On NaNoWriMo and Moving Forward

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org).

This is my first year as an "official participant," so, I'm furiously writing, churning out—Lord willing—around 2,000 words per day to stay on track. The goal is to write a 50,000 word novel by November 30th. The rules say you have to write original stuff, start writing on November 1st, and do not edit. Just write.

Now, if you do any writing, you may think this is heaven. And it has turned out to be easier than I suspected it to be. I've been writing around 2,300 words per day (thank You, Lord!). Actually, the hardest part for me so far is not being able to edit. I can't allow myself to read what I've written because you cannot afford to waste time correcting bad sentence structure, grammar, misspelled words, misused words, etc. But I LOVE editing things, so I'm constantly telling myself -- stop! Do not go back! Keep going forward!

I'm thinking of how this applies to life in general. So often we get hung up on the things in the past--even as recent as this morning!--and try to over analyze things, beat ourselves us for wrong choices, make promises to do better, and we are WASTING TIME! Just think, if we could have back all the time we've wasted going over the past and trying to edit things that are set in stone, how much time would that be?

I love, love, LOVE this verse:

"Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past.
Behold, I will do something new, now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, rivers in the desert,"
(Isaiah 43:18-19 NASB).

God is doing something new, every moment of our lives, but we can’t see the new if we are constantly looking back at the old. Do not waste time beating yourself up over things you've done wrong. Quickly humble yourself, admit your wrong, forgive when you need to, extend grace to yourself and to others, and keep moving forward!