December 8. Someone in my family (who shall remain nameless) recently acquired a new iPhone 6. It is obnoxiously large (more like an iPad than an iPhone), and the owner is quite smitten with it. He has downloaded several new apps and can often be found gazing fondly at this device or exclaiming with delight about some new feature of it that he has discovered.

The latest obsession is a fitness app that tracks caloric output and input. The app allows him to input his meals, tracks how many steps he walks (if he is carrying the cumbersome device with him), and allows him to set goals and track his progress. (I have resisted informing him that I had a similar app on my tiny iPhone 4S about a year ago, which I deleted after about a week…TMI.) Instead, I try to be tolerant and feign interest in his play-by-play of how many calories over or under goal he was after each meal.

However, after about the thirtieth “Guess what?” yesterday that was followed by yet another comment about this fitness app (this one a prediction of how much weight he would gain in two weeks if he continued to consume as many calories as he did at a Christmas party we attended yesterday), I wanted to scream. I couldn’t because two babies were asleep in the same room, but I wanted to. Instead, I mumbled something slightly unkind under my breath. This triggered a thought, and I quickly picked up my journal and wrote the following question to God: Lord, what if we all cared as much about our spiritual condition as we do about our physical condition?

It seems to be a new fad to use a Fitbit or a smart phone app to track our diet and exercise and analyze the information to achieve goals we set for ourselves. We have similar apps to track how we spend our time and our money. They can certainly be useful in helping us to stay healthy, be productive, and manage our finances. Those things are important, but do we give the same thought to our spiritual lives?

What if we had an app that tracked our spiritual condition? How would that report look?

*Broke 5 commandments today

*Prayed for 12.5 minutes

*Dozed off during the sermon 3 times

*Read 2.8 pages of Scripture

*Had 4 impure thoughts

Scary thought, huh? It’s amusing to think about this, but in reality, we do have a Spiritual Fitbit. His name is Holy Spirit, and we don’t have to strap Him to our wrist or download His app to our iPhone. He lives within us and willingly reveals our spiritual condition at any time. We need only ask.

In my experience He does this primarily through two means. The first is conviction. When I attend to the Holy Spirit in me, I know whether I am on track or not. I either have peace about a situation, or I have great angst—possibly even guilt. Jesus said, “Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8, NIV) The question is, what do I do about it? Do I ignore Him, push Him aside, or even grieve Him by blatantly disregarding His guidance? Or do I listen and respond until I know what He would have me do?

Holy Spirit also reveals my spiritual condition by the fruit in my life. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23a, NIV) Most of us can recite these (or possibly sing them), but can we produce them? Are they the primary output in our lives? Last summer, I bought a ring at our summer family camp. It was a cheap ring that I fully expected to turn green (but it hasn’t!), and the fruit of the spirit are engraved around the ring. I got it as a constant reminder to look for the fruit in my life. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5, NIV)

The technology in our day can be useful. It can also be overwhelming—and sometimes, downright addictive. I often wonder how God will ever break through to our distracted, overstimulated world. But Advent reminds me that He already has. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

Our Christmas gifts may include the latest and greatest technology, but hopefully, we will all remember to attend more to the simple gift the Christ child-turned-man gave us when He departed our world—the Holy Spirit in us—our own spiritual Fitbit.

Lord, let me be as interested in my spiritual condition as I am in my physical or financial condition or my productivity. Especially this Advent season, let me think more about You than about my holiday to-do list. Keep me in tune with Holy Spirit that I may know the truth and bear much fruit. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:26-27, NIV)