Writing and Rewriting

Have you ever had to edit or revise and project? I've spent many years in classrooms working on assignments. I've written and delivered thousands of sermons and lessons. I have even written a few songs. And I've had to rewrite often.

Almost everything needs a rewrite or at least a tweak or edit. The best case scenario is to notice that before you publish or delivery it. I bet you have posted something on social media and immediately saw a typo or wish you had said it differently.

In a children's sermon I used the illustration of squirting out toothpaste then asking thr kids to put it back in the tube. You can't. Trying is messy.

It's best to think about what you say or write before you let it out for everyone to hear or read.

I think it is best to think about what you are about to do, revise your planned actions, before actually doing it.

Whether it's a delete key, a reset button, or an inner nudge, it's good to consider and reconsider.

I'm sitting in a class of seniors. Their teacher left these instructions for the day: revise your short story papers. They really wish the teacher wasn't sick today because they have lots of questions.

Revision requires help.

So let's talk about your life for a minute. Are you pone to putting something out there before thinking it through enough? Yeah, me too. I sometimes say or do things that I soon regret. How do we keep from doing that?

Some people remove themselves from possible situations. They become reclusive and deny themselves and those around them of what could be some great interactions.

Others choose not to care. They say hurtful things with little or no remorse. They treat people however they want without regard for those people. That kind of attitude eventually makes the person calloused to relationships.

A good way to keep from regretting what you've said or done is to revise,edit, rewrite. God has given us a great gift to help us do that. The Holy Spirit is God and he dwells with us, in part, to nudge our spirits to think twice before acting. He does that through truths we find in scripture; he'll point us in the right direction as we read and recall what the Bible says.

Why don't you give this a try. Read the Bible regularly. Pray before you read asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand the truths you'll read. Throughout the day ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you make decisions, interact with people, and post things online.

The revisions prior to action can make a big difference in how the day goes.