Diversion from Distractions

When most of us rang in 2012, we did so with great anticipation, gratitude and jubilation. Come on now, we were blessed and able to see another new year. Thank God for that! After getting up later in the morning on this first day, we were hit with news of the first murder in the city, a story on the front page in a section of the newspaper reporting a bleak outlook on the economy for this year and low and behold, there is an arsonist on a rampage torching cars and homes. A few of the anchors on television said, “Well the new year is off to a bad start!”

After reading the depressing newspaper article and watching the news on television, I listened to a sermon televised by Dr. Charles Stanley that gave the message “Confidence That Conquers!” His main points emphasized the type of attitude that is not conducive to confidence and the positive attitudes that attribute to confidence. He pointed out that we must not confuse confidence with arrogance. Big difference! Here are 3 points that stood out in my mind:

1. We can be self-defeaters

2. Your past should not be in front of you

3. Confidence is based on your relationship with God

If I wallow in the predictions that the economy looks less optimistic this year than before, then I will think that and believe it. If I buy into the notion that this year is off to a bad start because I heard of the first murder and someone setting fires to property that people worked hard to buy, then I will feel depressed and adopt the attitude that this year is really off to a bad start.

I am certainly not naïve to the fact that this year will present some very positive things, and along with it, there will be some challenges. However, I will not mull over the adversity as much as I will keep my focus on what God has divinely designed and has in store for me and for us. I am not insensitive to the tragic things that are happening around me, because we all have and will face tragedy at some point and time in our lives.

So in spite of the not-so-great news on this first day, there was the first birth of the new year, the excitement of the people who celebrated the new year all around the world and the fact that I was blessed and able to rise and see a brand new day that I never witnessed before. That is hope! That is my start, my “good” start to a brand new year!