I don’t know about you but I was thrilled when I first saw the “undo” key on my computer! It allowed me to play with formatting and if I didn’t like it, just “undo” and try another. If I made a mistake or just didn’t like the way something looked or was worded, I could simply click the “undo” button. Easy. No consequences, just a new start. It quickly became one of my favorite keys. Unfortunately, we don’t have an “undo” key for life choices. I’m sure that most if not all of you are like me in that I hate to make mistakes. Make them I do but I don’t like it for sure. There are always consequences.

Today I had one of those times. I was working on a quilt, sewing strips of fabrics together into sections, staggering them (one group staggered one way, the other group staggered the opposite way). Unfortunately, when I had finished the very last set, I realized I had staggered all of them the same way. YIKES! I tried but there was no way to “fix it” without ripping out all of the seams and starting over. Time wasted. The good news is that I do have a seam ripper and can easily (even if it does take a lot of time) remove the seams and begin again.

Unfortunately, life’s choices can’t so easily be undone or removed and started again, can they?

• A bad choice can’t be undone.
• A harsh or hurtful word can’t be taken back.
• A cut finger can’t be uncut.

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. For man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” (James 1:19-21)

We could all list a million things that can’t be undone because all we do and say have consequences. The good news is that we can be forgiven. We just need to ask for it (repent) and try our best not to do it again (turn from it). We can be proactive and try not to make the same mistakes again or at least not make as many mistakes. God will give us a way out of temptation to sin. We simply have to look for, recognize, and take the escape route.

Well, the thing about my mistake today is that it was a direct result of prayer. Rarely are my mistakes a result of prayer. At least I can’t remember another time I could say that but here’s what happened. I was praying as I started to work on the quilt, “Father, please give me a message today. I want to hear what you have to say to me that I can share with others.” Unfortunately, sometimes I’m slow on the uptake. I didn’t remember that prayer at first because I was too busy being frustrated with myself. However, as I began removing the stitches, my prayer came back to mind and I had to laugh. God answered my prayer alright. He gave me a message I won’t soon forget because it’s going to take me quite a while to fix this mistake.

That saying “be careful what you pray for” comes to mind. Actually, I don’t mind so much because I have a lot to learn and God can teach me any way He sees fit. But, I’m going to be careful what I “do” so I don’t have to look for the “undo” button quite as often.