Yes and No
Photo Credit / Quote: John Maxwell
I jotted down the question as soon as I read it because I struggle with YES and NO.
I can’t remember now where I saw it online, but it grabbed my attention immediately:
What will you say YES to more this year? What do you want to say NO to more?
Great question.
I shared it as an icebreaker with my online Bible study group, and the answers spoke volumes:
More YES to
- Reading my Bible
- Being fully present for my family
- Taking care of myself physically and emotionally
- Resting
- Talking to God
- Being good to myself
- Making time for Jesus
- Listening to what He says the future holds
- Cultivating a heart of thanksgiving
- Trusting God
More NO to
- Fear, doubt and lethargy
- Being too busy
- Wasting time on things that don’t matter
- Listening to negative talk
- Binge eating
- Whining
- Hanging out with people who aren’t good for me
- Worry and anxiety
- Getting wrapped up in the urgency of everything
- Thinking I’m not “enough,” making excuses, overextending myself, and living exhausted
Jesus said YES to me and set me free from condemnation and defeated living.
You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.
I Corinthians 6:12, NLT
Only slaves have no power to say YES or NO.
This year, I’m determined to jump right off my self-imposed Hamster wheel and live life differently.
I’m going to heed good advice and learn to say NO to the good so that I can say YES to the best.
I’m going to stay away from the shiny temptations that suck the life out of me.
I’m choosing rest and relationships over time wasters and worry.
I’m kicking fear to the curb and walking in faith.
Let’s say YES to freedom in Christ and NO to bondage and defeat.
⇓
To help you stick to your yes and say goodbye to your no, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to rock your world. Let’s #PrayBig and stand on God’s promises!
⇓
JOIN THE WILDFIRE FAITH COMMUNITY TO RECEIVE WEEKLY FAITH FUEL IN YOUR INBOX.
YOU’LL GET A FREE COPY OF “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH”
& GAIN ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN THE PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY FOR MEMBERS.
⇓
Such a good question. Let’s do what God has called us to do, do it well, and in so doing, walk in freedom. It’s funny, Lyli, but last year I think I said “no’ more often than ever before. This post made me realize just how much God has been in those “no’s. He’s equally in a “no” as He is in a “yes”. Have a great Thursday!
Yes! Off the hamster wheel! Me too!
What a great idea for starting out the new year. I don’t have my list of “yes” and “no” together yet, as I think this will require some though–and a strong cup of coffee, but you have definitely gotten me thinking.
Wishing you a happy Thursday!
I like this idea! I don’t make resolutions per se in January, but I do like to sit down and evaluate different areas to see how things are going and what changes need to be made. This looks like a great way to think through that.
You’re absolutely right that saying “yes” means that you must say “no” to something else. We get ourselves into a mess when we try to say “yes” to everything! I like your yes and no lists!
Thanks so much for hosting the link-up. I appreciate the chance to join!
Beautiful encouragement here, Lyli, to say yes to the right things, and to think over what to say no to. Truly a “thought-provoking” post. 🙂 One book that I read last fall which was so helpful was The Best Yes by Lysa TerKeurst. I always need to remember that saying yes to something will mean I might have to say no to something else.
(Beautiful pin, pinning it today!)
Saying “yes” to the best! I love it! We can have too much of “good” things when God wants to give us His best! What a great way to look at it and an important skill to implement into our lives. It is ok to say no!
Blessings, Joan
Oh, Yes! Yes, I need to say No to those shiny temptations that suck the life out of me! Such truth here, Lyli!
GREAT read!!! GREAT question!! I’ve said No to a few ‘good’ things recently!
This is good, Lyli. We do need those reminders that for every yes, there is an opposite no. And vice versa. It’s about choices. Thanks for making it so clear here! Now I need to just do it. 🙂
Powerful post, Lyli! I’m sharing the awesomeness 😉
A great post, a great plan for how to approach new year goals, and a stunning photo!
Good question, Lyli! I think I’m learning to say, “No” to “putting out fires” and more stepping back and letting my boys put out their fires – a hands-off (hence, no) and hands-up (Yes) thinking.
Lyli,
Yes, to walking in freedom in Christ and no to negativity 🙂 Happy New Year 🙂
Agree! We shouldn’t exhaust ourselves with little things so we have all the time and energy for things that matter most.
Lyli,
I love this question. I think I will try this. Following you from Missional Women.
Please share this and other posts at Word of God Speak.
Blessings,
Janis