Godly Confidence

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Phil 4:13

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

NKJV

These are definitely challenging times and it is easy to become fearful and lose confidence.  The election of November 4, 2014 gave conservatives and those disappointed with the policies of President Obama a shot of confidence.  However, voters fear that Republicans will want to cross the isle and work with Democrats, and with that fear comes a potential loss confidence that the newly elected House and Senate will be unwilling to dismantle the statist leviathan of the policies of Barak Obama. 

This is why I find my confidence in the Lord.  Philippians 4:13 is like a vitamin B12 shot of confidence when I start feeling down.  I even wear this verse on a ring as a reminder when I need it, as I often do.  However, what can we do to give our newly elected leaders a shot of confidence to govern and lead in order to fulfill the promises they made during the campaign.  One popular method of determining a course of action is to perform a S.W.O.T. analysis.  A S.W.O.T. analysis analyzes strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to a plan of action.  Let us take a moment and conduct a S.W.O.T. analysis for the new House and Senate.

1)      Strengths – The election was a rejection of six years of the failed policies of Barak Obama and the obstructionism of the Harry Reid controlled Senate.  The strength the new Congress possesses is that they have a clear mandate from a vast majority of voters to begin dismantling the last six years of failed policies.  These people are rejecting Obamacare that has caused many to lose their doctors, spend more in premiums for insurance that comes with higher co-pays and deductibles.  They are rejecting failed economic policies that leave many hopelessly unemployed and dependent on food stamps and disability to survive.  The voters are on the side of the newly elected House and Senate.  In fact, Rosh Limbaugh suggests that when they Congress sends a bill to President Obama to sign, they conduct a poll showing voter support for it so Obama will be vetoing legislation voters support.  (1)   The GOP candidate in 2016 can then use these polls to demonstrate the Democrats refusal to pass legislation voters support. 

2)      Weaknesses – After six years of being out of power, media attacks, IRS investigations, many conservatives may have lost the confidence that we can reverse the policies of the Obama Administration.  Even though this election provided a shot of confidence, we also remember how the confidence of the 2010 midterms did not transfer to the 2012 presidential election.  The Tea Party remembers how the administration used the IRS to target them and may be wondering what will happen this time.  Currently the administration is considering regulating the internet as they regulate utilities.  (2)   We have to wonder if this is not an attempt to prevent conservatives from using social media, the internet, and even blogs like this one in future elections.  It is imperative that conservatives be on guard and not permit these regulations that infringe on our first amendment rights to become a reality.

3)      Opportunities – By leading and governing according to how they campaigned, conservatives now have an opportunity to advance a conservative agenda in both the House of Representatives and Senate.  Granted, Obama will most likely veto most of this agenda but in so doing, Obama will be showing his true colors.  (3)   In addition, if they follow through on the suggestion made by Rush Limbaugh, people will see that President Obama does not care about what interests them. 

4)      Threats – Liberals may have lost big in the 2014 midterms but they still have the mainstream media, academia, and Hollywood on their side.  Through these tools liberals and progressives have the ability to make an agenda only supported by a small number of special interest groups appear to be the majority opinion   (4)   We see this in the issues of global warming, gay marriage, and abortion.  Polls point to the fact that the majority of the voting public does not support these issues.  However, through mass media, these issues appear as the majority opinion.  This may cause some to vote for candidates supporting these issues because they do not want to appear out of touch with what is popular.  Others may stay home in elections believing they are in the minority and their vote is useless. 

The voters have given the GOP an opportunity to advance a conservative agenda.  The landslide victory in this election has given them a strong mandate to repeal the Obama agenda.  There is no need to be weak or timid for the voters have handed the GOP a mandate to be strong, lead the nation out of the ditch of the Obama agenda, and back onto the mountaintop.  There will be threats but together, and with the Lord’s help we can overcome any threat. 

Ronald Reagan referred to the United States as a shining city on a hill.  (5)   When Ronald Reagan took office, the nation was weak militarily and in an economic funk but because of President Reagan’s strong leadership, the United States was once again strong militarily and economically when he left office.  The United States, and much of the world is once again weak and in a funk again.  The 2014 election and its voter mandate demonstrate a hunger for leadership.  The new Senate and expanded House leadership of Republicans have an opportunity to fill that leadership void and create momentum that will enable the Republicans to regain control of the White House.  The question is will they find the confidence to lead.  My recommendation is to find the Godly confidence of Philippians 4:13. 

1. Limbaugh, Rush. My Suggestion for John Boehner. www.rushlimbaugh.com. [Online] EIB Network, November 6, 2014. [Cited: Novenber 11, 2014.] http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2014/11/06/my_suggestion_for_john_boehner.

2. Cheng, Don Reisinger and Roger. Obama: Regulate broadband Internet like a utility so it 'works for everyone'. www.cnet.com. [Online] Cnet, November 10, 2014. [Cited: Novenber 11, 2014.] http://www.cnet.com/news/president-obama-calls-on-fcc-to-keep-internet-free-and-open/.

3. Martosko, David. WHAT LANDSLIDE? Obama threatens vetoes and executive orders – including immigration reform THIS YEAR – after Americans reject him by giving Republicans historic gains in Congress . www.dailymail.co.uk. [Online] Daily Mail, November 5, 2014. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2822484/WHAT-LANDSLIDE-Obama-threatens-vetoes-executive-orders-Americans-reject-giving-Republicans-historic-gains-Congress.html.

4. Chomsky, Noam. What Makes Mainstream Media Mainstream. www.chomsky.info. [Online] October 1997. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] http://www.chomsky.info/articles/199710--.htm.

5. Reagan, Ronald. Shining City Upon A Hill. www.youtube.com. [Online] YouTube, October 1, 2012. [Cited: November 11, 2014.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c32G868tor0.