a matter of ordering desires and putting them in their place with reference to what is good under God.”[1]

Our affections can subtly be devious and destructive. We may love our perspectives, politics, knowledge, achievements, privileges, and rights, but all are rooted in affection that centers on ourselves rather than Christ.

Spiritual formation starts with reordering what we cherish most—shifting from self-focused desires to God-focused devotion.

Jesus invited His followers to adopt a new operating system focused on loving God with all their hearts. God invites men to let Him reorder our loves so that everything else flows from a heart that loves Him above all else.

Prayer: Lord, I want my heart to beat in rhythm with Yours. Guard my heart, reshape my desires, and help me love You above all else. Amen.

Reflection: Reflect on the top three things that get most of your time/attention. Do these loves point you toward God or away from Him? What affections or passions need to be reordered in your life? Ask God to align your affections with His purposes.

[1]Dallas Willard, “The Gospel of the Kingdom and Spiritual Formation,” in The Kingdom Life: A Practical Theology of Discipleship and Spiritual Formation, ed. Alan Andrews (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2010), 48.