Of the myriad negative statements that can keep you from beginning today anew, one thought that comes to mind is Romans 12:1-2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

In the old days of cassettes, I heard a thought once that said we often carry a sachet of cassettes tapes in our mind. Some of those tapes are great encouragement when we are successful. More often, though, these tapes are played based on our experience with the negative. We use phrases like “I can’t do it” or “I’ve never done this before.”

Did you know the negative has to be learned? In other words, those cassette tapes come from previous experiences that didn’t turn out the way we expected or what we thought others expected of us.

Let me encourage you this week when you face a difficulty to just start again. Renew your mind. Renew your strength. Repent of past sins. And, just start again.

There’s a story in the Bible about a 5 talent, 2 talent, and 1 talent man. The 5 and 2 talent men took their talents and, right away, invested them into something that would turn a profit. The 1 talent man hid his talent and as a result had his talent taken away. It was taken away because he didn’t just start.

No matter the difficulty you’re facing today, resolve to just start or just start again if it’s been awhile. The 5 and 2 talent men were awarded not because of the amount, but because they started to use what they had to do what they could.

N~Leaders take the responsibility and the risk to just start.