Edit

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.  Philippians 4:8 (NLT)

When I was in high school, and computers had just become a fixture in almost everyone’s home, at my home we were still living in the technology stone-age. We were poor, didn’t even have a car at the time to drive to the library, so instead of using Word Perfect to write my papers they were either hand written or I used a typewriter.

Now, many of you reading this have most likely never laid hands on a typewriter much less had to write a ten page research paper on one. I will tell you, on a typewriter there is no way to go back and edit your writing. You either have to deal with the mistake you made or go back and write the page all over again. It is maddening! I remember trying to use this fancy looking white eraser to carefully erase the typo and then re-position the type ever so carefully to type in the correct letter. It was a lot of work, and even if it worked the shadow of the original letter was always there, hidden behind the correction.

On a computer, there is this handy dandy button called ‘backspace.’ This button can be used to easily go back and edit a typed mistake. Technology has made it practically painless to edit what is written, in comparison to the outdated and anxiety inducing typewriter.

Don’t you wish life had a ‘backspace’ button? You know, a way to easily go back and edit your actions, words, and choices? If you made a mistake you could simply ‘edit’ and it would be like it had never happened.

The problem is there is no way to go back and edit our past. So, what CAN we edit? We can edit our thoughts before they become our words. The root cause of the words we speak and the choices we make spring forth from our heart and take up residence in our mind.

When we allow our minds to become a cesspool of negativity, or dwell on things that are unholy, we invite the enemy into the door of our life by way of our thoughts. 

We’ve all been in the company of negative people. These people seem to never be happy and are constantly complaining about something. Hanging out with negative people can be a real emotional drain on our own spirit, and before long we find ourselves swimming in our own pool of negativity!

Philippians 2:14-15 advises us to: “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may be innocent and pure as God's perfect children, who live in a world of corrupt and sinful people. You must shine among them like stars lighting up the sky” (Good News).

So, keep in mind, we cannot go back and edit our words or actions but we CAN take captive the thoughts in our mind. I love the acronym T.H.I.N.K. When a thought enters your mind ask yourself: is it TRUE? Is it HELPFUL? Is it INSPIRING? Is it NECESSARY? Is it KIND? If the answer is ‘no’ chances are you need to re-THINK before what’s in your heart and mind rears its ugly head as hurtful or negative words and actions. 

We can all use this reminder to T.H.I.N.K. before we speak. We can choose to build up or tear down with our words. Choose wisely. "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” Proverbs 18:21 (ESV).

There IS hope. You can change destructive thought patterns. Don’t let those negative thoughts consume you. Take control of your mind through prayer and praise. Nothing stops the runaway train of negativity like the power of prayer and a grateful heart of praise.

Romans 12: 2 states: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” (NLT).

So, next time you find yourself ready to complain - go back and edit. The next time you hear yourself repeating that same self-defeating dialogue in your head - go back and edit. When your mind is stuck on re-run and you keep playing the hurts of the past over and over - go back and edit. If you’re angry or frustrated and are ready to ‘tell it like it is’ - go back and edit.

Go back. Pray, praise, and edit.