Delete Or Repeat Poem by Loyd C Taylor Sr

Here is a little New Year's Devotional to go with the poem.

When deleting something from our computers, we are usually asked, 'Are you sure you want to delete this file? ' Then another message may pop up, which reads, 'If you delete this, your information will be permanently removed. Are you sure you want to continue? If so, press Delete.' These questions help us to understand that, once we hit Delete, that particular file will not be accessible to us in the future.

Paul's word to the Philippians came to me as I thought about this: 'Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.' Phil.3: 13-14

As I thought about this, I wondered what it would do for my life and my emotional and mental health if I were to delete some things that I would not be able to access in the future. This is what I came up with:
I will delete my habit of worrying, for it is mostly of the past, which I can't change anyway.
I will delete my habit of procrastinating, knowing that it's better to plan and carry out my plans promptly.
I will delete my fears: fear of failure; fear of trying and not succeeding; fear of not being accepted. Why? Fear is a lack of faith in the future based on bad things in the past.
I will delete my bad relationships, knowing they tend to pull me down and, at times, push me in the wrong direction.
I will delete the ifs, ands, and buts of how I could have, should have, and would have done things differently. What is done is done. I should ask forgiveness for the sins of yesterday and focus on doing my best in the future.

With this done, I will have a clean page, or file, with which to work. What should I fill it with?

I don't enjoy typing, but I love the copy and paste feature the computer provides. So, I find what I think will work, copy it, and then paste. Of course, in this case, copying and pasting involves looking at the past, thinking about what I would like to repeat, and determining to do it again. So, what do I wish to repeat?
I will repeat my desire to allow faith in God and His love for me to override all of my future actions.
I will repeat my trust in the hope that in every person there may be some goodness found.
I will repeat the need to remember the perfect commandments of God and to allow them to keep me in check, whatever I do, wherever I go, and whatever I plan.
I will repeat actions of love and concern for those God puts in my path, knowing that there are no accidents and no coincidences, only purpose.
I will repeat the practice of proofing my work and the message it gives, and how my words, actions and deeds will be perceived by others.

As an added precaution, before I save my work, I will turn to the Holy Spirit for a spell and grammar check because, once it has been sent or printed, it cannot be undone. Then I will send it off with a prayer to God for his blessing.

What do you need to delete or repeat this coming year?


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© December 2014 by Loyd C Taylor