Take a New Look at Your Old Projects

I have no trouble coming up with new ideas to write about. My journal holds a long list of intriguing concepts and inspiring phrases. I also have dozens of old projects resting in electronic files, going nowhere. Some, finished long ago, were rejected (by me or someone else), falling short of the original goal. Others started well but lost their sense of direction along the way. A few hold some solid content but never crossed the finish line.

“Why,” I wonder, “start something new? Why not redo some of the old ones?”

I can ignore those old projects and let the files rest undisturbed. Or I can open an old document, reread the content, and engage in a constructive conversation with God.

Is the concept worthy of more work? Did it fail because the wording was fuzzy or the timing wasn’t right or the message didn’t line up with biblical truths? Does the project need gentle tweaking or a complete rewrite? Or does it belong in the trash bin of bad ideas?

I prayerfully consider these options, anticipating a response from God.

Sometimes inspiration comes immediately in the form of new phrasing, the reordering of paragraphs, or a clear conclusion that evaded me earlier. God is telling me it’s time for a do-over.

For other projects, no edits or additions come to mind. Any effort at rework falls flat. Yet circumstances signal otherwise. A comment on social media affirms this particular message. I bump up against someone who needs to hear it. Or a few words from Sunday’s sermon reinforce the idea. The unfinished project is a keeper, but perhaps its time has not yet come.

I look at some old projects and wonder, “What was I thinking?” I’ve grown spiritually since typing that first draft, I’ve studied more Scripture, and I’m better tuned to the nudge of the Holy Spirit. Some of my early concepts completely missed the mark. There’s a delete button for words that don’t line up with God’s Truth.

Many projects — old or new — never make it to my blog or a devotional or one of my Bible studies. The words reflect my spiritual learning curve, analyze the speed bumps on my walk with God, or record His answers to my questions. They become building blocks that undergird everything that eventually goes public. They are worthy of my time and attention. 

I urge you to take a fresh look at some of your old work. See how you’ve grown. Improve the flow, polish your wording, and streamline your thoughts. Tweak some of those old documents. Completely rework others. And when absolutely warranted, hit “delete.” 

Bless your words, bless your calling,

Shirlee Abbott

Which of your old projects deserve a fresh look? What can you learn from them? What have you learned since you first wrote them?