What do you want to eat?

Whether there are only two people or many, the question of where or what to eat seems to come up. We often repeat the question several times because no one wants to make a decision. Finally, after getting tired or hungry, someone names a place, and everyone settles for it.

More often than not, people know what they do not want but are not sure of what it is they truly desire. Others just do not want to make a choice in fear that others may reject what they really want. 

Today, I saw a car on the interstate trying to decide whether to exit or not. He finally took the exit and at the last possible minute swerved back in front of me to stay on the interstate. Fortunately, my brakes work well, and an accident was avoided.

Indecision is a problem. Some things, like dining out, are not as important as causing possible crashes.  Some things matter a lot more. I would never want to hear a plumber tell me that they were unable to decide if the natural gas lines in my house were leaking or not.

We need to make decisions. It is not always a fun thing to do. What do you want out of life? How do you plan to accomplish your goals? Will others need to assist with your plans? There are questions that need answering.

One of the decisions we must make is to have faith or live in doubt. It is a choice that we must make. If you think something is possible, it is. If you doubt you can do it, you probably will not. If you cannot decide what to believe, you have already begun the process of failing.

If you choose to live in faith, you must decide what it is that you choose to believe. I chose how I wanted to raise my family. I chose to believe that my plan would work. I chose not to abandon that plan. After 25 years, my choice seems to have paid off. This does not mean I made no mistakes. I just had to adjust a few things here and there to keep on track.

Making the right choices helps you achieve what you want. The Bible even says when you ask anything from God you must ask in faith without doubting. If you doubt, do not think you should receive anything from him.

Whether in business, relationships, or just in life itself, be confident of what you want. Be confident in your choices. I often hear that making the wrong choice is better than making no choice. That is true because you can always fine-tune things along the way. You cannot alter your direction if you are not going anywhere.

The Big Game

If you enjoy watching sports, there is always the big game that you do not want to miss. It does not matter if it is the World Series, the NCAA National Championship game, or the World Cup. For me, I love watching the Super Bowl. 

I love having friends over, each bringing food, and having a big party. The parties have ranged in attendance from 20 people to as many as 40. Many people that come do not even care about football. They come to be around the people and the fun.

This year, two of the teams that I hate were in the Super Bowl. I cannot stand the Patriots, and the Falcons are bitter rivals of my home team. However, I love the sport, so I watch the game regardless of the participants.

I remember watching many lopsided Super Bowls where the game was almost unwatchable. This year, it looked like that would happen again since the Falcons had taken an eighteen-point lead by halftime and extended that to a nineteen-point lead after three-quarters.

Despite not liking these talented teams, I must admit that the Patriots coach is in a league of his own when it comes to making adjustments after halftime. The team seems to remain poised and confident even when trailing by such a large margin. Then the work began.

In the fourth quarter, the Patriots score a field goal, then a touchdown with the 2-point conversion, then another touchdown with the 2-point conversion. This ties the game and for the first time in Super Bowl history, the game goes into overtime.

On the first and only drive of overtime, the Patriots win with a touchdown.

If only everyone had confidence where despite the odds, he or she knew overcoming would be possible. Confidence is something we need to instill in ourselves. We must find a way to flip that switch from doubt to belief. 

We need to forget about past failures and look forward to success. We need to learn to put aside the negative things which others have said and start focusing on the positive. Strengthen your weaknesses. Work within your strengths.

Do not be overconfident, but do not sell yourself short.

One player does not win the Super Bowl. It takes a team. Rely on those you trust but remember that not everyone has the same goals.

Confidence does not ensure victory, but adding work to faith makes it a lot more attainable.